ABOUT KOKORO WELLBEING
The meaning of Kokoro
Kokoro (心) is a Japanese word that encompasses the heart, mind and spirit - the full spectrum of human emotions, thoughts and inner essence or self. Each person's kokoro is unique, shaped by personal experiences, thoughts and emotions, making it an invisible yet central part of human identity.
Kokorozashi (志) means will, ambition, or a deep personal mission. It carries a sense of purpose driven by both heart and mind - the idea of where your heart is pointed, or what you are sincerely aiming toward.
The meaning of Wellbeing
A person's wellbeing flows from the balance of their heart, mind, spirit and body - emotions, thoughts, health and self - underpinned by a deep sense of purpose in life as an expecting or new parent.
About Belinda Horton
Meet Belinda
I'm Belinda Horton, an endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in perinatal mental health care - supporting people through pregnancy, birth, early parenthood and the many transitions that come with becoming a family.
My work over more than 30 years is warm, trauma-informed and grounded in the belief that every person's story deserves careful attention. Alongside counselling, I draw on family therapy, Circle of Security - Parenting, and The Richards Trauma Process™ (TRTP™) to help clients feel more grounded, connected and hopeful.
I see clients across Australia by telehealth, and also offer clinical supervision for other practitioners working in perinatal mental health care.
Kokoro has become a very important part of my life and my wellbeing through learning about Japanese culture and philosophy. This began before COVID and involved learning to weave on a beautiful SAORI loom and immersing myself in the "pure pleasure of creative flow" exploring "the colour, texture and free-form expression while the rhythmic movement of the working cloth with your hands becoames a meditative practice - calming the mind and awakening your creative spirit." Prue Simmons, Dyeing to Weave.
About Mental Health Occupational Therapy
A whole-person way of working
Occupational therapy is a broad way of working with people who are distressed or experiencing health issues - seeing the person and their family as a whole, exploring what is meaningful for them in all parts of their lives, developing goals to build a fulfilling life and strengthening the skills to make it happen. You can read more at the Occupational Therapy Australia website.
As an endorsed mental health occupational therapist, I have additional training and skills in counselling, psychological treatments and other areas of specialty. I'm recognised by Occupational Therapy Australia as a practitioner with advanced, specialised training for providing evidence-based care to people with mental health conditions under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.
about Belinda Horton
My ways of working
Mental Health Occupational Therapy
A whole-person way of working that sees you and your family in context, exploring what's meaningful and building the skills for a fulfilling life.
Family therapy
A rich understanding of what people bring to pregnancy, birth and becoming parents from their family of origin, and how new parents build their own family of creation.
Perinatal loss in practice
Support for people who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss - devastatingly life-changing experiences that need time and a safe space.
Circle of Security – Parenting
An attachment-based program that helps parents understand their child's emotional needs and respond with confidence.
The Richards Trauma Process™
A structured, evidence-informed approach to resolving trauma at the root, especially helpful for new parents.
Trauma-informed care & therapy
Informed by polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician - CBT-E
Specialised training in evidence-based eating disorder care.
Occupational Therapy Supervision Program
Trained through Occupational Therapy Australia, confidential support and mentoring for clinicians in perinatal mental health care and support.
About Perinatal Mental Health
Supporting parents in becoming
Perinatal mental health refers to emotional and psychological wellbeing during pregnancy and the first year after birth. It is also important to consider wellbeing before pregnancy and beyond the first year.
This time brings huge changes physically, emotionally, and in the identities and relationships of the new parents. It can then be really shocking when old thoughts, feelings or traumas re-surface and come to the fore, making it harder to be pregnant and preparing to become a new parent, or to have little children.
Good support and counselling focuses on helping you to understand what you're experiencing, to feel more grounded, confident, and supported in your roles in your family, while also caring for your own wellbeing.