I’m Dr Bernadette Guhyasakhi Carelse – a recently retired Senior Educational Psychologist (SEP) who is now focusing on growing food organically and for self-sufficiency. I provide holistic therapy sessions in Zen Shiatsu, Chi Nei Tsang, Shamanic Healing and Eye-movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

EARLY EXPERIENCES OF YOGA and MEDITATION: My meditation practice began through discovering a a description of this in a children’s book. That was 1981 and I was 11 at the time and living in the UK and attending my first secondary school. My family moved to Zimbabwe in 1981 and in was only in 1984, aged 14, through studying yoga and, gradually, I developed a daily practice for some months.

FIRST DEGREE: In 1989, I completed a BSc in Physics and Computer Science at the University of Zimbabwe, then, the following year, began working for International Computers Limited (ICL) as a Software Support Engineer.

SECOND DEGREE: By the end of 1997, I completed a second degree, a BA in Psychology through the Open University.

BODY-MIND-SPIRIT THERAPIST: During 1992, I started training in Tai Chi/ Chi Gung on holiday in Zimbabwe. By 1998, I had trained in Zen Shiatsu, Reiki and Holistic Massage.  In 1999, I joined Zen School of Shiatsu’s team of teachers (and continued teaching Shiatsu until 2014).  I also trained in Aromatherapy (2001), Chi Nei Tsang and Reflexology (2000). 

Over the years, I have worked as a bodywork therapist in various settings, including charities and private practices and with many different clients, including those with mental health difficulties, HIV/AIDS and significant physical/ learning difficulties (autism, cerebral palsy and downs syndrome).

YOGA TEACHER: During 1998 to 2001, I also trained as a Yoga Teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga. I learnt to adapt yoga, breathing practices and meditation for wide range of ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced. I also taught how to work with the physical, emotional, mental, energy and ‘bliss’ bodies (or sheaths) of existence – and developed an ‘integral yoga’ approach.

CHI NEI TSANG TRAINING: From 1997 to 2007, I also trained in Taoist Esoteric Yoga and Meditation practices under the guidance of Kris Deva North, at the London Healing Tao Centre, and leant Chi Nei Tsang from him and Taoist Master Mantak Chia, during his visits to the UK.

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST: In 2002, I gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from Brunel University and started working as a Secondary School Science (Physics) Teacher. During 2005/2006, I trained as an Educational (and Child) Psychologist (EP) and started working for a local authority in London.

MINDFULNESS TEACHER: In 2011, I trained with the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MISP) to deliver the “.b” programme for secondary school pupils and presented my research at the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) “Mindfulness Now” Conference.  During 2013, I completed the Mindfulness Teacher Training Level 1 and in 2014, began running mindfulness courses in the local community. During 2015, I specialised in teaching Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and completed Teacher Training Level 2.

I also trained to teach mindfulness to children with ADHD and/or ASD and their families using the MyMind programme with Susan Bogels (University of Amsterdam (UVA) minds You research centre).  See BBC documentary The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs (Episode 1 of 2) which filmed the MyMind programme with parents and their children – and I ran the mindfulness training for the parents.

DOCTORATE: From 2008-2013, I completed a Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology.  My research was on Children’s Experiences of Learning Mindfulness and enabled me to develop the Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) intervention for children.

SENIOR EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST (SEP): In 2015, I was promoted to a SEP.

During this time I was commissioned by Scholastics to write a children’s book on using mindfulness to help with sleep: My Mindful Little One: Bedtime

In 2018, I trained in Trauma-sensitive Yoga with David Emerson and began integrating this approach in my educational psychology practice and yoga and mindfulness teaching.  I developed training materials on trauma awareness for professionals.

BUDDHIST: Throughout this time, I trained for ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order, engaging in activities at the London Buddhist Centre and the North London Buddhist Centre. In July 2021, I was ordained and named Guhyasakhi which means “she who has the mystery as a friend”. In this context, I teach Buddhism and Meditation and have co-lead Deep Ecology days and retreats and events for People of Colour (POC).

SHIATSU, CHI NEI TSANG, EMDR and SHAMANISM: Since taking early retirement in 2022, I have refocused on the healing and therapeutic work. In 2023, I graduated from the London College of Shiatsu and re-registered with the Shiatsu Society. I have been practicing Chi Nei Tsang for over twenty years. I also offer shamanic healing and from 2024, Shamanic Counselling and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions online.

ALLOTMENTEER: During 2022 and 2023, I completed Levels 1 and 2 in Horticulture and a 9 month placement at Organiclea, London. In May 2024, I was delighted to be allocated an allotment. In the future, I hope to offer individual and group sessions at the allotment to support the experience of healing through connection with the land through caring for and growing plants for food.

For more information, email Holistic Education.