Ruby Retreat grew from my belief that healing happens through connection, compassion, and feeling understood. My own lived experience has shaped both my personal and professional journey, inspiring me to create a place where people can feel safe to explore change at their own pace.

I hold a Bachelor of Social Services and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Addiction and am a full member of DAPAANZ. I have also completed my training in Family Systemic Therapy, which has deepened my passion for working with individuals, couples, and families.

My first studies were in nutritional counselling and clinical herbalism, with a particular interest in New Zealand native plants/herbs. Since then, I've followed my curiosity wherever it's led me, studying everything from yoga instruction and breathwork to trauma, relationships, and soon hopefully my masters in psychotherapy. I love learning and I'm always curious about what helps people heal and grow.

My work is grounded in a trauma-informed, relational approach that recognises the connection between our experiences, relationships, the nervous system, and wellbeing. I draw from a range of evidence-based and experiential approaches, always tailoring therapy to the unique needs and strengths of each person, couple, or family.

While Ruby Retreat began with a focus on addiction recovery, it has grown into a practice that supports people through a wide range of challenges, including trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties, family conflict, and life transitions. My hope is that every person who walks through the door feels genuinely seen, understood, and supported as they move towards the life and relationships they want.

It is a privilege to walk alongside people as they discover new possibilities for healing, growth, and connection.

As an experienced yoga and reiki teacher, I love bringing breath and body awareness to my lessons to offer a point of connection to self. I have recently studied trauma-informed yoga and I’m very interested in sharing what I have learnt to help facilitate the healing journey.

At Ruby Retreat I will offer trauma-informed yoga and reiki/massage treatments.

I first became aware of Non-Violent Communication (NVC) in 2004 and have actively developed this new language through attending workshops, taking part in and leading practice groups. I have been facilitating NVC courses in the Nelson/Tasman area for five years and worked as a communication consultant in the business environment. I am a candidate for CNVC certification since the beginning of 2020. I get the opportunity to role-model authentic communication in a range of volunteer positions in community groups (e.g. as a volunteer fire fighter).

In my role as a health coach, I have supported people with eating addictions and thus supported on both a practical and emotional level. The magic of truly listening and giving empathy to people - as opposed to giving advice and wanting to ‘fix’ someone’s problem - is a profound experience for me.

I am passionate about empowering people about their lives and that is why I am excited to be involved in Ruby Retreat where I will be working both in groups and individual sessions.

Kia Ora, Namaste! I'm Rati (Romany Rutledge), a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, yoga practitioner and massage therapist.

I love my work, and having the ability and facility to be able to support other people physically and by bringing upliftment to the human spirit with massage and bodywork. Having studied a wide range of natural health modalities and after addressing my own health issues, I know firsthand the value of good bodywork for the relief of stress, and potentially as a catalyst for body wide healing.

Although I am born and bred a 'Kiwi', I have a long standing affinity for Indian culture and I especially love the ayurvedic approach to health and healing. I have applied ayurvedic wisdom for myself and my family for many years, and find it to be practical, moderating and harmonising with the wider world. I have spent time in India and try to return there as regularly as time and finances allow.

I truly appreciate the underlying philosophy of ayurveda, and just generally having an underlying philosophy to health and healthcare. I observe in myself and the wider world the impact that our personal understanding and beliefs (our philosophies) have on our health and wellbeing. Quite often the root cause of a health problem is a deeply held, and perhaps unseen, belief creating a pattern of behaviour, unhelpful habits or even the adoption of health rituals that may not be benefitting us in our current stage of life.
The ayurvedic concept is to live joyfully and wisely, adapting our needs to the constant flux of time and the environment. Ayurveda encourages us to live whilst honouring and appreciating the enormous diversity of living beings and circumstances around us and their divine source, helping us to find peace in a sometimes crazy world!

I look forward to working with you!

Kia ora koutou. As an occupational therapist using adventure therapy, I am passionate about supporting people to live a more meaningful life through connecting with nature, themselves and each other. Using strength and solution-focused approach in my mahi, I facilitate activities followed by guided reflection to support individuals to find their own answers and inner wisdom. I believe in the power of overcoming challenges in a safe social, emotional and physical environment to support our learning and healing. Mā te wā.

I’m a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Nelson - Tasman region. Before moving to New Zealand in 2019, I completed my studies and practiced in San Francisco. While in school, I fulfilled a portion of my clinic hours at an ear acupuncture clinic that was founded to provide free health care for San Francisco’s underserved homeless population. It was then that I first experienced and witnessed the profound effect ear acupuncture, and specifically, the NADA protocol, can have for those in recovery or currently suffering from addiction and trauma.

The NADA protocol is a prescribed acupuncture treatment where needles are placed in five points in each ear and participants sit quietly for 30 to 45 minutes.

A few years later, I volunteered for the Cover Project, an acupuncture and mindfulness-based initiative that provided ear acupuncture for incarcerated veterans of the US military who suffered from addiction and PTSD. This weekly stint in the San Francisco jail system was unbelievably heartening. At first, the guards seemed skeptical of our role at the jail and reminded me each week to “not get in the way”. After a couple of months, guards began opening up and explaining how profound the acupuncture has been for the wards of the jail that received the treatments. The inmates echoed the same sentiment. Eventually, guards started scheduling their break time to participate in the acupuncture sessions alongside the inmates. This was a first for the jail, a setting where guards and inmates participated in activities alongside each other.

Although most of my time as an acupuncturist has been spent in private practice, it is my experience in the ear clinic and later, the Cover Project, that has been among the most inspirational and rewarding of my career.

At the Ruby Retreat, I will offer the NADA protocol to treat participants in a group setting. Anyone who is shy of needles or prefers not to get ear acupuncture is welcome to join if only for a quiet space to reflect or meditate.