What happened matters. So does what happens next.
Hi, I’m Adele! I’m a certified trauma specialist and bestselling author specialising in change, trauma and transformation management. Let’s take the first step together.
My work at a glance
20+ years helping people through trauma, relationships and life transitions
7,000+ people around the world have trusted me with their recovery
Doctoral researcher in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland
Bestselling author of practical books on divorce and recovery
Host of the Naked Insights Podcast
I’m the founder of
My programs have a 92.3% success rate and help people recover up to 90% faster, and my work has been featured in more than 82 publications and media outlets worldwide, including:
I’ve been where
you are…
It began with my own divorce
When my marriage ended, I discovered my partner had had 18 affairs. I was told it could take years to recover, and I didn’t accept that. I set out to understand what the experience had done to me and what would genuinely help me move forward. That search became Naked Divorce, then Naked Recovery, and it has shaped my work ever since. Today I’m healed and happily married, and I know from experience that life after betrayal can be good again.
It also taught me that everyone’s experience is different. Some people feel shattered, others feel numb, relieved or simply unsure. Whatever you’re feeling, what usually helps is clarity, structure and someone who will stay with you through the detail. That is what I offer.
Why my approach feels different
I take both your pain and your potential seriously
Taking your pain seriously means never rushing you past it. My training in psychology, trauma, psychotherapy and relationship therapy helps me understand what you’ve been through, so we can work with it properly.
Taking your potential seriously means not leaving you there. Before I specialised in psychological work, I spent many years as a management consultant, leading large-scale change for multinational organisations across several continents. I learned how things get stuck, what has to shift first, and how to break an overwhelming problem into steps you can actually take.
Today I bring both together: real care for what hurts, and a clear path towards what comes next.
Insight alone rarely changes a life.
and neither does being pushed forward before you’re ready. My approach brings the two together in four stages.
Understand what happened.
We make sense of the experience and how it has affected your mind, body and relationships.
Process what remains.
We work through whatever is still weighing on you and keeping you stuck, at a pace that feels right for you.
Rebuild what was disrupted.
We rebuild what matters most to you, whether that's self-trust, boundaries, identity or confidence.
Learn forward.
We turn insight into decisions and actions that hold in real life.
Who I work with
I work with people going through periods in life when their usual ways of coping are no longer enough.
My clients have included executives, business owners, healthcare professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, parents, entrepreneurs, creatives and people from many other walks of life.
Some come to me after a clearly traumatic event. Others come because a marriage has broken down, somebody has died, their health has changed, their career has disappeared, a relationship has become unbearable, or they’ve reached a point where they simply no longer recognise themselves.
It doesn’t matter whether your experience fits neatly into a particular label. What matters is understanding what has happened, what it has done to you and what you need now.
My academic & professional development
My practice has continued to evolve alongside extensive postgraduate education and professional training.
I hold a Master’s degree in Psychology with Distinction from Manchester Metropolitan University and postgraduate training in Traumatic Studies from the University of Reading.
I’m currently completing advanced training in psychotherapy and working towards professional recognition in coaching psychology.
I’m also completing a doctorate in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland. My research focuses on trauma-informed care in chronic disease management, particularly how trauma can influence people’s experiences of healthcare, treatment engagement and recovery, and how healthcare systems can respond more effectively.
My doctoral research is supervised by Dr Anna Serlachius and Dr Rebecca Slykerman at the University of Auckland.
This ongoing academic work means Naked Recovery continues to evolve alongside current psychological and trauma research, rather than staying fixed around a model I developed many years ago.
Supervision & professional accountability
Trauma-informed practice can involve complex psychological, relational and ethical decisions, so I place great importance on ongoing professional supervision. Rather than relying on a single perspective, my work is supported by a multidisciplinary supervision network spanning trauma psychology, psychotherapy and coaching psychology.
This multidisciplinary supervision network includes:
- Dr Karen Baikie – Clinical Psychologist | Australia
Karen provides supervision from a clinical psychology and trauma recovery perspective, supporting reflection around complex trauma presentations, psychological formulation and trauma-informed practice. - Alison Cole – Chartered Coaching Psychologist | United Kingdom
Alison provides professional supervision relating to my development and practice in coaching psychology, including psychologically informed coaching, professional standards, reflective practice and ethical decision-making. - Nicola Barrington – Chartered Coaching Psychologist | Thailand
Nicola provides additional coaching psychology supervision, bringing another perspective to psychological coaching practice, professional development and complex client work. - Michelle Rousseau – Registered Psychotherapist | Australia
Michelle provides psychotherapy supervision, supporting my developing psychotherapy practice and work with complex relational and trauma presentations. - Linden Cook – Registered Psychotherapist | New Zealand
Linden provides New Zealand-based psychotherapy supervision, supporting clinical reflection, therapeutic practice and professional development within the New Zealand context.
Together, this creates something I consider fundamental to responsible trauma-informed work: multiple professional perspectives, ongoing reflection and a willingness to have my thinking challenged.
Supervision isn’t about someone else treating or managing my clients from a distance. It gives me a confidential professional space to reflect on my work, recognise blind spots, consider ethical and clinical issues and keep developing my practice.
Alongside this professional supervision, my doctoral research at the University of Auckland is supervised by Dr Anna Serlachius and Dr Rebecca Slykerman.
My qualifications & professional training
My academic and professional training includes:
- Doctoral Research Candidate in Health Psychology
University of Auckland. Research focus: trauma-informed care in adult chronic disease management - Master’s in Psychology – Distinction
Manchester Metropolitan University - Postgraduate Diploma in Traumatic Studies
University of Reading - Advanced Psychotherapy Training
Ongoing postgraduate psychotherapy training - Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
- Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP)
- Certified Family-Focused Treatment Professional (CFFTP)
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Training
- Emotionally Focused Therapy Training
- Imago Relationship Therapy Training
- Hakomi Training
- Internal Family Systems Training
- Family & Dispute Mediation Training
- Executive Coaching Training – IECL
- Nonviolent Communication & Negotiation Training
- NLP, Timeline Therapy & Hypnotherapy Master Practitioner
- Bachelor of Business Science
University of Cape Town. Information Systems, Organisational Psychology and Change Management
I continue to undertake ongoing professional development across trauma, psychotherapy, coaching psychology, relationships and health psychology.
Memberships:
- New Zealand Psychological Society
- British Psychological Society
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (ANZAP)
- Institute of Trauma Professionals
Find the right support for where you are now
Every crisis is different, so there’s more than one way to work with me. Start with the option that fits your situation, or book a free Clarity Call and we’ll help you choose.
Naked Recovery
For trauma and major life disruption, including bereavement, sexual trauma, narcissistic abuse, PTSD, redundancy, family estrangement, and the many other ways life can knock you off course.
Naked Divorce
For anyone deciding whether to divorce, going through separation, or rebuilding afterwards. My structured Programs help you Decide, Complete and Resolve.
Naked Marriage
Whether you're deciding to stay, hoping to rekindle your marriage or healing from betrayal, you don't have to face it alone.
Retreats
For when you need time away to recover from trauma or divorce, get clear on a big decision, or come together as a couple to rebuild your relationship.
Your free Clarity Call:
what to expect
- Book your free Clarity Call.
Tell me what has happened, what you're struggling with and what you want to change. - Build your personal recovery plan.
Together, we'll look at where you are right now and shape a plan around your needs, not a one-size-fits-all formula. - Begin your private Program.
We work one-to-one, turning what you learn into lasting change for the rest of your life.
Testimonials and Reviews
-
Adele, I am so grateful to you and the tremendous progress we have made together. You have helped me become a better mother to both of my children and a better co-parent. I am so grateful to you.
– A -
This program mended my heart and rebuilt my confidence. I fondly call you the ‘narcissist whisperer’; your advice transformed my approach to my ex. My divorce is progressing amicably, and I’ve found someone lovely—the opposite of my ex. ‘Boring’ is pretty damn great.
– AB -
Adele’s insightful guidance and intensive immersion therapy transformed my life in just three weeks. Highly recommend her!
– Deborah -
Adele is the best coach I’ve ever worked with. She is highly skilled and credible. She brings a rare combination…
– Jo Dale Ford, Media Strategist -
Her keen insights, emotional support & guidance were superb for my issues. I recovered after 60 years!
– Julia, 72 -
Initially reading my healing goal made me scared. Now months later, I see it all came true!
– Marie, USA -
I am grateful I flew Adele in to work with me around my busy schedule – her coaching was a great investment.
– Anonymous, CEO -
Marie shares her experiences of doing the Haven Retreat at Chang Mai. She couldn’t believe the results!
– Marie -
Having Adele alongside me the whole way and being able to hear her own experiences really helped me understand.
– Nnenna -
Sally was so helpful, kind, and encouraging. She was incredibly supportive whilst holding me accountable.
– M, Doctor, USA -
This was a really life changing experience and I highly recommend it. I understand myself more.
– Andrew, Singapore, 42 -
The programme has given me the tools to grow and now life my life to the fullest. My eyes are forever opened!
– Tom, Pilot
Not ready to talk yet? Start here
My books, podcast and YouTube channel are a good place to begin. You’ll find practical guides on divorce and recovery, honest conversations between clinicians on the Naked Insights Podcast, and videos on trauma, relationships and recovery you can watch whenever you’re ready.