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About Monica

Welcome friend, I'm so glad you are here.
 
I’m Monica—founder of The Thriving Spirit Project, a sanctuary for transformation and reconnection.

Through somatic-informed psychotherapy, nature connection, and the rediscovery of joy, I guide you back to your true self—the self that knows you are good enough, deserving of all that life has to offer, and capable of creating the life you long for.

Just as nature shows us that life expands without limits you too are meant to grow, heal, and thrive. I aim to create a safe, supportive space where you can reconnect with your own wisdom, tap into your natural ability to heal, and realign with what feels true and alive for you.

A Holistic Practitioner of Somatic Informed Psychotherapy

I spent years supporting people carrying the weight of unresolved stress and trauma, struggling to heal despite talk therapy and medication. These traditional methods, though well-intentioned, often left people feeling disempowered and with little understanding of the root cause of their issues. I knew there had to be more.

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This led me to train in trauma-informed modalities, including a year-long professional program under Dr. Gabor Maté, one of the world's leading experts in addiction and trauma. With a foundation in Biomedical Science and an intricate understanding of the body’s incredible intelligence, I blend trauma-informed expertise with a deep understanding of the body’s intelligence to help individuals release stored tension, reconnect with their body’s wisdom, and create lasting change.

My Why

I started The Thriving Spirit Project because I believe everyone deserves to feel at home in their body and their life. I had seen too many people live disconnected from themselves—believing they’re broken, unworthy, or stuck in patterns they can’t change. This was my own personal experience too, until I became a mother and realised that if I didn't want to pass down my issues to my child, then I had to heal...and heal fast. My own healing journey, one guided by some of the most effective and transformative modalities available confirmed that healing is possible. Your body has wisdom, your nervous system can heal, and you can reclaim a life of connection, peace, and joy. ​I’m here to help you get there.

Grounded, authentic, warm & connected

Using a body-based psychotherapeutic approach, I don’t just help you become aware of and manage sensations—I guide you to uncover and transform the deeper stories behind them. Together, we address the root of limiting beliefs and emotional patterns that keep you stuck, helping you move from survival mode to a life of genuine connection and confidence.

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With a deep belief in our connection to nature and a unique, intuitive approach, I support the gentle unraveling of the ego—the protective layers that keep us from evolving—guiding you back to the essence of who you truly are, before the world left its mark.

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Healing, however, isn’t just about techniques or processes—it’s about connection. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a Mental Health Nurse, I create an authentic, compassionate space where healing feels safe, natural, and even includes moments of lightness and joy.

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Whether you’re navigating anxiety, overwhelm, emotional triggers, or recurring patterns, I offer a somatic approach that embraces your whole self—mind, body, and spirit.

My Unique Approach

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Some things I am most passionate about...

  • Sharing knowledge in a way that is easily understood

    • ​Making complex concepts like trauma and nervous system regulation accessible and relatable.

  • Empowering parents and families

    • Using my evolved understanding of trauma to help people raise emotionally resilient children and create safe, connected environments for their children through healing and breaking the cycle of generational trauma and conditioning. 

  • Empowering nurses & healthcare workers

    • Supporting those experiencing burnout to understand the neurobiological and physiological impacts of trauma on patients and themselves.​

  • Slowing down the pace of life and embracing simplicity

    • Rebelling against the speed of society and noise of consumer culture to enjoy a pace where I get to enjoy the natural beauty around me. ​

Qualifications and Experience

With 20+ years’ experience in the mental health space as a Registered Mental Health Nurse and Therapist, I am committed to ongoing learning as well as my own personal practice of healing and expansion so that I may guide and empower others with the belief of what is possible.

  • Compassionate Inquiry Professional graduate-level training (Gabor Maté)

  • Compassionate Inquiry Short Course

  • Master of Mental Health Nursing

  • BSc Mental Health Nursing

  • BSc Biomedical Science

  • Developer of STAR - a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented alternative to traditional aggression management for NSW Health.

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  • The Richards Trauma Process Practitioner Program (Certified)

  • Internal Family Systems introductory workshops 1&2

  • Trauma Informed Coaching Certificate

  • Clinical Supervision Training

  • Solution Focussed Therapy​

  • Current enrolment in Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship Training.

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Misty Slopes

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."


Albert Einstein

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Healing in connection

The Thriving Spirit Project Vision

At The Thriving Spirit Project, we imagine a world where people feel deeply connected—to their bodies, each other, and the natural world. We want to contribute to the ripple effect that is already in motion and  help individuals heal and rediscover the innate wisdom that lives within them and in nature. We believe that when people reconnect with themselves, there are a few things that naturally unfold:

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Raising Resilient and Healthier Children & Communities Guiding people back to their essence breaks generational cycles of pain and disconnection. As people heal, they create healthier environments and raise children who are more attuned to their authentic themselves, thus building stronger and healthier communities which thrive.

Compassion & the Capacity to Heal Others Healing ourselves also fosters a profound compassion for others, allowing us to see their struggles and behaviors through a more understanding lens. In this space—where someone feels truly seen—healing becomes possible for them too. We come to recognize our own natural ability to support healing, simply through the profound power of genuine connection.

Healing for the Earth As we reconnect with ourselves, we naturally begin to reconnect with nature, recognizing it as an extension of our own being. This deepened connection inspires us to care for the Earth as we recognise its role in our wellbeing and our own healing. By reclaiming this sense of harmony—with ourselves, others, and the planet—we create a world rooted in authenticity, mutual care, and balance.

Hope for Humanity Healing allows us to navigate the fear and sorrow of the world with greater ease by creating the capacity to feel it without becoming overwhelmed. Through unburdening the nervous system of false narratives and limiting beliefs, we restore a felt sense of safety in the body. This profound shift not only brings balance and resilience but also transforms our perspective—where once we saw only sadness and sorrow, we begin to also notice beauty, connection, and hope.

My core values

At the core of everything I do is to empower, advocate and educate so that you are left with a better understanding of who you truly are, and recognise your value, importance, and crucial role to play in the world. 

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I do this via my therapy practice as well as academic and education pathways, which are underpinned by a strong focus on Recovery-oriented, Trauma-informed, Culturally safe, and Compassionate care. 

Monica Guha

Publications

  • Molloy, L., Wilson, V., O’Connor, M., Merrick, T.T., Guha, M., Eason, M. et al. (2024) Exploring safety culture within inpatient mental health units: The results from participant observation across three mental health services. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 00, 1–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13312​

 

  • Guha, M. D., Cutler, N. A., Heffernan, T., & Davis, M. (2022). Developing a Trauma-Informed and Recovery-Oriented Alternative to “Aggression Management” Training for a Metropolitan and Rural Mental Health Service. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 1–7. 

 

  • Molloy, L., Guha, M.D., Scott, M.P., Beckett, P., Merrick, T.T., & Patton, D (2021) Mental health nursing practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an integrative review. Contemporary Nurse

 

  • Molloy, L., Beckett, P., Chidarikire, S., Scott, M. P., Guha, M. D., Merrick, T. T., & Patton, D. (2021). ‘First tonight, the contentious new code telling nurses to say, “sorry for being white”: Mental health nurses’ beliefs about their Code of Conduct and cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

 

  • Molloy, L.., Beckett, P., Chidarikire, S., Merrick, T. T., Guha, M., & Patton, D. (2020). Culture, the stigma of mental illness, and young people. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(11), 15-18.

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