A collaborative wellness space for holistic health
This collaborative wellness space on King Street in Newcastle stands as a tranquil haven for individuals seeking a holistic, supportive approach to health. The pairing of Larissa, founder of The Art of Healing, and Soph, the mind behind Raw Nutrition by Soph, brings together expertise in lymphatic health, nutrition, and integrative wellness.
Soph (Raw Nutrition by Soph) and Larissa (The Art of Healing)
What started as a series of client referrals between the two, has now evolved into a united storefront and home for the two to empower their clients to achieve physical and emotional healing.
“I was working out of a clinic space in East Maitland, Larissa and I were finding ourselves referring clients all the time. So, we were already sharing clients when our practices were 45 minutes apart. So, this made sense for us to come together and create a collaborative space,” Soph said.
The official launch of the collaborative space coincides with the one-year anniversary of Larissa having this corner spot on King Street, marking a special milestone as the two women combine their knowledge to expand their services.
“It started off as this little idea and it’s really just come together so well. We can definitely see ourselves outgrowing this space.”
As the demand for their individual services continues to grow, the pair is already planning an expansion in the venue with a second clinic room set to be operating in February.
“We’re navigating the space between us until then,” Larissa said.
So, what exactly can you expect from this collaborative space?
Soph, a certified Nutritional Biochemist, brings four years of experience to the table and primarily focusing on:
- Hormonal imbalances including endometriosis, PCOS etc
- Gut issues including bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, reflux, flatulence
- Developing a healthy relationship with food and your body
- Pre-conception care for both males and females
- Stress management
- Burnout recovery
- Mental health support
- Sleep optimisation
- Sustainable weight loss or weight gain
- Immune support
- Improving energy levels
- Auto-immune conditions
- Correcting nutritional deficiencies
- Skin conditions
- Metabolic disorders
- Pain management
Her approach pairs beautifully with Larissa’s expertise in lymphatic health and post-oncology care, creating a comprehensive wellness experience for clients in clinic.
Larissa, a specialist in lymphatic drainage and post-oncology therapy, was initially working mobile before launching this space in November 2023.
“I wanted to create a beautiful space for women, especially those who may have gone through breast cancer and have spent a lot of time in sterile environments. Now, they have somewhere beautiful to come to for that next level of treatment they require post oncology,” Larissa said.
The Art of Healing is designed with intention. Every detail – from its peaceful ambiance to its carefully selected natural products – aims to foster a sense of care and safety for clients. The retail section, curated with chemical-free and locally sourced products, aligns with the duo’s practices.
“My main focus is always the lymphatic therapy, but I had this gorgeous space and I wanted to be able to offer natural products that are in alignment with the work that I do.”
The retail selection offers a selection of items that coincide with the pair’s work including wellness products from Orchard St, natural cleaning goods from Abbie’s Alchemy, and local businesses like Barnacle Brown Ceramics, Scrubba Body, and even matcha from Raw Nutrition by Soph.
Additionally, Soph has curated a supplement wall where clients can purchase recommended vitamins, herbs, and nutrients, ensuring clients receive both guidance and the practical tools they need to maintain their health.
“I get a lot of clients with inflammation, digestive issues, fluid retention, circulatory issues etc, so getting to combine dietary changes, lifestyle advice, supplements and herbs with Larissa’s lymphatic drainage therapy really is just magic for clients presenting with these conditions,” Soph said.
The collaboration has become a natural extension of Larissa and Soph’s shared vision. Together, they provide a range of therapies that treat clients holistically, working from the inside out.
“I think so many health professionals have so much to offer in their field, but there needs to be more of a marriage bringing together all of the knowledge,” Larissa said.
The space is rounded out by Sally, a remedial massage therapist, Natalia, who offers pregnancy and fertility massage, and Jess, who is a Kinesiologist.
“It wasn’t originally intentional, but the more practitioners that we onboard, and Soph and I coming together, this beautiful healing space with practitioners passionate about women’s health has just naturally fallen into place.”
The Art of Healing X Raw Nutrition by Soph is more than just a wellness space; it’s building towards a community where healing, growth, and transformation is facilitated, blending expertise with empathy to offer a space of holistic care.
