Founder and physiotherapist
Juliana Portolesi
My Approach
How I arrived here
I chose physiotherapy at 17 with very little understanding of what it actually involved, other than a paragraph in a university guide that talked about helping people.
At school, I loved maths and science. They made sense to me. There were rules, equations and clear answers: this + this = that.
People, I quickly discovered, are not like that. And neither is life.
"I still have a very scientific brain, but I became increasingly interested in the space between the physical body and the wider human experience."
READ MORE
Early in my career, I carried the idea that it was my responsibility to “fix” people. I studied continuously, worked hard and put a lot of pressure on myself to find the right answer.
At the same time, I was discovering movement for myself. Despite being told as a teenager that I was not particularly good at sport, I went through seasons of running, swimming, cycling, amateur triathlons, CrossFit, gym training and later climbing. Yoga started simply as the stretching session I thought I should be doing because I was telling my clients to stretch.
It ended up changing much more than my flexibility.
During a difficult period in my late twenties, when a relationship breakdown and the pressure I had been putting on myself had taken their toll, I began practising yoga much more regularly to overcome the anxious feelings I was experiencing. It helped me become more aware of my body, thoughts, emotions and the way all of these interact with one another and with the world around us.
That experience shifted how I thought about health and wellbeing.
I still have a very scientific brain, but I became increasingly interested in the space between the physical body and the wider human experience — movement, stress, beliefs, habits, emotions, relationships and the circumstances we live within.
That has shaped both the way I practise physiotherapy and the direction Centred Ground has taken.
How I approach physiotherapy
Good physiotherapy starts with listening. The painful area matters, but it’s rarely the whole story — I want to understand how it began, what you’ve already tried and what you most want to return to doing.
My appointments combine hands-on treatment with clear explanations and exercise. Manual therapy is important, but I don’t want anyone to feel dependent on it, or to leave without understanding what they can do for themselves.
Areas I particularly enjoy working with
I’m a general musculoskeletal physiotherapist, with particular interest in neck, shoulder, jaw and thoracic pain, tendon-related concerns, persistent pain, women’s health and pelvic floor concerns, and helping people return to meaningful movement after time away. I also treat hip, knee and lower-back problems and support post-surgical rehabilitation — see the full list on the Pain, Injury & Movement page.
I’m not a high-performance sports physiotherapist. My work is generally with ordinary people — active, occasionally active, or not currently active at all. Movement doesn’t look the same for everyone, and recreationally active people — from yoga practitioners and climbers to runners and gym-goers — are very welcome here.
Women’s health is an area I’m continuing to build my skills and knowledge in. Many of the women I see for musculoskeletal concerns are also navigating issues related to pelvic health, pregnancy, postpartum recovery or the physical changes of perimenopause and menopause, and I’ve become increasingly aware of how often these areas overlap.
Physiotherapy can play an important role in supporting many of these concerns, and I’m committed to continuing to develop my expertise while recognising when more specialised care is needed.
Pregnancy
Guidance to help you reconnect with your body after birth, rebuild pelvic floor and core strength, and return safely to the activities you love at your own pace.
My own experience of personal change
My interest in coaching and hypnotherapy has grown from observing my clients and the people around me, and from my own life experience.
When I was younger, I worried a lot, compared myself constantly with others and relied heavily on their approval. I had little confidence in my own judgement, often felt caught between what I thought I should be doing and what felt right for me, and never felt good enough.
In my mid-twenties, a friend suggested I see someone. She didn’t really explain why, but I trusted her and went. Slowly, that practitioner helped me question the rigid ways I saw myself, understand my thoughts and feelings more clearly, and build confidence in my own choices. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was a coach who used NLP and hypnotherapy.
The experience felt a little like turning on a light. I began to see beyond limitation and comparison, towards possibility, choice and a greater sense of personal power. It didn’t create a life without problems, but it changed how I recognised and moved through them.
Together with my yoga practice, that experience is a large part of why I trained in coaching, NLP and hypnotherapy, and why I value helping others see choices and possibilities they may not yet recognise for themselves.
Personal Change Coaching & Hypnotherapy
Alongside physiotherapy, I offer a limited number of Personal Change Coaching & Hypnotherapy appointments for people who feel stuck between where they are and where they want to be. This is a separate service from physiotherapy and is not a replacement for psychological, psychiatric or addiction treatment.
Qualifications & Professional Training
Movement & Yoga
- Registered with Iyengar Yoga Australia
- Level 1 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher
Coaching & Hypnotherapy
- Master Practitioner Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and TimeLine Therapy™
- Certificate of Advanced Hypnotherapy
- Currently completing practice hours towards the Diploma in Hypnotherapy.
Physiotherapy & women’s health
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia, 2005
- Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management
- AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist
- Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Women’s Health group
- Member of the Women’s Health Training Association
- ConnectTherapy Series Graduate
- Advanced Dry Needling & Integrative Acupuncture
- Ongoing professional development in musculoskeletal and women’s health physiotherapy
Outside the treatment room
Movement remains an important part of my life, particularly now as a woman in my 40s.
I love yoga, climbing, hiking and strength training, especially when they get me outside, and I know first-hand that bodies and lives change, so movement sometimes needs to be adapted rather than abandoned.
I’m always learning something new, and my downtime tends to be quieter: reading, pottering around at home, dancing in the kitchen, or enjoying time with Jarred and Chell (the cat).
Work with Juliana
Contact Centred Ground
If you cannot find the type of support you are seeking, you are welcome to contact Centred Ground. We may be able to clarify whether an existing practitioner is suitable or suggest that you seek a different type of service.
Coaching & Hypnotherapy
A limited number of Personal Change Coaching & Hypnotherapy appointments are available by enquiry.
Physiotherapy
Longer, individual appointments with Juliana.