Miriam Holder is available by appointment only, so please phone to arrange a time.
About Miriam
Miriam is a counsellor and psychotherapist with a deep fascination for effective and brave communications with Self and others that result in empowering and positive relationships and meaningful sustainable change.
Her entire tertiary education has focused on communication starting with studying languages, then studying the written word through editing and publishing; and, most recently learning about our psychological and internal worlds in counselling and psychotherapy. More specifically she is influenced by Existential philosophy which focuses on the ideas of choice, responsibility, and living an authentic life.
Also, living and working abroad has allowed her to learn about other cultures; and while feeling like the odd one out she managed to build a successful life for herself and her family. Being resilient was very much a part of this experience. This learning has also enabled her to listen to others on many different levels and come to understand how we come to be where we are … but also explore where we would like to be.
Aside from her private practice she is the Campus Counsellor at the Jansen Newman Institute for Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy, as well as being the Counsellor for a college of natural therapies and a college of beauty therapy. She has worked as a telephone counsellor and Relationships Educator with Relationships Australia covering topics such as anger, domestic violence, parenting, and managing after separation. She also works within the corporate world coaching leadership and executive development.
Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Supervisor
Miriam has been involved in counselling since 2000 (both here and in the USA) and has achieved the following qualifications:
Masters in Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy
Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Graduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing
Bachelor of Arts (Hons Italian)
Certificate IV Telephone Counselling
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Courses in Existential Theory and Practice
Courses in Supervision
Focusing
Miriam continues to study and learn to deepen her knowledge and skill base, and also attends frequent supervision to improve and assist in her own reflective practice.
Miriam is a Clinical Member of CAPA (NSW) (Membership No. 39603), a member of PACFA Reg. Provisional 22140, as well as a member of the Institute of Group Leaders and the Jung Society.
Miriam is available by appointment only, and can also provide a rebate through Medibank Private.
Miriam has her own practice, Blue Healer, in High Street, Willoughby, NSW.
If you would like to submit a testimonial to be displayed on our website, please complete the form below and click the ‘Submit Testimonial’ button at the bottom. We will place your testimonial on our website once it’s been reviewed. Thank you!
Due to the 2019-2021 outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, we are taking extra precautions with the intake of each client, with their health history review, as well as with sanitation and disinfecting practices. Please complete our form (no earlier than the day before your appointment).
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle massage which is intended to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph from the tissues of the body, and is now recognised as a primary tool in lymphoedema management.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a non-surgical therapy with no need for painkillers, which makes it an ideal therapy to speed up recovery and cure various indications causing acute or chronic pain. Its main assets are fast pain relief and mobility restoration.
In line with our commitment to provide service to the community, we offer a special discount to support these New South Wales Emergency Services organisations:
Ambulance Service of NSW
Fire and Rescue NSW
NSW Police
NSW Rural Fire Service
NSW State Emergency Service
Royal Life Saving NSW
If you have a family member or friend who is in one of these organisations, please let them know that we would be privileged to treat them, and give them a $10 discount off our normal price for a one-hour Remedial Massage treatment session.
Our customers are the most important people in our corporate structure, so we strive to provide excellent care, information and treatment.
We abide by the codes of conduct within our industry and at all times strive for that to be the absolute minimum standard we achieve.
Treatment within the clinic is at all times collaborative and we expect our patients to provide full disclosure of any issues impacting on treatment.
We are first and foremost a Christian based company, and our ethics reflect these underpinning core values.
Treatment should be enjoyable, and humour is an essential part of what we do.
As Inaugural President of a new brand of cricket for kids with disability, Nicki developed health and first aid policy, and liaised with Cricket NSW.
Blind Cricket
As an accredited Cricket Australia Coach, Nicki has worked with the Aussie Blind Cricket Team and both the NSW and ACT Blind Cricket Teams. She has also worked as Team Therapist and Trainer.
In 2008 she was on the organising committee which hosted the Inaugural Australian Blind Cricket Ashes, and acted as Team Therapist for Australia. She also acted as Tournament Therapist for the 2010 Nationals in Sydney.
Patron of the Inaugural Australian Blind Cricket Ashes 2008 Tour, Richie Benaud, meets Nicki Cooke
Wheelchair Sport
Since 1998 Nicki has provided remedial massage, sports injury therapy and first response to athletes with disability. With experience at Olympic, Paralympic and World Cup level, Nicki has also travelled to Paris for the French Open (Wheelchair) Tennis, and worked with the WheelBlacks and Australian Steelers at International level.
Rehabilitation
The last 20% of recovery from injury, accident or illness takes 80% of the time and effort. It is challenging for therapists and frustrating for clients. Often a cheerful word and a fun approach to rehab helps to change mindsets and break down psychological barriers to progress. Research in neuroplasticity cause and effect has resulted in significant improvements for clients.
Masters Sport
Working with Masters Athletes requires a lateral approach, and Nicki feels that athletes at elite level in Masters sport have the most to gain from her experience. Usually therapists aspire to work with young elite athletes so Masters is an area with a paucity of therapy options. Thus she has found a willing and motivated group.
Nicki at the Indoor Cricket Masters World Series, 2010
Indoor Cricket
Both N.Z. and Australia have benefited from Nicki’s care. In South Africa in 2011, for Opens, and Masters Gold Coast for Australia, the teams under her watchful eye made a clean sweep of all 5 grades.
The N.Z. teams at Masters level took bronze, silver and gold in South Africa in 2013, and their Over 40 Men’s Team took Silver in the 2015 Australian Masters Championships.
Nicki Cooke went to Adelaide for the 2019 Australian Indoor Cricket Masters Championships, as Team Therapist for the New Zealand Central and Northern masters sides.
I love this photo of Nicki and Declan with the beautiful paintings by Leeanne. Nicki thank you for being an amazing friend for over 20 years. Thank you for going above and beyond in treating Declan’s chronic pain. And for all the hours and hours of research you have done Continue Reading
Nicki has a wealth of experience and technique, and magically knows just where to find the spot on my body that is the key to unlocking problems. I always look forward to my appointments with her, and leave feeling so much better!
Nicki came to the rescue for my daughter with severe disability. She had been placed in the ‘too-hard basket’ for many disability therapists but Nicki saw the potential and wanted to help relieve her pain. She took the time to build trust and now my daughter shows such excitement when Continue Reading
Your impression of the facilities? “This is my first visit to your practice and I was warmly welcomed by Steve who offered me a glass of water, or a cup of tea! I felt very relaxed and hopeful that my aches and pains would be considered thoughtfully – a very Continue Reading
A huge thank you Nicki for working your magic on my painful knees so that I was able to enjoy my holiday in Tasmania. I was dreading the thought that I would be missing a number of tours due to the pain in my legs which was preventing me from Continue Reading
The most qualified experienced and devoted therapist
As one of the top wheelchair athletes in tennis I have worked with Nicki on a weekly basis. She is the most qualified experienced and devoted therapist I have worked with. She shares an amazing passion and enthusiasm for her work and gets astonishing results.
Easing your pain is our pleasure, but some Terms and Conditions do apply to our services.
Health Fund Rebates
Not all services are rebatable under health insurance schemes. Please check with your health fund beforehand. Please note that a therapist’s professional association membership does not guarantee health fund provider status. Health funds maintain their own requirements for provider status.
Late arrival
Time for your appointment has been allocated for you. Late arrival may result in a shortened session time in order that we can accommodate appointments following yours.
Full payment for your session will be required.
Late Cancellations or Missed Appointments
Late cancellations and missed appointments exclude others from receiving treatment, and inconvenience both the therapists and other waiting clients.
If you want to cancel a booking (made either online or in clinic), you can cancel by ringing us, by replying to the confirmation email that goes out to you at the time of booking, or by replying to our email/text reminder the day before your appointment.
If more than 24 hours notice is given, the booking can then either be cancelled or rescheduled to another time. If less than 24 hours notice is given, the full consultation fee will apply[1]. We may however exercise our discretion in cases of emergencies and circumstances outside your control.
Our use of your Email address
We will use your email address to send you confirmation of your booking, and to send a reminder email the day before your booking.
We might also use it once in a blue moon to email you about booking-related matters (the last email was about a change to our Clinic Hours), but not about anything else. Such booking-related emails will have an Unsubscribe link. Your consent to receive such email is inferred from your giving us your email for a booking, and we understand that consent to be limited to booking-related matters. Just bookings.
For newsletters, product or marketing announcements, discount offers, and general good news, we ask you to please subscribe to our newsletter. Subscribing requires a double opt-in process, where you have to confirm your subscription request by reply email.
(We hate spam too.)
Gift Certificates
Gift certificates (a.k.a. Gift Vouchers) are valid for three years from the date of issue. Gift Vouchers are a receipt for a prepayment made for services at our Clinic. Should our Services and Fees have changed since that date, there may remain a difference to be paid at the time of redemption.
Look for our red flag out on the footpath. Go through to the central courtyard, and you will find our Clinic immediately on the right. It’s on the ground floor, and is wheelchair accessible.
Please allow yourself plenty of time before your appointment to find a park.
There are five off-street parking spaces at the side our building, on Thomas Street, including two spaces for disabled access. However, all these spaces are in high demand, so try Thomas Street first, but be prepared to use parking off Albert Street, on Sherbrook Road, in Westfield, or in other local streets
IC Sports Therapies was established in 1995, and our team practices Sports Therapy using a wide range of techniques (including Remedial Massage, Sports Massage, Physiotherapy, Shockwave Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Lymphatouch Negative Pressure Therapy, Sports Injury Therapy, Balance Assessment & Correction, Low-level Laser (a.k.a. Cold Laser) Therapy, and Pain Management & Rehabilitation) at our Clinic in Hornsby, New South Wales.
What can we do for you?
Our qualified and professional therapists are highly skilled and can address issues such as sports injuries and personal fitness, headaches, stiff necks, sore shoulders, low back pain, tired heavy legs, ACL injuries, foot pain, lymphedema, plantar fasciitis, and general aches and pains.
Shockwave Therapy offers fast pain relief and mobility restoration. Together with being a non-surgical therapy with no need for painkillers, this makes it an ideal therapy to speed up recovery and cure various indications causing acute or chronic pain.
