The Curious Collective - Kate Chisholm

The Curious Collective - Kate Chisholm Helping you understand what your body is trying to tell you—and what to do about it "The body whispers before it screams." That tension in your shoulders.

After 24 years in the Australian Army, including deployment to Southern Iraq, I know what it's like when your body won't let you switch off—even when you're safe. The busy brain that won't quiet. The difficulty fully feeling or being present. These aren't problems to fix—they're messages your body has been sending you. In my work, I translate those messages....

Through the COMPASS Intentional Liv

ing Program, I help veterans, first responders (service-connected individuals):
✓ Understand what their body has been trying to communicate through tension, tightness, pain, and hypervigilance
✓ Release the protective patterns that served them in high-stress environments but now limit their current life
✓ Reconnect with the ability to feel deeply, be present, and build authentic relationships
✓ Transform operational adaptations into purposeful choices that serve their current life

My approach combines:
- Military precision with trauma-informed nervous system science
- Practical, evidence-based tools (no fluff, no woo-woo)
- Respect for your service experience without pathologising your responses
- Safe, structured support for sustainable change

Your body adapted brilliantly to keep you effective under pressure. Now let's help it adapt to the life you're actually living. The COMPASS Intentional Living Program guides you through four directions:
North: Understanding your body's intelligence and protective patterns
South: Practical regulation tools tailored to your unique responses
East: Integrating body awareness into daily life
West: Creating purposeful impact from a regulated state

🎙️ Host of The Curious Collective podcast
John Maxwell Leadership Coach | Prince of Wales Award recipient

Ready to understand what your body has been trying to tell you?

Hey Curious Collective community 👋It's been a little quiet on here from me ♡ not because the work has slowed down, but b...
02/06/2026

Hey Curious Collective community 👋

It's been a little quiet on here from me ♡ not because the work has slowed down, but because it's been heads-down busy in the best possible way...

I wanted to check in and share where things have been happening lately 🧐

A big chunk of my time right now is face-to-face... working directly with external support agencies here in South East Queensland, and with one-on-one clients through Inside Out Active Recovery in Brendale.

There's something really meaningful about being in the room with people. Watching someone recognise for the first time that their body's responses make sense....that they're not broken. That what they've been carrying has a name and skills to work with it.

That's the work. And it's an honour every time ♡

If you've been sitting with questions about what I actually do, or whether it might be relevant to you or someone you know... drop a comment or send me a message. I'm here.

Kate Chisholm 🧭

Will I get to see you here .... 👆May bookings are now open for Wednesday breathwork and recovery integration sessions at...
04/05/2026

Will I get to see you here .... 👆

May bookings are now open for Wednesday breathwork and recovery integration sessions at Inside Out Active Recovery, Brendale (North Brisbane).

If you've been curious about how this works in practice, this is what a session looks like 👇

Conscious Connected Breathwork first. A deliberate, evidence-informed practice that accesses stored tension and incomplete activation cycles at a level talk-based approaches often can't reach. Your nervous system gets the conditions it needs to process what got interrupted.

Then straight into Inside Out's recovery facilities (based on what your body needs), infrared sauna and contrast therapy. This is for grounding and integration while your system is still receptive. That window matters. The sequencing is intentional.

The room in the photo is where this happens every Wednesday. It's quiet, it's considered, and it doesn't look like a clinic > because the work here isn't clinical. It's practical. Body-based. Built specifically for people who've spent years in high-demand environments and are ready for something that actually meets them where they are.

Available throughout May — every Wednesday 👇

9:00am | 11:00am | 1:00pm | 6:00pm | 7:30pm
Single sessions and packages available.

Friday and weekend sessions on request....

Book via the link or send me a message to discuss which option fits 🧭

Your nervous system doesn't speak in logic.It speaks in sensation. In the shift between activation and rest. In patterns...
28/04/2026

Your nervous system doesn't speak in logic.

It speaks in sensation. In the shift between activation and rest. In patterns that were laid down long before you had words for them.

Talk therapy works at the level of the thinking mind. But hypervigilance, body armour, disrupted sleep... those live deeper. In the limbic system. In the brainstem. In the parts shaped by your lived experiences.

Breathwork doesn't bypass that. It gives your body the conditions it needs to complete what got interrupted.

Wednesday sessions at Inside Out Active Recovery, Brendale.

Small groups. Deliberate sequencing. Breathwork first > then contrast therapy and infrared sauna for integration while your system is still receptive....

Link down below to book, or drop a question about breathwork... chat soon 👇

NEW EPISODE - Curious Collective Podcast !!! 🎙Have you or someone you care about tried medication, done the therapy, put...
20/04/2026

NEW EPISODE - Curious Collective Podcast !!! 🎙

Have you or someone you care about tried medication, done the therapy, put in the hard work and still felt like something was missing?

This episode is for you...

Today I sat down with Dr Lauren Barker, a medical doctor who left the traditional healthcare system because she wanted to do more for patients...to talk about something our community doesn't hear about nearly enough > what actually comes after standard treatment stops working.

Dr Lauren works at the forefront of psychedelic medicine and esketamine therapy in Australia. She's not here to sell you anything. She's here to make sure you know your options, because too many people in this community don't.

By tuning into this conversation you will learn:

- What esketamine actually is and how it works in your brain. Unlike traditional antidepressants that only adjust your neurotransmitters, esketamine increases neuroplasticity > meaning it creates fertile ground for your brain to form new connections, break old negative patterns, and start thinking differently. Dr Lauren explains this in plain language that makes complete sense.

- Why traditional antidepressants don't work for most people. More than half of people with depression don't respond to standard medication and the side effects (numbness, weight changes, loss of libido) are a big reason why. If this has been your experience, this conversation will validate what you've felt and show you there are other pathways.

- The sobering truth about how long people wait. The average time between a depression diagnosis and accessing a next-step treatment is 20 years. Dr Lauren explains why that delay matters so much > because the longer negative thought patterns are left untreated, the deeper they become. Early access to the right treatment can literally give people years of their life back.

- What TGA approval in Australia means for you right now. Esketamine, psilocybin, and M**A are now TGA-approved in Australia. Dr Lauren breaks down what that actually means for accessing treatment, how to navigate the system through your GP, and how to advocate for yourself if your current treatment isn't working.

- Why these medicines are a platform, not a magic fix. One of the most important things Dr Lauren shares is > esketamine doesn't do the work. It creates the space for you to do the work. It gets you out of bed so you can walk, connect, breathe, learn. This conversation is honest about what these treatments can and can't do.

- What the research says about PTSD, M**A and psilocybin. For our veteran and first responder community specifically, Dr Lauren speaks directly to the emerging evidence around psychedelic-assisted treatment for PTSD > what looks promising, what we still don't know, and why honest expectations matter.

- How neuroplasticity connects to the things you're already doing. Exercise, breathwork, learning new skills, social connection, sleep, diet + Dr Lauren explains exactly why these things work at a brain level, and how they interact with these next-step treatments. The SEEDS framework gets a mention too.

- How to research and find the right support. Dr Lauren gives practical, no-fluff guidance on how to empower yourself with information, find good practitioners, and know what questions to ask your GP > even if your GP hasn't heard of these treatments yet.

If you've been in that place where you just don't know where the next step is ... Dr Lauren's closing words in this episode are worth the whole listen.

"If you're in a dark place, there is always a listening ear out there. Reach out to someone for a conversation." - Dr Lauren Barker

Episode 106 is live now on Spotify & YouTube ... I'll drop the info below ### The Curious Collective community

And if this conversation could help someone in your world 🙏 please share it. You never know who needs to hear it today....

Hello to all reading this post 🙌 come find me at Inside Out Active Recovery, Brendale (North Brisbane) ...I'm here from ...
26/03/2026

Hello to all reading this post 🙌 come find me at Inside Out Active Recovery, Brendale (North Brisbane) ...

I'm here from 7am–3pm and honestly? If you haven't been through these doors yet, today is the perfect day to change that.

This place is something special. Infrared sauna, contrast therapy pools, cryotherapy, NormaTec compression boots — it's not just a recovery centre, it's a full reset for your body and nervous system. The kind of reset most of us forget we actually need.

Here's what I love about it ♡ every single modality here works with your body's intelligence. The heat, the cold, the compression.. they're not just feel-good treatments. They're actively shifting your nervous system, reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and helping your body do what it already knows how to do > recover, regulate, and rebuild.

If you've been here before, you already know!!

If you're new ~ lock in one of our new Trial Passes and get unlimited access for 2 full weeks. Yes, really. Two weeks to make it a habit ~ come in today, say hi, and let me show you around.

📍 Inside Out Active Recovery, Brendale
🕖 I'm here today 7am–3pm & Saturday 2- 6pm

Drop a comment or DM me and I'll meet you at the door 🙌

What a weekend!! Over the past two days I have had the absolute privilege of being part of something I will carry with m...
08/03/2026

What a weekend!!

Over the past two days I have had the absolute privilege of being part of something I will carry with me for a long time. Invited to contribute as a practitioner, educator and veteran to the filming of a documentary led by the incredible Pro Patria Centre team — built around the powerful work of psychologist Barry Zworestine and his book, 'Which Way Is Your Warrior Facing?'

And the setting? Oh, the setting....

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia on Macquarie Street — a heritage-listed building founded in 1903 with a century of history woven into every staircase, every chandelier, every beautifully ornate ceiling. A building that has held connection to Australia's service community within its walls for decades. Walking through it each morning felt like the space itself understood what we were there to do.

We filmed. We talked. We went deep. A room full of veterans, psychologists, psychiatrists, allied health professionals and advocates — all committed to changing the narrative for a community that deserves so much more 🙌

No complaints. No recycled problems. Just genuine, growth-oriented conversations about what real change actually looks like.

To Barry — thank you for the work you have dedicated yourself to. It creates rooms like this one ♡

To the Pro Patria Centre — thank you for the vision, the care, and for including me. I don't take it lightly. Not even a little bit ♡

To Sydney — you were the perfect backdrop for all of it.....

Headed back to Brisbane tomorrow — full heart, tired feet, and deeply grateful 🙏

That's me. Mid-rappel. Body shaking. Mind loud.The harness digs in. Height screams at every nerve. And yet—I'm listening...
01/02/2026

That's me. Mid-rappel. Body shaking. Mind loud.

The harness digs in. Height screams at every nerve. And yet—I'm listening....

• Not to the fear telling me to freeze.
• Not to the voice saying "just push through."
~ I'm listening to my body 🧘‍♀️

The tremor in my legs? That's my nervous system doing its job > assessing, calculating, keeping me alert. The tightness in my chest? Information. My system saying "this matters, pay attention."

Here's what I've learned working with veterans and first responders who've spent careers overriding their body's signals:

• There's a difference between pushing through and moving through. Pushing through ignores the body's wisdom. Moving through includes it.

I can feel the fear... and walk.
My body shakes. My soul moves.
Discomfort is not my enemy.
Forward is a feeling, not a location.
Less head. More body.

When you've been trained to override, to push past, to "suck it up" > you lose the ability to distinguish between your nervous system protecting you and your nervous system limiting you.

The rope holds. The harness works. My body knows this even when my mind doesn't trust it yet.

So I breathe. I feel my feet. I acknowledge the shake. And I take the next step anyway—with my body, not despite it!!

That's not weakness. That's integration.

What would change if you stopped pushing through discomfort and started moving with it instead?

30/01/2026

Your nervous system tracks your pace before you even notice it....

The way you scan the carpark before heading into the shops. The tension in your shoulders during morning traffic. How you move through your day like you're still on shift—even when you're not.

Speed creates activation. Slowness creates regulation.

Your body adapted brilliantly to move fast under pressure. That intelligence kept you effective when seconds mattered. But when your baseline becomes urgency, your nervous system never gets the signal that you're actually safe.

Slowing down isn't about being unproductive. It's about recalibration.

Try this today:
• Notice your walking pace in familiar places—can you move 10% slower?
• Check your breathing at red lights—can you extend your exhale?
• Observe yourself between tasks—can you pause for three breaths before the next thing?

Your body is always communicating. When you slow the pace, you give it permission to shift from operational mode to being present.

The regulation you're seeking starts with the tempo you're setting.

What's one small way you can slow your pace today?

The Loneliness I Didn't UnderstandWhen I was in the Army in my 20s, I couldn't be alone.I told myself I was a "people pe...
08/01/2026

The Loneliness I Didn't Understand

When I was in the Army in my 20s, I couldn't be alone.

I told myself I was a "people person." That I thrived on connection.

But that wasn't it.

I filled every gap. Drinking. Intimacy that felt like closeness but left me emptier. Hanging out with people I didn't even like - people who didn't actually know me.

Because here's the truth ~ I didn't know myself. I was surrounded by people and completely alone. Not because no one was there, but because I wasn't there.

I was performing. Adapting. Filling noise with more noise so I didn't have to feel the gap between who I was showing up as and who I actually was.

Loneliness isn't the absence of people. It's the presence of separation.

You can feel lonely in a packed room and at peace on a hillside by yourself.

The difference isn't how many bodies are around you. It's whether you're actually here - present with what's real, rather than performing what you think should be.

Your body is already in conversation with everything around you.

Breath passes in and out.
Light enters.
Sound arrives.
What we call "inside" and "outside" are exchanging every second.

The separation was never real. It was the gap between the version of me I was performing and the one actually breathing underneath all that noise.

If you can't be alone with yourself, you're never really with anyone else either.

The work isn't learning to be more social.
It's learning to close the gap between who you're performing as and who you actually are.

That's where the loneliness ends.

Not when you find the right people.
When you find yourself.

From Mind to Body WisdomMost people think meditation means stopping thoughts.So you sit down, close your eyes... and imm...
06/01/2026

From Mind to Body Wisdom

Most people think meditation means stopping thoughts.

So you sit down, close your eyes... and immediately feel like you're failing.

• Mission planning kicks in.
• Threat assessment runs.

Your trained hypervigilance does exactly what it learned to do. You might think, "This isn't for me."

Meditation isn't about forcing your mind to go blank.

It's about redirecting that exceptional awareness you developed in service / on the job —turning it from external scanning to internal sensing.

The practice isn't about stopping those protective responses....

• It's about giving them new coordinates.
• Less head, more body.
• Less analysing, more sensing.

When you sit 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️
Those thoughts still come ~ mission planning, threat assessment, over thinking.

That noise was always running in the background; you're just finally noticing the volume.

Then, something begins to shift:
You stop fighting the scanning.
You stop judging the hypervigilance.
You stop treating your nervous system like it's the enemy.
You begin to notice your body's signals without immediately acting on them.

The thoughts still arise.... but you can let them pass like radio chatter in the background, while you remain steady at center.

This isn't about thinking less.
It's about feeling more.

Your body holds intelligence your mind has been overriding.

With practice, the constant activation naturally settles.

And in that grounded awareness:
• Body signals replace mental loops
• Regulation replaces override
• Presence replaces perpetual planning

The practice is simple 👇

Sit.

Feel your feet on the ground.

Notice your breath moving.

Sense the tension patterns.

Let your body teach you what your mind can't solve.

The calm you're searching for isn't something you force, it's something you allow your nervous system to discover.

You trained your awareness outward for years.

This is training it inward, with the same precision you already know...... 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️

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