Body Based Grounding – Online Group

The information on this page is for an ACC sensitive claims approved online group.  Your counsellor or psychologist can help you access the group if you have an approved claim.

Body Based Grounding will give you the opportunity to improve your body awareness using movement arts and sensory grounding techniques. As you become more embodied, you will be more able to enjoy the experience of being fully present in the current moment. These skills can become a regular practice that will support your healing.

Each week we will help you learn about new body-based practices that encourage connection with your own body’s wisdom, and then we will gently guide you to find a way to explore the practice in a way that is safe and accessible to you. We will encourage you to listen to your needs and adjust the activities to the level you are most comfortable. After you participate in the expressive movement, and explore the different body wisdom focuses, you will be encouraged to reflect on your responses and experiences with artmaking and journaling. Lastly you will have the opportunity to share some of your experiences with the group to the level that you are comfortable with, or just ask any questions you may have. This deepens the learning and allows support and encouragement in a safe group process.

Potential Benefits

  1. Reconnect with your body in a safe, positive way.
  2. Explore and practice grounding practices using your body
  3. Improve your ability to self-resource and use agency
  4. Cultivate the skill of self regulation and co-regulation
  5. Come to enjoy the experience of being in the present moment

Dates and times for 2026 term 3

The 8 week group will run via Zoom

Tuesdays

9.30am – 11.30pm
3 Aug – 21 Sep 2026

Info for ACC application

Supplier:  Link House Birthright Waikato Trust  G-09830 (both zeros)

12 hours x SCSGT

1 hour x SCSGTT

Provider: Dione Davies, Art Therapist PAQ560

Who is the group for?

This group is designed to support those who:

  • Are female identifying adults (18 and over) who have an approved ACC claim
  • Are ready and willing to engage in an online group experience
  • Have some tools to manage any distress or anxiety that may arise
  • Want to improve their grounding skills
  • Have an interest in dance and/or movement and a willingness to explore through movement.

How to register

First please register with us on our google form by clicking the button

Register Here

Then request a PO from ACC with these details:

Supplier:  Link House Birthright Waikato Trust  G-09830 (both zeros)

Provider: Dione Davies, Art Therapist PAQ560

12 hours x SCSGT

1 hour x SCSGTT

You’ll need to connect the group to one of your SMART goals.  Your rationale may include:

  • reconnecting with the body in a safe and pleasurable way
  • learning self regulation through body based grounding techniques
  • improving self care and agency by participating in a safe group process, while choosing the appropriate level of participation
  • improving ability to live in the present moment and feel safe in the body

What participants have said about this group

Term 1 2026

Ive tried other groups and haven’t felt them at all but ive enjoyed this group. I didnt feel pressured or felt like it was too intense. Ive enjoyed learning new things and would it again

Term 4 2025

I think even what seemed to be challenging has now become welcome in my life as I strive to fully be able to embody my body and express myself.

Term 4 2025

Personally for me sometimes I didn’t know if it was right for me because I was so tired while doing it but learnt that my body just needed to chill out but also I think I want to look at doing art therapy if that’s even a thing because I like when we drew things and how we were feeling. 

Your Facilitators

Dione Davies

Dione received her BASS(counselling) in 2004, MAAT(clinical) in 2013 and is a registered Arts Therapist, with membership with ANZACATA.  She has had an exclusively online art therapy private practice since 2019 (pre-covid).  She chooses to work online to provide accessibility and flexibility for her clients, knowing that many New Zealanders live in small communities or have limitations on their ability to access services outside their homes. 

Hilda Mali

Dr. Hilda Malibin is a registered medical doctor with special interest in mental health. She is currently working as a part-time rural general practitioner in a clinic under the leadership of an organisation rooted in Kaupapa Maori while transitioning into clinical psychotherapy. She is currently in her final year Master in Creative Arts Therapy (Clinical). She completed her Diploma in Dance Movement Therapy in 2020 and has been leading dance movement therapy sessions for adults with disability in Hamilton since 2023 as well as women’s wellness and wellbeing groups employing psychosomatic practices and expressive arts. She is also a certified meditation teacher and practitioner of The BodyMind Approach (BMA).