Contact

 Jessica Strachan (She/Her)

Bachelor of Health Science & Bachelor of Applied Science (Chinese Medicine) (RMIT University)
Diploma of Shiatsu (Australian Shiatsu College Australia)
 

Jess is an AHPRA registered Acupuncturist, Chinese Medicine Herbalist and Shiatsu Practitioner supporting the community in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne. 

 

Jess has significant experience working with survivors of crime and supporting clients who experience chronic and traumatic stress. Due to the nature of her work, she has a dynamic approach combining many styles of body-based therapies and is comfortable working in collaborative health care and legal teams to support her clients.

 

She works in collaboration with CoHealth’s Victims Assistance Program and is the resident body-based practitioner at the Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA), where she works alongside talk therapies in a structured program to support survivors of sexual assault.

 

Jess understands that every client that walks through the door has a unique experience with their health and approach to the care they receive. She aims to understand each individual and their history to tailor focused and responsive treatment to meet each person’s needs.

 

Jess is currently on Maternity Leave until mid 2024, if you wish to work Jess in the future please email us to jump on her waitlist.

 Louisa Dalla Riva (She/Her)

BHSc & BASc (Chinese Medicine) (Southern School of Natural Therapies)

BHSc (Youth Studies – Drug and Alcohol addiction)

Diploma of Shiatsu (Australian Shiatsu College Australia)

Diploma Remedial Massage 

Holistic Counselling

200hr Cert Yoga Teacher Training & 50hr Cert pre/post-natal yoga

 

Louisa is an AHPRA registered practitioner supporting the community in the North & Western Suburbs of Melbourne. 

She had been working at Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) for over 10 years

providing a wide range of interventions and strategies to young people experiencing problems with their drug and alcohol use within a trauma-informed, resilience-based practice model. Though Louisa had a strong passion for this work and found it rewarding, she also longed to engage with people through body-based therapies (BBTs). Equipped with the understanding that trauma can be held in the body as well as the mind, BBTs such as Shiatsu can aid in an individual’s healing process through grounding practices that foster mind-body connection, improve self-regulation and promote a sense of body safety. Louisa loved her studies in Shiatsu and especially the underlying principles, therefore it was only natural that she enrolled in the BHSc (Chinese Medicine) for further study and exploration.

Whilst studying Chinese Medicine, Louisa returned to YSAS as the resident trauma-informed Shiatsu practitioner across the residential withdrawal units and drop-in day program. Drawing on her specific skills in assessment, a non-judgmental attitude and an ability to adjust and act appropriately she was able to confidently respond to a wide range of physical and mental health issues presented in the clinic.

Louisa has also worked as a counsellor and experiential massage therapist at the Bronte Foundation- a treatment facility for patients with an eating disorder, and currently volunteers at Windana Acupuncture Clinic (drug and alcohol service- St Kilda). She has had many years of experience collaborating with other support staff, including doctors, nurses and psychologists to ensure the best outcome for her clients. 

 

Louisa has a keen interest in working with women pre and post-birth. Her personal experience drives this interest, and her intimate understanding appreciates the magic and challenges of having a baby. Nothing would please Louisa more than to support a mother on her journey from fertility through to motherhood. Louisa has completed additional studies with Suzanne Yates, founder and director of Wellmother (UK), in the practice of Shiatsu during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. 

Contact Us

0425 231 778

hello@westshiatsu.com.au

[Rear] 638 Barkly Street, West Footscray