Mental health can feel like an eternal battle with ceaseless waves of darkness; sometimes you feel like you have everything together, and other times you can feel powerless within your own mind.

For anybody struggling to manage their mental health and wellbeing, or for those who want to learn more awareness and discipline to further their personal development, it’s important to understand that despite this being, at times, an intense personal journey for you, you don’t need to face the struggle alone.

There are services, practitioners, and communities that are dedicated to aiding their fellow humans to be their best selves, but not every service will be a perfect match for your own individual needs.

Using this idea to provide an especially unique perspective on mental health, personal development, and healing is Bianca Stawiarski, a Badimaya (Badimia) woman living in  South Australia, and the founder and managing director of Warida Wholistic Wellness.

Warida Wholistic Wellness is an empowerment, development and mental wellbeing service operating on Kaurna Country, in the north-east Adelaide hills.

The physical environment is a sanctuary where visitors can disconnect from the struggles of modern life in order to explore the beauty and serenity that countryside Australia has to offer, facilitating the reconnection to yourself.

In operating the sanctuary and the services they provide, Warida works to support the foundation of strong families, workplaces, services and communities, and helps people break through intergenerational trauma and disconnection to empower them with the tools and knowledge necessary to heal, overcome and thrive.

Warida Wholistic Wellness aims to balance Western clinical health practices with Indigenous healing techniques, using a holistic and intuitive approach to address a client’s needs from every angle.

Included in these strategies are equine-assisted therapy, bush therapy, counselling, coaching, and even horse archery (for awakening your inner warrior!)

Empowering people to heal ‘on their own terms’

Warida Wholistic Wellness’ founder Bianca Stawiarski is a passionate, thoughtful, and caring human who emphasises the power of connecting; with ourselves, each other, and the land we are a part of.

Her journey of rehabilitation, education, and empowerment has seen her operating as a speaker, lecturer, author, consultant, healer, trainer, and change-maker.

Infusing every aspect of her life with the Indigenous connectedness, she is able to offer a unique, valuable perspective – one that is sought out by leading organisations, companies, and publications around the world.

“I’ve seen people who were living their lives in pain, fear, anxiety and darkness, and for many the traditional ‘room-based talk therapy’ wasn’t working for them,” Ms Stawiarski said.

“For so many of these people, their experience in the mental health system was one of feeling disempowered and broken, where they were secondary to the therapist.

“At Warida Wholistic Wellness, we focus on empowering people to undertake their healing journey on their own terms.”

Alongside the therapy, counselling, wellness, and coaching services that Warida offers to all, Ms Stawiarski and Warida are deeply invested in uplifting Indigenous communities.

They provide volunteering, training, and employment opportunities, and facilitate positive mental wellbeing and self-care practices in Australian First Nations people impacted by trauma. They proudly empower people from all walks of life living on Australian land and beyond.

If you’re looking for an alternative treatment to overcome mental health difficulties that aren’t being satisfied in traditional therapy sessions, if you’re seeking ancient wisdom to help you overcome a block, or if you’re trying to broaden your perception and unlock your full potential, Warida is here to help you on your journey.

Connect with Bianca Stawiarski and her team at Warida Wholistic Wellness through their website or their Instagram,  Facebook, and LinkedIn social media pages to find out more about how you can incorporate Indigenous wisdom and wellness practices that will enrich and empower your life.