Bonita's journey of healing: empowering lives through energy and sound in Amsterdam
Discover Bonita’s transformative healing practices at Southside Healing, where she combines intuitive energy work, EFT, and Reiki to guide clients on a path of self-discovery and growth. Learn about her holistic approach to teaching and healing, influenced by a rich educational background and a deep cultural connection to spirituality
Can you tell what you are doing now?
Hi, I’m Bonita, an intuitive energy and sound practitioner, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Level III therapist, and Reiki Master Teacher. In my practice, Southside Healing, I guide clients to heal and transform their lives, and I teach students Usui Reiki Ryoho and energy healing. One Saturday each month, I host Group Energetic Soundbath journeys at Stories Emmaplein for the community; and from time to time, I also host retreats and workshops for corporates and wellness spas. After supporting hundreds of clients through 1:1 and group sessions and soundbaths, especially during the Covid period in Hong Kong. I moved to Amsterdam in October 2022. Soon after, within the same week, three long term clients contacted me requesting a private healing session in Amsterdam; and so, Southside Healing reopened to clients and students here in the Netherlands at Stories.
How did you get to where you are now?
I have made many mistakes in my life. And I embrace them all as part of my learning journey. These mistakes have made my life so much richer, and I thank each twist and turn as a valuable lesson in deepening into the Self.
My passion for energy healing from a young age has also helped me navigate through these so-called mistakes; and as I learnt more about myself from these experiences, I feel that this path of being an energy practitioner and teacher is my purpose, and most valuable contribution to the community. Below are some of my formal education and trainings that has supported my practice and teachings:
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Major in Religious Studies - focused on Eastern Religions at Queen’s University, Ontario Canada 2005
Usui Reiki Ryoho (Satao Sasaki of Japan Reiki NPO association), Stephen and Pervin Clasper (Gendai Reiki) and Bruce Taylor, whose teacher, Inamoto Hyakuten, and his lineage closely connects to Dr Mikao Usui (See the lineage here: https://www.southsidehealing.com/learn-reiki1)
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Level 1 and 2 with Falguni Mather of EFTi
EFT Level 3 (Advanced) with Mary-Sharratt of EFT & Mindfulness Centre
VortexHealing Foundational, Kundalini Clearing Training, Magical Structures, Karmic Intensive, MultiFrequency & Jewel, Genetics and Sensing Training with Anthony Gorman
Advanced Crystal Bowl Healing Training and Gong Sound Therapy with international sound alchemist Malbert Lee
Somatic Experiencing (Trauma) with Raja Selvam, PhD
Womb Sciences Immersion with Usha Anandi
Yoga TTC 2005 with Sivananda Yoga in Dorset England
200Hrs YTTC in 2012 at the Anahata Yoga Centre in Hong Kong
45Hrs Advanced Training with Bruce Chung at Yoga Den Amsterdam
50Hrs Yin Yoga Training with Nick Presser at Yoga Den Amsterdam
Additional Energy Trainings: 1) Introduction to Shamanism and 2) Rituals with Mark Nelson; 3) Duality and 4) Unlocking Transcendence with Jeffery Allan; Life Visioning Mastery with Michael Beckwith
Practicing spirituality is a way of life in my family and culture, and this traces back to my great grandmother, a respected Buddhist in the village. At seven, I was introduced to the concept of qi-gong by my parents. I started my meditation practice early on with my parents, and as an Empath, I learnt and explored the concept of energy and how it moves, shifts and feels in the physical and emotional body. And in my own healing journey, which is a continuous one, I have always returned to the foundations of Spirituality.
I knew early on that I wanted to share the power of sound healing with people; and as a trained classical violinist, I intuitively felt how deeply our bodies resonate with music early on in my childhood. I had trained in trauma related workshops early on in my twenties including Somatic Experiencing, and continue to incorporate these in the 1:1 sessions in the form of energetic talk therapy i.e. EFT, the meridian points with Yin Yoga, and other intuitive and subconscious techniques to safely support and guide clients through their sessions. A true energy geek, I keep in contact with my Reiki Master Teachers as my practice and teachings evolve, and continue to train under Anthony Gorman in Vortex Healing, a type of energy healing that provides multidimensional healing and helps transform emotional issues and works on the physical body and all aspects of the energetic systems.
As a forever student, my passion is to continue to learn and train for a lifetime, so that I can also give and share more to my clients and students; however, my biggest teachers are still my three children and husband!
Did you find entrepreneurship scary?
Every day is a mirror - that’s the beauty of it. To me, entrepreneurship feels like a supported collective; many of us like-minded therapists, energy/sound practitioners and coaches, are simply showing up to positively influence and help as many people as we can. I feel tremendously lucky to be doing what I love every day through Southside Healing, and happy to be part of the Stories family here in Amsterdam.
What kind of clients can come to you?
My clients and students are a range; I have supported 5 year old children all the way up to women in their 60s and beyond. Of course, every client is unique, but whether they are entrepreneurs, expecting or existing mothers, seeking support and clarity in their work, or young clients, the parallels between them seem to be that they have had or are experiencing some transformative event(s), and now feel ready to move into their next phase of life. These clients and students are often sensitive or empathic themselves, and are looking for support as they wake up from old patterns, in order to live a more conscious life.
My students range from a variety of therapists, coaches, yoga instructors, and also existing clients who experienced energy healings with me, and are ready to learn more about energy as part of their life tools.
Prior to moving to Amsterdam, my practice Southside Healing, and I were nominated as a Finalist for Liv Media's Wellness & Lifestyle Rewards Hong Kong 2021 in the categories: Best Alternative Healer, Best Sound Healer, and Best Alternative Healing Centre.
What advice would you give to other coaches and therapists who want to start their own practice?
Listen to your inner guidance and be kind to yourself along the way.
How do you plan to help more people in Amsterdam? What are your upcoming events?
Amsterdam has welcomed me with open arms and a warm heart from the very start - moving here has been truly a gezellig experience; similarly, I also feel passionate about contributing to the community here.
Whether through a private 1:1 healing session, a group energy soundbath at Stories or at corporate events, a semi-private healing retreat, or with any of the courses I teach, kindness and compassion first. We are energy, and as human beings, we feel. I give plenty of space for clients and students to connect to their feelings, and from these sessions, clients and students regain a deeper connection to themselves.
I am enthusiastic in sharing my knowledge and experience with energy, and how effective understanding these tools can be in order to support our lives. I look forward to continuing to work with private clients and students here in Amsterdam, and to host more group healing events and classes. I also love partnering with like-minded practitioners and corporates: magic happens in a collaboration!
Ultimately, my goal is to share my passion for energy and sound healing with as many people, in as many ways possible!
Upcoming Events:
Saturday Soundbaths at Stories (monthly)
For exact dates of our monthly events, check my website www.southsidehealing.com/events. Or get in touch via Instagram @southside_healing or Whatsapp +31 0620 8000 56
How did you find Stories?
I had only just moved to Amsterdam, and within the same week, I had 3 different clients from Hong Kong, all asking me for a private healing session. So, after searching online for several evenings, I stumbled upon Stories’ website - it felt right - so I then submitted an online request for membership!
What is the reason you chose Stories?
Stories felt, and still feels, like a home where Southside Healing can grow organically here. I love the concept of Stories where qualified therapists, coaches and healing practitioners have a space to work and help people in our community. I have loved how Stories have encouraged and supported my practice, Southside Healing, in providing an incredible partnership and platform for me to share my many passions on energy modalities and therapies!
Further, my experiences with the community at Stories have been incredible. My colleagues are warm and kind, and I am equally impressed by how talented, and qualified they are - together, I feel that we are creating an ecosystem of honest and ethical wellness practitioners here in the Netherlands. I am happy to be a part of this family!
Bonita Choi O’neill
