About Valerie

My mission is to empower you to more fully love, accept, and enjoy your life, and your connections in the world, and to joyfully support you with the changes you wish to make to your habits *

My curiosity about people, relationships, emotion, breath, voice, and body has been life-long. I work with adolescents and with adults of all ages right into their senior years. My oldest student/client has been in her 90’s. I delight in teaching adults, including my elders and I am frequently inspired by the learning and continued openness to new ideas and change I see in those who work with me.

I describe my work with various labels, communication coach, mediator, self-esteem mentor, voice teacher, and Feldenkrais Method® Practitioner.

*Habits can include your ways of relating to, communicating with self and/or others, your ways of using your voice, and your movement. I draw on my experience as a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication teacher of voice and singing.

Communication

See more on communication

What they say about Valerie’s teaching and coaching:

“Valerie was approachable and reassuring, well-resourced, non-judgemental and supportive. Valerie’s honesty and compassion helped me with connection, and I felt understood.” “Connecting with Children” participant

“Valerie exuded confidence as well as vulnerability, and held us very well.” “Communicate 4 Connection” course participant

“I like the way Valerie heard what I said in group discussions, and responded summing up what I had expressed. I never normally share in groups, but felt very comfortable and accepted to do so in this environment.” “Communicate 4 Connection” course participant

“Training was exciting and fun. I enjoyed (Valerie’s) colourful energy, alertness and clarity. Her sharing of an experience in her life was insightful for me in my own life. I felt welcomed and invited to be part of the workshop. I enjoyed the variety of learning modes.” “Communicate 4 Connection” course participant

Body

After studying Feldenkrais privately for a number of years, I trained for 4 years as a practitioner of Feldenkrais Method®, trained in Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration®. I have been teaching this method for 14 years primarily with active adults. Challenges which my clients address with me include pain, posture, stiffness, anxiety, and challenges involving, breath, posture and voice.

You are welcome to contact me to discuss areas in which you’d like to see improvement, and to determine if we are a fit for working together with regards to any of the work I do. In New Zealand ring 021 295 3979

What they say about Valerie’s Body Teaching

“Many of the hurts disappeared after a session and my overall feeling was a lightness and a bounce that I hadn’t felt in years.”

Rick Silver, Feldenkrais Methos® Functional Integration® client

“A severely stressed body and bad back pain was interrupting my work.  Valerie is so supportive and empathetic. During the one on one sessions and classes, I have noticed profound releases that I would never have expected.”

Lynn Wilson Remedial Massage Therapist, MNZ, Bowen therapist ISBT

“Thanks for body lessons learned. I’m enjoying my piano even more.”

Claire Emergency Physician

“Not only did my posture improve, but my breath flowed more openly and easily and I had the bonus of improving the quality of my sound. Thanks, Valerie for your relaxed and supportive approach.”

Christine Hunt Trumpet Player

Voice

Vocal awareness and habit change work

With over 30 years voice teaching experience, I enjoy working with singers, speakers, actors, preachers, teachers and others who want to get the best out of their voice. My students have replaced habits of strain and pain, with effective healthy habits. I have taught people to be louder or yell without damaging their voice. I have supported students to rehabilitate from vocal nodules without surgery. Speakers and voice users from a variety of professions have used my support to develop a voice that both engages their listeners and is authentic.

Singing sessions

You are welcome to approach me for “troubleshooting” by appointment or a series of lessons. I am happy to help people develop confidence/reliability, and confidence issues. In this work, empathy, my Feldenkrais background add to my experience of teaching voice for over 30 years.

Though singing came naturally, along the way I have had significant challenges that have been learning points for me. My own difficulties have inspired my learning paths, and given me empathy and understanding. These problems included:

• voice loss  
• neck pain and immobility that caused me to wear a brace and give up driving 
• significant anxiety and clinical depression

For many years I taught as part of the Voice and Movement staff at National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art.  I have worked professionally as an actress and opera singer and also have public speaking experience.

What they say about Valerie’s Voice and Singing Teaching

“I really enjoy Valerie as a teacher – fun, and encouraging and informative.” Ali Watersong – “Vocal Vitality” course

“Valerie’s coaching is inspiring, (she) gives you ‘permission’ to do what you didn’t think was possible.” Carolyn Searle – Singing Musical Theatre course

“You’ve been an amazing teacher. You were OK with however I turned up.” Private adult student