The Aro-hā Method™: Emotional Regulation & Wellbeing Services


Emotional Regulation • Breathwork • Habit Change • Māori Wellbeing
Created by Julia Wikeepa

The Aro-hā Method™ is a culturally grounded, neuroscience-aligned system that helps people move from stress and overwhelm into calm, clarity, and emotional strength.

It blends:
• Mātauranga Māori
• Trauma-informed practice
• Breath retraining & nervous system literacy
• Habit-change psychology
• Post-traumatic growth principles
• Julia’s lived experience of transformation

This method is gentle, practical, and proven to help people respond rather than react — especially in moments of pressure, anxiety, or old habit patterns.

THE ARO-HĀ METHOD™ IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS

A culturally grounded pathway for emotional regulation and habit change.

• Aro — face what’s here
• Hā — breathe to regulate
• Rō — inward reflection
• Oha — abundant action + reframe

Repeated over time, these steps build emotional steadiness, resilience, and wellbeing.

JULIA’S APPROACH

Julia brings a unique blend of:

  • Lived experience of anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, trauma recovery & rebuilding life

  • Formal study: BSocSci (Psychology & HR)

  • Trauma-informed practice

  • Mātauranga Māori integration

  • Breathwork training (Max Strom – Italy, Sacred Breath Academy – Thailand)

  • Deep empathy, non-judgement & cultural safety

“I create a safe, empowering space for all to grow, heal, and change.”

🌿 A Core Mantra of the Aro-hā Method™

“We become willing to feel the healthy discomfort that comes with positive growth,
instead of staying in the familiar discomfort of patterns that no longer serve us.”

Resilience doesn’t come from avoiding challenges — but from learning to regulate ourselves through them.

🌿 A NON-CLINICAL, CULTURALLY GROUNDED APPROACH

The Aro-hā Method™ is non-clinical —
I do not diagnose, treat, or provide therapy.

Instead, I offer practical tools people can use to:

  • calm the nervous system

  • retrain their breathing (including asthma/COPD support)

  • understand their triggers & patterns

  • replace unhelpful coping (vaping, smoking, emotional eating)

  • build micro-habits that support long-term wellbeing

This mahi sits alongside clinical care and is ideal for social services, hauora, iwi providers, EAP, and wellbeing organisations.

🌿 WHO THE ARO-HĀ METHOD™ HELPS

For 1:1 Support (Individuals & Referrals)

Ideal for those experiencing:

  • Anxiety, overwhelm, emotional dysregulation

  • Trauma, violence, or sexual harm recovery

  • Unhealthy coping (vaping, smoking, emotional eating, substances)

  • Asthma, COPD, dysfunctional breathing patterns

  • Low self-worth, shame, or feeling stuck

  • Rangatahi & wāhine needing emotional regulation tools

  • Those wanting a culturally aligned, non-judgmental space to heal

Perfect referrals from:

  • Mental health services

  • AOD services

  • Violence & sexual harm providers

  • Kaupapa Māori health services

  • Respiratory/asthma services

  • ACC providers

For Organisations & Teams

Ideal for:

  • Staff in high-stress environments

  • Social workers, clinicians, kaiāwhina, teachers, youth workers

  • Organisations supporting vulnerable whānau

  • Workplace wellbeing 

  • Teams wanting cultural, practical tools for emotional regulation

Workshops can be used for staff development or client groups.

🌿 1:1 SUPPORT (Zoom or In-Person)

Aro-hā Method™ Starter Session — $250 + GST

A personalised emotional regulation reset and a simple plan forward.

Includes:
• Hā Tool
• 7-part video series
• Short workbook
• Pre- & post-survey
• 20-min 1:1 session

Aro-hā Method™ 6-Week Foundations Programme — $800 + GST

A guided journey for emotional regulation, breath retraining, and habit change.

Includes:
• Hā Tool
• 7-part video series
• Workbook
• Pre- & post-survey
• 4 × 20-min sessions
• Weekly accountability
• Habit change support (smoking/vaping cessation tools, emotional eating strategies)
• Trauma-informed guidance
• Aro-hā Method™ practices
• A practical plan forward

Builds emotional steadiness, resilience, and self-trust.

🌿 ORGANISATIONAL TRAINING

Breathing Through Stress: The Hā Approach to Wellbeing
2.5-hour workshop • up to 20 participants

Workshop Package (No Hā Tools)

$1500 + GST

Includes:
• Nervous system education
• Breathwork practices
• Aro-hā Method™
• Emotional regulation tools
• Worksheets & reflection

Optional Add-On: Hā Tools

$100 + GST per participant (8 minimum –20 max units)
Includes:
• Hā Tool
• Navigating Stress & Anxiety E-book
• Integration practice

Follow-Up Integration Package

$2500 + GST (3 × 120-min wānanga)

Supports:
• Aro-hā Method™ integration
• Accountability & consistent habits
• Emotional regulation in real life
• Boundary setting
• Long-term resilience

🌿 WHY ORGANISATIONS CHOOSE THE ARO-HĀ METHOD™

Organisations choose this approach because it provides simple, culturally grounded tools that staff and clients can use immediately in daily life — creating lasting behavioural and emotional change.

🌿 ENQUIRE OR BOOK

To bring the Aro-hā Method™ to your organisation or clients:


We are currently full for 1:1 sessions — join the waitlist for 2026 or enquire by filling out contact form below. Alternatively, email 📧 info@hahabitnz.com