About Rachelle

My story began 46 years ago in the UK, where I was born to an English father and a Dutch mother. When their relationship broke down, my mother fled the country with my five-year-old sister and me. I grew up in a loving single-parent household, but losing my father at the age of seven left me carrying a deep fear of abandonment and a habit of quietly suppressing my emotions.

For many years, I did not understand how these early experiences shaped my beliefs, relationships, and the way I saw myself. Like many people, I developed protective patterns that helped me navigate life but also kept me disconnected from my own emotions and needs.

A Journey Through Trauma, Anxiety, and Disconnection

By twelve, I felt lost and was drawn into a rave community and years of drug use while searching for belonging and a sense of connection. At eighteen, I joined the army — a decision I have no memory of consciously making, which says a lot about how disconnected I had become from myself at that time.

Nine years of military service followed, in an environment where emotions were often viewed as weakness. During this period, I developed severe anxiety and panic attacks and spent two tours abroad taking antidepressants that never truly addressed the deeper causes of my struggles.

After leaving the army at twenty-seven, I spent twelve years in a relationship marked by intense highs, painful lows, and eventually alcohol. Looking back, I can see that we were both unconsciously repeating childhood trauma patterns that neither of us understood.

Discovering Healing and Inner Work

The turning point came in 2017 during a ten-day meditation program. Something shifted. I realised that if I continued living in the same way, my life would eventually fall apart.

This began a deep exploration of healing, self-awareness, and personal transformation. Over the years that followed, I explored different approaches, including:

• EMDR
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Breathwork
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Yoga and embodied practices
• Spiritual exploration
• Nature-based practices

I spent time living in an ashram in Bali and became a yoga teacher, continuing to explore the relationship between the body, emotions, awareness, and healing.

My Compassionate Inquiry Training Journey

A significant turning point in my journey was discovering the work of Dr Gabor Maté and Compassionate Inquiry — an approach that explores how trauma, emotional experiences, and unconscious patterns influence the way we relate to ourselves and the world.

I completed my Compassionate Inquiry training over eighteen months, including study, practice, and internship. This experience deeply influenced my understanding of trauma, compassion, presence, and the human capacity for change.

Compassionate Inquiry became an important part of my ongoing personal development, helping me explore the connection between emotions, beliefs, protective behaviours, and the experiences that shape us.

Integrating Compassionate Inquiry with Other Practices

Alongside my Compassionate Inquiry training, I have continued exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, and nature-based practices.

My journey has been one of continually learning how to meet myself — and life — with greater curiosity, compassion, and awareness.

I believe that understanding our own stories can create the possibility for meaningful change. When we begin to approach ourselves with kindness rather than judgement, we can develop a deeper relationship with who we truly are.

A Commitment to Continued Growth

The vow I made to myself was simple: if I could heal, I would dedicate my life to supporting others in finding their own path toward greater awareness and self-understanding.

That commitment continues today through my ongoing exploration of Compassionate Inquiry, mindfulness, and embodied practices — a journey of compassion, connection, and transformation.