Science-based. Heart-led. Lived experience.
Yes, there's actual science in here.
The tagline isn't decoration. Every framework Julia teaches is drawn from peer-reviewed research. Here's exactly where it comes from and why it matters.
"Science-based" only means something if you can point to the science. So here it is.
The Frameworks
Where the content comes from
Each of Julia's core frameworks has a research foundation. These aren't invented on the fly. They're built from decades of published science, then translated into language that works in a room full of real people on a Wednesday afternoon.
The RUM Principle
The idea that struggling is Reasonable, Universal, and Manageable sits at the heart of everything Julia teaches. It draws on acceptance-based therapy research and self-determination theory to reframe how people understand their own mental health experiences.
Draws on: Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Hayes et al.), cognitive appraisal research.
The CHANGE Model
A six-step framework for navigating change, built around what neuroscience tells us about how the brain responds to threat, processes new information, and forms new habits. It's structured because the research shows structure works.
Draws on: Neuroplasticity research, SCARF model (Rock), motivational interviewing, implementation intentions (Gollwitzer).
The Wobbly Point
The moment stress tips from manageable into overwhelming has a name in clinical research. The Wobbly Point is Julia's accessible version of that threshold, based on what we know about emotional regulation and the nervous system under pressure.
Draws on: Window of tolerance (Siegel), polyvagal theory (Porges), stress and arousal research.
Burnout Busters
Small daily habits that the research actually supports. Not generic wellness tips. Burnout Busters are built from occupational stress research and positive psychology interventions that have measurable effect sizes, not just good vibes.
Draws on: Maslach Burnout Inventory research, positive psychology interventions (Seligman, Lyubomirsky), micro-recovery research (Trougakos).
The F Words
A memorable way into the multi-dimensional nature of human wellbeing. Informed by positive psychology's PERMA model and the growing body of evidence on what actually contributes to a life that feels worth living.
Draws on: PERMA model (Seligman), subjective wellbeing research, social connectedness and flourishing studies.
One Degree of Change
The science of habit formation is pretty clear: tiny consistent shifts beat dramatic overhauls every time. One Degree of Change is built on that research, and on what self-efficacy theory tells us about the relationship between belief and behaviour.
Draws on: Habit loop research (Duhigg, Clear), self-efficacy theory (Bandura), behavioural activation research.
Research Disciplines
The fields this work sits across
Julia's content draws from several research disciplines at once, which is part of why it lands across such different audiences. The science of burnout for a nurse looks different to the science of motivation for a CEO. The foundations, though, are the same.
Key Thinkers
The researchers whose work Julia actually knows
There's a difference between name-dropping research and understanding it well enough to teach it. Julia has spent years studying these people's work, not just referencing it in a slide.
The Background
Rigorous enough to trust. Human enough to use.
The science only matters if it lands. Here's the background that shapes how Julia works with it, and why the content holds up to scrutiny.
Trained Teacher with a Background in Educational Psychology
Julia's teaching diploma included educational psychology, which is where she first started studying how people learn, process information, and respond to stress. She has taught Health in schools, which means she's delivered mental health content within a credentialed curriculum to real students, not just talked about it from a stage. That foundation shapes how she thinks about knowledge transfer in every room she works in.
Mental Health First Aid Certified Instructor
MHFA is an internationally accredited programme developed at the Australian National University and now delivered in over 25 countries. Julia is a trained and active instructor. The curriculum is clinically grounded and externally assessed, which means the mental health content she delivers through this programme is held to a standard beyond her own judgement.
Mind Health Carer Course (now the Pastoral Transformation Course), MindHealth NZ
Julia has completed the Mind Health Carer Course through MindHealth NZ, a programme designed for people working in pastoral care, schools, and community settings. It sits at the intersection of mental health literacy and relational practice, which is exactly where a lot of Julia's work lives.
Published Author
Be Kind to Your Mind (2024) integrates research from neuroscience, positive psychology, and occupational wellbeing with accessible storytelling. The science underpins every chapter, written for people who don't have a research background but deserve accurate information.
The Science Spot
Every keynote includes a dedicated section where the underlying research is named and explained, not just gestured at. Audiences leave knowing what the science actually says, and where to find more if they want to go further.
30 Years in Rooms With Real People
Julia has been working with audiences across education, corporate, and community settings since the mid-1990s. When she says something doesn't translate from page to person, it's because she's tested it, not assumed it. That's what "Heart-led" means in practice: the science has to work in real life, or it doesn't make it in.
Straight Answers
Questions people actually ask
Is this work actually evidence-based?
Yes. Every framework Julia teaches is drawn from peer-reviewed research in established fields: neuroscience, positive psychology, occupational wellbeing, and acceptance-based therapy. The frameworks have been developed over many years of study and refined through delivery to thousands of people across New Zealand and internationally.
What research does Be Kind to Your Mind draw on?
The book draws on positive psychology (Seligman's PERMA model), neuroscience (threat and reward systems, window of tolerance), habit and behaviour change science, and occupational wellbeing research. It's written for a general reader, but the science is accurate and sits underneath every chapter.
Does Julia have clinical qualifications?
Julia is a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor and a trained educator with 30 years working with people across education, corporate, and community settings. She is not a clinician, and she's upfront about that. Her work is in translating clinical and academic research into forms people can actually use. She refers people to professional support where it's appropriate, and builds that into every programme.
How current is the research Julia uses?
Julia reads actively in her field and updates her content regularly. The researchers named on this page are among the most cited and widely replicated in their disciplines. Where emerging research is referenced, Julia is clear that it's emerging rather than presenting it as settled science.
Can Julia provide references or a reading list for an event?
Yes. Julia is happy to put together a curated reading list or reference document for event coordinators, HR teams, or attendees who want to go deeper. Just ask via the contact page.
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