Kirsten Hunneyball

Hi! I am Kirsten Hunneyball, Peer Recovery and Life Coach based in Ballito, KZN. Having lived experience with an eating disorder, ADHD, and trauma, I am passionate about helping people reconnect with their empowered selves and navigate life’s challenges.

Certifications:

• EDIT Bronze Level
• Basic Addiction Counsellor Certificate. (BACC – ACCSA) Please note I am not practising as a counsellor, this is a CPD training.
• Peer Addictions Recovery Coach. (U-ACT)
• Life and Wellness Coach. (TriFocus Academy)
• Trauma Sensitive Yoga Return to Presence Facilitator. (Candice Clark )
• Yoga 200hr YTT Yoga Teacher. (Yoga Renew)
• Advanced Special Populations Group Personal Trainer. (TriFocus Academy)
• Polyvagal Informed Felt-Sense Approach for Addiction Certficate. (Jan Winhall, Polyvagal Institute)

Working toward:

• SACC – Specialist Addictions Counselling Certification (ACCSA)
• Clinical Somatic Exercise Practitioner. (Somatic Movement Center)
• Working with Neurodivergent Clients with Disordered Eating (NEDDE)

I am a BAPSA member which means that I commit to upholding ethical standards in my field of work. I also maintain my own professional development through 1:1 personal therapy, 1:1 counselling supervision with a registered counsellor, and continued education.

I understand that self-improvement and recovery from disordered food and body behaviours is a complicated process and that you will need support every step of the way. It is important for you to have a professional who understands the physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual elements that underlie disordered food and body behaviours and who can help you establish a life that better reflects who you are without limiting beliefs and unhelpful coping mechanisms for life’s stressors.

Coaching can be a very effective tool in your process, however it is important to note that I am not a therapist or medical professional. My approach is within a coaching framework. I use methodologies such as mindfulness, meditation, nervous system regulation, accountability, somatic embodiment techniques, and spiritual development to help you deal with triggers and challenges. I will also help to equip you with empowering practical tools to utilize on a day-to-day basis so that you can show up to life as your most authentic and best self. Philosophies that align with my value system include that of Intuitive Eating, All Foods Fit, Anti-Diet, HAES, and Bottom-Up approaches to healing.

Because recovery from disordered food and body behaviours is complex, and needs to be met on a biopsychosocial level, you might find the need for external support as well. The process of recovery might include dieticians, therapists, medical doctors, support groups, and more depending on your individual needs. If needs be, I will consult and collaborate with any other medical and psychological support systems you have in order to help address you as a whole rather than to isolate any one form of treatment for recovery so that you can move into a culture of lasting recovery. Coaching is not seen as the “be all and end all” of the healing process and your journey may require a multidisciplinary approach. I am happy to refer you out to professionals within my network if you need it.

I am not saying that the journey will be easy, but it will be worth it. If you are willing to put in the work, and are open-minded as to how we do that, I believe you are well on your way to a happier, healthier you.