“Thank you Olive Tree Health for pioneering something new and much needed here in Australia. Thank you for investing and believing in us.”
Olive Tree Health Participant, January 2025
Olive Tree has been such a beacon of hope. When you have been through years of abuse and the abuse continues as you have to co-parent children with the abuser… your confidence gets eroded and your nervous system is so strained. It makes trusting others difficult. It makes trusting oneself and one’s own intuition, sense of judgment and ability and strength difficult. Olive Tree has given me sound knowledge, reassurance, gentle support and lasting strength on the journey of rebuilding life for myself and my family. When you leave an abusive marriage people assume you can just pick up the pieces and rebuild - I had that expectation of myself. It is so much harder than you think. It takes longer, it’s more complex, the grief, the financial pressures are less linear, more overwhelming than I thought.
Olive Tree has given me a toolbox to navigate life’s challenges - it built resilience through building strength both physically and mentally and emotionally. It has enabled a reset, a circuit breaker… an opportunity to rethink who I want to be without old patterns. Its focus is healing the body and by doing that opening up new possibilities for the future. My posture changed, my sleep improved, my outlook on life is so much more positive and my relationships are lighter.
Olive Tree Health Level 1, Level 2 Participant, January 2025
I am profoundly grateful for the support and guidance I have received from Olive Tree Health. When I first walked through the door at Olive Tree, I was struggling and felt lost; however, with Josie's help, my healing journey has transformed me into a more empowered individual. Olive Tree Health has been a crucial part of my recovery, teaching me invaluable skills to regulate my emotions and manage my triggers effectively. Through mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, and power movements, I have learned to navigate challenging moments with greater ease and confidence. Olive Tree has helped me create a personalised plan for those instances when I feel myself heading towards dorsal vagal shutdown, equipping me with the tools I need to stay grounded.
What sets Olive Tree apart is the sensitivity and the safe space created for each woman. I always felt heard and understood during our sessions. The connection with others in the group has also been invaluable; it has made me feel supported and much less isolated in my experience. Reflecting on where I was when I first arrived at Olive Tree, I barely recognise the person I am today. I was a mess, burdened by my struggles; now, I feel empowered and equipped to face life's challenges. This experience has been a monumental piece of the puzzle in my journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Olive Tree Health Level 1, Level 2 Participant, December 2024
“Love” at home was broken and brutal… and included years of child prostitution.
This has left me with a PTSD legacy including deep fear and disconnection from self (functional freeze). It was hearing about a different “Love” of our good God in school scripture that saved my life. God has graciously carried me through the challenges of an emotionally abusive marriage. I’ve learnt how to parent / grandparent in a radically different way.
I know I was led to Olive Tree Health to experience a glimpse of generous, sweet, soft, gentleness. The world I live in feels so harsh distant and terrifying and I’m so cruel to myself… yet ironically kind to others.
The group sessions have been progressively building new physical awareness. People like me live in their heads, watching their bodies from a distance. Olive Tree’s specific small muscle exercise have introduced me to myself… inside myself… right down … through to my feet. I am so resistant to self care, so I didn’t do the sets of weights or lunges etc but found ways to incorporate many of the other exercises into everyday life… and to even enjoy them.
Because sessions were delivered so gently and professionally the message sank in deeply. eg one day I had a severe panic attack at work. I walked to the park, but just couldn’t settle myself… as I sat on the bench I heard Josie’s voice in my head gently saying the familiar verbal prompts from the classes. That was so helpful.
Olive Tree has opened up new ways for me to think about myself. The objective, measurable assessments and heartmath feedback bought undeniable Hope.
Olive Tree has been like a cool, slow, gentle wander of discovery through the bush with a skilful leader and companions in suffering.
Olive Tree Health Level 1, Level 2 Participant, December 2024
Before starting the Olive Tree Health program, I truly didn’t know what to expect. At the beginning, we were asked to write down our goals, and honestly, mine felt like wishes I’d need a magic genie to grant. They seemed so far out of reach that I couldn’t imagine them becoming a reality. I thought, “Well, that would be nice,” but deep down, I didn’t believe they were achievable—at least not for me. Fast forward to the end of the program, and I was completely shocked: every single one of those goals had been achieved, each to varying degrees. One of my biggest struggles was with consistent, nagging hip pain that had extended to my knees. No matter what I tried before, I could never find lasting relief. To now be free of that pain is incredible.
But the most profound shift for me has been emotional. Before, I felt completely at the mercy of my feelings, often unaware of how deeply they controlled me because I was so caught up in the chaos of it all. Now, I have moments of real presence and genuine self-compassion—not the fluffy kind, but the kind that lets me understand and support myself in meaningful ways. That alone has been lifechanging. What surprised me most is how easy the program was. Just showing up each week—even on the harder days—felt restorative. Every single session left me feeling reset in both my body and my mind. Being surrounded by such amazing women and sharing the journey together was healing in its own right. Josie’s wholehearted approach creates a truly safe and transformative space. Her ability to foster real healing is remarkable. Thanks to this program, I’m now looking ahead to new goals that once felt impossible. I feel like I actually have agency over my life now—a freedom that is honestly indescribable. I’m no longer begrudgingly accepting limitations as my reality. Instead, I feel capable of tackling challenges and creating a life I thought was out of reach. Who knew such a simple process could bring about such profound change? It almost feels ridiculous, but it’s true.
Olive Tree Health, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I sincerely hope more women can experience this program because if they gain even a fraction of what I’ve gained, it will be life-changing.
Olive Tree Health Level 1, Level 2 Partcipant, December 2024