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Thea Baker

Thea is a Clinical Counsellor, Somatic Psychotherapist and PhD candidate who worked within the health and fitness industry for over ten years before shifting focus to the mental health and research fields. Her research focuses on how physical activity can support mental health and has a paper in publication looking at the mechanisms that explain the physical activity – depression relationship in women from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Her PhD is looking at cardio-boxing as an intervention for women who have experienced domestic violence.

Thea runs her own private practice in Melbourne and has a special interest in working holistically, finding creative ways to combine physical and mental health. She works with a range of psychotherapeutic modalities including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Compassionate Inquiry (CI).

Thea Baker's Sessions

  • BE MORE THAN TRAUMA-INFORMED! - DEEP DIVE

    Session Type: Specific Populations

    Most of your clients will have experienced trauma in one or more of its various forms: interpersonal violence, earthquake, sexual assault, car accident, loss…. Many of them will have experienced trauma multiple times in their lives. Working with clients who have stuck trauma can present a range of issues for fitness professionals. We are working with the physical body that has encoded these memories in the very fascia that we often want to release, mobilise and strengthen. We are in a powerful position to help clients in their journey to heal if we know what to look for and feel confident to work with trauma.

    CPD Points Earned For Attending: 4

    Session Date: 26/11/2023

  • HOW DOES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELP TO PREVENT & REDUCE DEPRESSION?

    Session Type: Specific Populations

    We know that physical activity (PA) is helpful in the prevention and treatment of depression but what we really don’t have much research on is HOW it does that. There are a lot of theories – like ‘happy hormones’ or endorphins - but did you know that the research doesn’t really support this hypothesis? This session draws on research conducted in 2022 (soon to be published) at Deakin University exploring the behavioural and psychosocial mechanisms that may play a part in the PA – depression relationship.

    CPD Points Earned For Attending: 2

    Session Date: 25/11/2023

  • PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS THERAPY FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

    Session Type: Specific Populations

    We know that people with mental illness have significantly poorer health outcomes and life expectancy than the general population. Current empirical research is confirming what we have known in our industry for many years: exercise can help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as other mental health challenges.

    CPD Points Earned For Attending: 2

    Session Date: 25/11/2023

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