The story of Sukha Therapy
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Georgia is a holistic OT that brings the wisdom of yoga and the chakra energy system into her practice. She has a balanced energy to support and celebrate the authenticity and unique needs of every child and family. Georgia’s regulated (ventral vagal) nervous system state supports children and families to attune and co-regulate. She holds a safe space for the child and family to heal together working in partnership to ‘share in the joy of being present, connected and engaged in meaningful activities’.
Meet Georgia
I was looking for someone to inspire me, motivate me, support me, keep me focused… Someone who would love me, cherish me, make me happy, and I realized all along that I was looking for myself.
- Unknown
I grew up on the land of the Wurunjeri people in a family with my mum, dad and older sister. When I put my mind to something there was no stopping me (this tenacious spirit is still present today) as a strong willed person. In my early years I sought ‘rough play’ which as I reflect on with my OT lense now can see a child who was seeking ‘muscle input’ from my proprioceptive sensory system. It’s no wonder that growing up I played sports 6-7 days a week and that later ‘yoga’ would find me.
At the same time, I am a truly sensitive person. As a child this presented in big feelings, being deeply empathetic but also experiencing difficulty feeling a sense of ‘belonging’ particularly in primary school which impacted my ability to feel safe to connect with other children. I would often seek the comfort of secure attachments with my older sister and experienced separation anxiety from my mum.
As an adult who is now deeply integrated and connected with myself and the world around me, I have grown into seeing that being strong willed and sensitive is a strength. That both can be true at the same time. When kids ask me, Georgia what’s your superpower? I typically respond with ‘being strong willed and sensitive’.
Background
My journey to support children and families within the disability space began as a child of 10 years of age as I volunteered with Riding for Disabled Association (RDA) at Oaklands. Alongside my mum, although I didn’t know it at the time would set me on a path of service to help others. At 18, to celebrate the end of my secondary education I was called to adventure in Nepal. I felt truly at home in the Himalayan Mountains and the Buddhist culture as I trekked with friends to summit Base Camp Mount Everest. Nature has and continues to be a very grounding place where I can feel deeply connected.
I went on to study a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Occupational Therapy Practice at La Trobe University, graduating in 2017. My final clinical placement at C.H.U.M (Children and Horses United in Movement) in Michigan, USA supported me to reconnect with my soul purpose, having witnessed the powerful impact of spiritual practice on a children’s development.
Education
My Occupational Therapy career started in public health with diverse experience gained across acute, inpatient hospital, community and aged care services in regional Victoria, Castlemaine. During this time ‘Yoga found me’. Personal practice enabled alignment of body, mind, breath and spirit and I have continued daily practice for my own self-regulation and healing. With a growing curiosity of yoga philosophy I completed Yoga Teacher Training at my home studio in Sunbury, Yoga 101. I felt called to transition into paediatrics in 2020 and spent the next 2 years providing Occupational Therapy to children aged 3- 18 in a private practice in West Melbourne.
It was here that I began to connect to how useful Yoga would be to support children in my clinical role as an OT. I pursued professional development, completing the Yoga for Children with Autism (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) course through Special Yoga UK. This was a welcomed study whilst we were in the COVID lockdowns period. When I began to integrate special yoga into my clinical practice, it profoundly changed my ability to co- regulate with the children, supporting their capacity to participate in activities to build developmental skills.
Work
I took a 6 month break in 2022, resigning from my role in private practice to adventure overseas and engage in further study. I completed the ‘Wellbeing Practitioner Training’ with Dr. Maxine Therese the founder of Childosophy and The Functional Needs Model, a holistic body-mind science based framework for well-being and development that aligned with my own intention to practice. I love being able to offer this well-being service to support families.
I reflect fondly on my travels at this time in my life, giving me the space to discover and reconnect with my true self with the intention to create a soul led business. Upon return with a heart full of love and a soul full of wonder Sukha Therapy was founded in September of 22. I chose to share this with you to demonstrate the power in practicing ‘storytelling’. When we speak our truth, have our experiences validated it can sustain community, build authenticity and nurture relationships. I acknowledge this practice within the Indigenous culture and pay my respects to this ancient form and my active effort to sustain the continuation of this tradition for all Indigenous peoples.
Growth
Sukha Therapy continues to grow. Recent business developments include a logo rebrand and the launch of our brand new website. This evolution of Sukha represents the integration of the lived practice experience, and as I have changed, so has what I want to do with Sukha Therapy.
As we move into this new chapter we will continue to open the arms of Sukha, to extend our support to welcome new families and professionals into our ‘sangha’ - translating in English to ‘the community’ - that together enables us to bring our mission to life.
Our new logo speaks volumes to what Sukha Therapy represents moving forward. Two simple brush strokes make up the brandmark; the shapes - the parent and child working together to build the structure of the symbol. The mountains are representative of the growth and height that the child and guardian work towards together. The brush stroke texture is testament to the fundamental work that is done by the child (and the adult) through play and movement. The space between strokes speaks to the space Georgia holds to nurture the development of a safe and trusting relationship and promote the healing of the whole family system.
- Georgia Orr, Director and Founder
Today
Present.
Through union of body, mind and spirit.
Connected.
Deeply to self, to others and to the world around us.
Engaged.
In the meaningful activities of life.