Counselling in Fremantle – Somatic & Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Passionate about helping you overcome the obstacles in your life, to discover your joy and live your life to the full.

When traditional talking therapy hasn’t been enough

Many people who come to see me have already tried counselling.  They understand their patterns. They can explain their history.  But something still feels stuck.

Anxiety lingers.
Old reactions fire automatically.  
Relationships repeat themselves. 
The nervous system never quite settles.

At Uplift Counselling in Fremantle, I offer somatic psychotherapy and mindfulness-based therapy grounded in the Hakomi Method — a body-mind approach that helps you move beyond insight and into lasting change.

You’re welcome to get in touch to book a session or arrange a brief introductory call.

When patterns live in the body

Life experiences — especially trauma — don’t just live in memory. They leave imprints in the body. In the nervous system. In the way emotions move — or don’t.

Over time, these patterns become automatic. Protective. Familiar.

In our work together, we slow things down. Through mindfulness and somatic awareness, we begin to gently explore those patterns. As old experiences are processed and integrated, something shifts.

More space. 
More steadiness. 
More choice in how you respond.

This work isn’t about fixing you.  It’s about helping you access what’s already there — your capacity for regulation, clarity and growth.

Some people come because they’re in pain. Others come because they sense there is more available to them — more depth, more presence, more ease in relationships.

This work supports both.

Counselling that works with your nervous system — not just your thoughts

Traditional cognitive approaches focus on identifying and challenging thoughts. That can be helpful. But for many people, it doesn’t reach the deeper emotional and physiological patterns driving distress.

As one client put it:

“I’ve gone to a fair few counsellors, therapists and coaches in my time. This process feels transformative on a much deeper level. It feels like I’m actively healing psychological wounds.”

Somatic therapy works differently:

We slow down. 
We become present. 
We notice what your body is already holding.

Through mindfulness and gentle inquiry, you learn how to:

Regulate your nervous system 
Work safely with trauma responses 
Build emotional regulation skills 
Shift patterns that feel automatic 
Develop real, embodied self-awareness

This isn’t about fighting thoughts with more thoughts. It’s about learning to meet your experience directly — and allowing change to happen from the inside out.

Counselling for depression, anxiety, relationships & personal growth

I work with people experiencing:

Depression and low mood 
Anxiety and chronic stress 
Trauma and unresolved past experiences 
Relationship difficulties 
Couples Counselling
Life transitions 
A sense of being “stuck” 
A desire for deeper personal growth and mindfulness practice

View All Counselling Services

How I work: Mindfulness Based Somatic Psychotherapy in Fremantle

Mindfulness isn’t an buzzword here — it’s central to how I work.

We use mindfulness to slow things down, to notice what’s happening in the body and emotions, and to respond rather than react. Over time, this builds emotional regulation and steadiness in challenging situations.

Somatic psychotherapy (Hakomi) takes this further. It gently explores how core beliefs and protective patterns formed — often early in life — and how they continue to shape your reactions today. When these patterns are brought into awareness safely, they can begin to shift.

Some people benefit from brief, focused work — learning practical tools to manage stress and navigate immediate challenges. Others want deeper psychotherapy that works with long-standing patterns.

The approach is tailored to you.

Testimonials – What makes this different?

Hakomi-based psychotherapy is experiential. It works in the present moment. It integrates mindfulness, somatic awareness and gentle exploration of beliefs and patterns.

Clients often describe it as deeper and more transformative than other forms of therapy.

“If you have that feeling of being ‘stuck’ and trauma that doesn’t seem to get resolution through standard counselling, somatic therapy is the next best step. The freedom, peace and strength that is beginning to develop is remarkable.”  — Collette

“Since my first session 4 months ago I feel like a different person.”  — Jay

“Very dedicated to his work and also very knowledgeable… I’m absolutely stoked to have found him!”  — Torben

“For me I was not depressed but wanted to work on things to make my life better… Every time without fail, with just one session I have broken through. I could not recommend Ajay more highly.”  — Mark

About Ajay Hawkes – Somatic Psychotherapist in Fremantle

I’ve spent much of my life engaged in meditation and personal development practice. For over twenty-five years I’ve trained in a range of therapeutic and contemplative modalities, including somatic psychotherapy and mindfulness-based approaches.

I am a Certified Somatic Psychotherapist trained in the Hakomi Method, and I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. I’m also recognised by Medicare as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. I continue my own practice and professional supervision to ensure the quality of my work.

What I bring into the room isn’t just training — it’s lived experience of the practices I teach. I value depth, presence and careful, attuned work.

Based in Fremantle and servicing the wider Perth metro area, I aim to create a warm and steady space where difficult experiences can be explored safely, and real change can unfold.

Medicare Rebates

If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates for sessions with an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker.

My approach integrates:

Mindfulness training (relaxation and present-moment skills) 
Emotional regulation and skills training 
Psychoeducation 
Trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy
Acceptance Commitment Therapy tools: 3rd wave CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Online Counselling Available Across Perth & Australia

Video calls are available for those who need them. Your journey to healing and self-discovery can start from the comfort of your own space.

A brief phone call before booking

Choosing a therapist matters.

If you’d like to see whether this approach feels right for you, you’re welcome to arrange a short phone conversation before booking your first session.

Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Quote of the Week

“The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. The experience of spiritual power is basically a joyful one.”
– M. Scott Peck

Interpretation

“The road less travelled” by M. Scott Peck was a popular book in counselling and personal development circles in the 80s, but still seems fresh now. I first read it in my twenties, but still have it on my bookshelf. I seem to be a life long learner. Even if I’m in a pause between trainings and courses, day to day life is full of lessons that make life a richer experience! I find that the counselling journey takes people into what Peck calls a “piece by piece” awareness of themselves, sometimes slowly, but this can build to profound breakthroughs. Coming out of these breakthroughs we can feel like very different people, and see the world through fresh eyes. We can realise that we have more internal resources than we realised, and that the world (and people) around us is a more supportive and friendly place than we thought! This is literally life changing…

Sharing this journey with someone is one of the great privileges of working as a counsellor and somatic therapist.

Read about mind, body and heart connection

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re ready to begin, you can book a session or request a brief introductory call.

Medicare Rebates Available.

Based in Fremantle and servicing the wider Perth metro area.

We use carbon offsetting for an ethical approach to Counselling in Fremantle