rebecca van der merwe - Neoro Somatic Movement Complementary Therapist & Polyvagal Trauma-Informed Leadership / ADHD Coach

Bio

I was born and raised in South Africa, have lived and worked in the UK and Germany, and currently reside in Switzerland.

I am an accredited ICF professional and EMCC senior coach, as well as a Complementary Polarity and Feldenkrais Practitioner under the Swiss Medical Aid. I am also a licensed Somatic Experiencing, Sophrology and Neuro Affect Relational Model (NARM) Practitioner. I am in the process of obtaining my EMCC Coaching Supervision accreditation. I am also completing my in-practice training and registration as a registered systemic Psychotherapist in Switzerland.

My accreditations span a wide range of disciplines, including Leadership Circle, Leadership Embodiment, Point of Values, Agile Change and Project Management, Polarity Approach to Continuity and Transformation (PACT), Positive Intelligence, ADHD Coaching, Point of Values, Psychological Safety Fearless Organisation Scan, Ontological Coaching, Psychosynthesis, mBraining and various Trauma Informed Neuro-Somatic, Movement and Sensory Therapies.

Before my Career in Therapy and Coaching, I was a business and process analyst, as well as a change management consultant, specialising in telecommunications, digital startups, and Business Process improvement and reengineering. My recovery from a chronic health condition led to my retraining and career in personal development and transformation. Through these often “alternative” energetic, sensory, neuro-somatic, nutritional, and movement trainings, I became aware of the importance of our nervous system's values in regulating health and happiness, as well as connecting us to our innate (soul) values and purpose in life.

My 3-year Polarity training included studies in Western Medicine, Anatomy, Embryology, Stanley Kellerman’s formative psychology, as well as Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Medicine, along with authentic communication coaching.

My 4-year Feldenkrais Practitioner Training is enhanced with additional movement awareness training in Bones for Life, NeoroScanBalance, Hanna Somatics, Essential Somatics, Continuum and Kundalini Yoga.

Additionally, I am trained in and work with Stephen Porges' Polyvagal theory, which explores the functioning of our nervous system, as well as Polyvagal therapies such as Somatic Experiencing, NARM, Soma Embodiment, and Formative Embodiment.

I now offer regulatory services that combine my years of business and coaching experience, as well as my expertise in working with the neurodiverse community, burnout clients, and individuals with multiple chronic conditions. These aim to improve nervous system regulation, relationships, executive functioning, and fulfilment of their life’s purpose, ultimately increasing happiness.

After completing my master’s in psychosynthesis psychology in 2024, I am enrolled to become an accredited solution-oriented systemic psychotherapist under the auspices of Swiss Medical Aid.

rebecca van der merwe

Certified Coach

12 years of experience

Neurodiversity Coaching

I help you optimise your inner subconscious sense of safety, known as neuroception. Neuroception enables a regulated nervous system, which supports your experience of psychological safety, way of being, health, happiness and overall success in your external world. Safety from the inside out.

Habit Change

Improving Emotional Intelligence

Improving Self Awareness

Increasing Self Esteem

Life And Wellness

€180.00/h Free chemistry call

Message

Experience

I provide coaching, supervision, group facilitation and training services to a wide range of private and corporate clients addressing transformation needs in areas such as leadership development, personal and team performance improvement, soft skills and interpersonal relationship enhancement in the workplace, team building, well-being, health, happiness, learning, behavioural and relationship challenges, stress management, burnout, anxiety, and chronic health conditions.

Past clients include the Queens Young Leaders Programme, Cambridge Judge Business School MBA students, private professionals, and corporate clients. Additionally, I collaborate with 3rd party providers on leadership development programs for major corporations. I also support private clients with neuro-diverse conditions, such as autism, ADHD, and ADD, as well as those with chronic health issues like fibromyalgia, burnout, autoimmune disorders, and stress-related conditions.

I provide ICF (International Coaching Federation) Certification Training in Mbraining and Ontological Coaching. Mbraining is a revolutionary neuro-ontological-existential training that harnesses the intelligence of the heart, gut, and brain. It combines Heartmath, NLP, and the latest in neuroscience with the wisdom of ancient traditions to enable you to be more coherent and successful in life. I also facilitate ICF-accredited Ontological Coaching Training in Europe. Ontological Coaching enhances our ability to become better observers of our way of being. We transform through this awareness of our being, our becoming, doing, and belonging, as reflected in how we use our language (listening and speaking), moods, and physical body (nervous system, senses, and physiology) to relate to ourselves and others.

I am registered as a Complementary Therapist for Polarity and Feldenkrais under the Swiss medical scheme (EMR / ODaKT).

As a Polarity Therapist, I combine bodywork, nutrition, exercises, and counselling to help clients improve their Autonomic Nervous System’s core physical and psychological regulation, co-regulation, and self-regulation. I utilise Scenar Biofeedback technology to complement the healing effect of my Polarity energetic sessions.

I also provide keto-genetic and insulin-resistance prevention nutritional coaching to my clients, helping them regulate their health and well-being.

As a Feldenkrais, Sophrology, and Sensory processing practitioner, I use sensory integration, movement and stillness to work with clients to complete their sense of self, to be truly present and to live according to their highest values, with confidence, hope for the future and in harmony with self, others, their environment and universal consciousness. I offer sensory and reflex integration movement protocols for children and adults on the autistic spectrum with or without an ADHD diagnosis and/or with chronic physical illness to help them regain their ANS regulation and self-leadership.

Somatic Experiencing and NARM practitioner: I work with clients through elements of the self (imagination, visualisation, feelings, sensations, movement, and meaning-making) and nervous system regulation to integrate and release the hold of past traumatic events on their present and future lives.

In partnership with EyeLux Integrations, I offer Multi-Sensory Training (MST). This proven clinical intervention helps the brain learn or re-learn multi-sensory processing, the brain's first phase of all learning. MST involves applying the syntonics of coloured light, vestibular stimulation (movement), and auditory and somatosensory input. While MST is a powerful adjunct to the overall care of those suffering from sensory processing dysfunction, often associated with concussion, general learning difficulties, ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, autism, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation and more.

I also utilise technology such as the Safe and Sound Protocol, Heartmath, and Scenar Biofeedback to enhance sensory integration and, ultimately, nervous system regulation.

Qualifications

The qualifications that support my coaching and therapy services are listed below:

Academic Qualifications

1. MA Psychosynthesis, (2024) University of Middlesex through Psychosynthesis Institute
2. MBA (1993-1995) University of Stellenbosch, Business School, South Africa
3. B Com (Finance, Auditing, Economics, Psychology) (1989) UNISA, South Africa
4. BSc (Computer Science, Chemistry) (1986) Stellenbosch University, South Africa
5. Post Graduate Diploma Leadership Coaching (2024), Psychosynthesis Coaching
6. Post Graduate Certificate & Diploma Coaching, (20l6). University of Cambridge, UK.

Coaching & Therapy Qualifications & Accreditations

1. EMCC-accredited senior coach practitioner (2021) and Supervisor (end 2025)
2. ICF International Coaching Federation: Professional Coach (2022)

• Cambridge Certified Coach (2014-2016) • Gestalt Organisational Development & Team Facilitation (2017) • Diploma Brief Solutions Focus Coaching (2018-2019) • Systemic Coaching, Coaching Constellations (2018) • Agile Change & Project Management accreditation (2018) • Leadership Circle 360 profile accreditation (2017) • Leadership Embodiment, accredited coach (2019) • Point of Value Accreditation (2019) • Limbic coaching, Palo Alto Institute for Systemic Coaching (2018) • Wing-wave coaching, Basel: Rapid eye movement and Solutions Focus (2019) • Authentic Communication Counselling • Psychosynthesis Organisational and Leadership Coaching (2022) • Embodied Psychosynthesis Supervision (2024) • Certified Ontological Coach (2022) • Psychological Safety: Fearless organisation accreditation (2023) • Polarity Approach to Continuity and Transformation (PACT) (2023) • Positive Intelligence (2023) • MBraining Master Coach and Trainer, France (2024)

3. PAAC Certified ADHD Coach (application 2025) • Master ADHD training with Mentor Coach (2022-2024) • Peer skills training for young Adults & Adolescents on the Spectrum (2023)

4. Complementary Therapist registered at EMR, Swiss Feldenkrais & Polarity • Polarity Therapist (2018-2020) Polarity Bildungzentrum Zurich • Feldenkrais Practitioner (2018-2022), Feldenkrais Center, Biel, Switzerland • Sophrology Practitioner, London (2024)

5. Neuro-somatic Movement, Regulation and Trauma Therapy • SE Somatic Experiencing practitioner (2019-2022), Polarity Centre, Zurich • NARM Neuro Affect Relational Model practitioner (2024), Polarity, Zurich • Stanley Rosenberg, Accessing the healing power of the vagus nerve (2019) • Continuum Movement Practitioner (completion 2025) • Bones for Life (2023-2025) • TRE (Tension Trauma Release Exercises) Practitioner (completion 2025) • Scenar biofeedback facilitator (2025)

6. Sensory Integration, Early Childhood Development and Reflex Integration • Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (2020- 2024) • Institute for Neuro Psychology and Physiology (INPP) (2020-2021) • KinFlex, early childhood reflex integration and Kinesiology (2022) • Early Childhood reflexes treated with Kinesiology. • Multi-Sensory Integration (MST) • Safe & Sound Protocol • Heartmath - Heart rate coherence

7. Nutritional Education • Dr G Ede’s Ketogenetic Diet for Mental Health (2025) • InsulinIQ Coach (2025)