Our Story

​A Whole-System Approach Shaped by Experience

Amy Matarese is a Whole-System Integrative Practitioner and founder of Mend Well, bringing more than 25 years of experience to her work with people and companion animals across the interconnected layers of health, function and wellbeing.

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Her work doesn’t begin with a particular technique or a single part of the body. Amy looks at the wider picture — body and structure, brain and nervous system, physiology and nutrition, mind and emotions, energy, environment, and the experiences that may have shaped what is presenting now.

Her multidisciplinary approach draws from extensive training across structural and hands-on bodywork, neurological and sensory approaches, natural health and nutrition, emotional and behavioural work, bioenergetics, energetic therapies and functional support. Rather than offering a single therapy, Amy works within an integrative whole-system framework, drawing from different approaches according to the individual, their circumstances, and what may be most relevant in the moment.

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Today, through Mend Well, Amy supports individuals, families and companion animals locally in Canterbury and further afield through online and distance care. She is particularly drawn to those who have been searching for answers, feel there may be more to the picture, or simply need someone willing to look beyond the obvious.

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Born from Experience, Not Theory

Mend Well was born from my own lived experience — navigating head injuries, illness, misdiagnoses, trauma, abuse, and the overwhelming sense of isolation that can come from searching for answers in a system that too often overlooks the whole person.

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Growing up in Texas, I was always in motion. My spirit found its expression in the freedom of horses, the power of motorcycles, the passion of travel, and a fast-paced life that embraced every challenge. It was a life lived fully, but one that also came at a cost to my body.

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My journey through the healthcare system began not as a practitioner, but as a patient. Over many years, I navigated chronic migraines, vertigo, the effects of accumulated head injuries, childhood trauma, and later, metabolic disease. As a single mother recovering from my own health challenges, I became deeply aware of the gaps that can exist within health and wellness systems — places where people are left without the time, support, or understanding they need.

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Even while receiving IV treatments myself, I continued caring for others, all while my own struggles often went unseen. Those experiences taught me the importance of looking beyond isolated symptoms and considering the whole person, their story, and the many interconnected factors influencing health and wellbeing.

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When my recovery was eventually described as a “miracle” after years of unanswered questions and negative tests, I saw it differently. It was the result of persistence, meaningful change, the right support, faith, and a willingness to keep searching when the answers weren’t obvious.

That journey shaped the way I practise today. It showed me that true restoration isn’t about techniques alone. Methods matter, but so do compassion, perspective, curiosity, and the willingness to keep looking when something doesn’t make sense.

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Creating What I Couldn't Find

Through those experiences, I didn't just want to heal — I wanted to create the kind of care and connection I had struggled to find myself.

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That led to the creation of Knock Knock – Progressing with Injuries in 2017, a virtual community built for people navigating the ever-changing terrain of injury, trauma and recovery. It created a place for connection and compassion for those who often felt unseen, unheard or left to navigate complex challenges alone.

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Although the original Knock Knock community became inactive during the challenges of the pandemic and my own health journey, its purpose never disappeared. Instead, that mission continued to evolve, eventually becoming part of the foundation of Mend Well.

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My path was also shaped by my mother, a compassionate and skilled nurse who showed me what it meant to care with heart, integrity and presence. I have immense respect for conventional medicine and have personally experienced how essential it can be. At the same time, my experiences encouraged me to keep asking what else might be influencing health when symptoms continued or answers remained unclear.

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A pivotal moment came when my son, after countless rounds of antibiotics for recurrent ear infections, experienced lasting relief through homeopathy. It didn't make me reject conventional care. Instead, it ignited my curiosity about how different approaches could complement one another and how factors beyond an immediate symptom might influence health.

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Later, during my own life-threatening illness, conventional medicine was essential to my care, while complementary approaches supported me in other ways throughout my recovery. Together, these experiences strengthened a belief that continues to shape Mend Well today: sometimes the most meaningful support comes from being willing to consider more than one part of the picture.

That belief shaped my training and ultimately the way I practise. My work has developed across structural integration, natural health practices, neurological repatterning, emotional and behavioural approaches, spiritual mentoring and energetic therapies — bringing different areas of knowledge together rather than viewing them in isolation.

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Our Mission — To Find the Ones Left Behind

The heart of Mend Well remains the same as the mission that began with Knock Knock: to find the ones left behind.

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We are here for individuals, companion animals, families and caregivers seeking thoughtful, whole-system support — particularly those who feel unheard, overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to turn next.

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Mend Well exists to pioneer a more connected approach to Whole-System Care & Restoration for Individuals & Companion Animals — one that considers the physical, neurological, physiological, emotional, behavioural, energetic and environmental influences that can form part of an individual's wider picture.

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Care is personalised rather than prescribed by a single method. We may work with structure and movement, brain–body communication, regulation, nutrition and lifestyle, emotional and behavioural patterns, environment, energy, recovery and life transitions according to what is presenting and what feels appropriate for the individual or companion animal.

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I focus on what is showing in the moment because change isn't always linear. Each session offers an opportunity to explore what may be most relevant now, while keeping sight of the wider picture and the individual's own experience, preferences and needs.

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Above all, we believe no one should have to navigate injury, illness, trauma, life transitions or ongoing health challenges feeling as though they have been left to figure everything out alone.

Every journey is different. Support should be too.

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Together, we are mending one journey at a time.

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Qualifications & Training​

My professional path in holistic health began in 1997, driven by a passion to understand and facilitate the body's innate capacity to remember its blueprint for health. This path has been a rich 29-year exploration of diverse modalities, culminating in the achievement of a formal bachelor-level equivalent in 2021.

 

NOTE- Qualifications are applied across individuals and companion animals where appropriate, reflecting an integrated, whole-system approach to care.

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Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary & Alternative Medicine) - Equivalent Assessment Completed 2021 | Formally Assessed by Don Bryant Hargis, Ph.D., D.S.Th.​

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Neurological & Brain-Based Modalities

Brain & Body Synergy (Muscle Testing–Based Integration) (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Neuro-Linguistic Coaching (NLP), Time Line Therapy & Ericksonian Hypnotherapy

Certificate in Bioenergetic Synchronization Technique (BEST) – Morter Health System

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Structural & Physical Bodywork

Registered Practitioner: Contact CARE – Flinchlock Release (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Foundational Bowen Technique – Fascial Release Method (Individuals & Pets)

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Bioenergetic & Informational Medicine

Certified Practitioner of NES Health & Bioenergetics (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Registered Bach Flower Practitioner- BFRP (Individuals & Companion Animals)

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Classical & Natural Medicine

Diploma in Applied Theology – Spiritual Mentoring, Chaplaincy & End-of-Life Care

1-Year Mentorship in Herbalism & Botanical Formulations (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Certificate in Natural Therapies
Certificate in Pet Nutrition (Dogs, Cats & Smaller Companion Animals)
Certificate in Pet Psychology (Dogs, Cats & Smaller Companion Animals)

Certified Wai Qi Therapist in Shuichuan Qigong (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Reiki Master Teacher- Level III (Individuals & Companion Animals)

Certified Feng Shui Consultant (Environment – Individuals & Companion Animals)

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Foundational & Supportive Care

Certificate in Health Science (Occupational Therapy)

Certificate in Community Studies & Group Facilitation

Certified Caregiver – Children, Seniors & Individuals with Physical Disabilities

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Current Studies

My commitment to holistic and restorative care is ongoing as I complete a Diploma in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) for identifying and addressing the more micro causes of interference in systems, optimal health and function.

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Dedications & Gratitude
This work is not mine alone. I am deeply grateful to the many individuals, traditions, and life experiences that have shaped my path and continue to guide the care I offer through Mend Well and The Holistic Rehab. From formal studies and lineage-based teachings to moments of insight shared by mentors, family, friends, animals, and members of The Well Living Collective Community—the wisdom I've received has left an enduring imprint on this work. To those who have walked before me, beside me, and the ones that are passed and walk within me—thank you.

To Don Bryant Hargis, my mentor and teacher in Applied Theology and Reiki. Thank you for your presence, faith, and for walking with me as I explored the spiritual dimensions of care. 

To Rochelle Montgomery,  my friend and teacher. whose teachings in Naturopathy and Homeopathy opened the doorway to natural healing and planted early seeds of trust in the body's innate wisdom.

To Willow Rand, thank you for sharing your wisdom in Iridology, Herbalism, and Life. Your insights and clarity continue to guide me in ways both seen and unseen.

To Jonathan Baker, my mentor and dear friend—thank you for generously sharing your knowledge of the Bone Code, for never letting my questions feel too small, and for helping ground my work in the functional integrity that supports my daily practice, ever moving to the deeper layers from being shown to see beyond the mind and into sensing.

To Carol McCracken, founder of the Brain & Body Synergy System. Thank you for your heart and tireless work in creating this important information for the world. 

To Dale Speedy and Kym Summers, founders of Contact CARE Flinchlock Release—your method became the foundational lens through which I understand structural trauma and movement-based resolution, thank you for the wisdom of stillness.

To Thomas Ambrose Bowen, founder of Bowen Therapy, your pioneering hands-on method inspired my understanding of the body’s self-corrective potential.

To Dr. Edward Bach, originator of the Bach Flower Remedies—your legacy in emotional healing through nature continues to echo in the way I support emotional recovery.

To Elisabeth Apel, my teacher of Shuichuan Qigong, thank you for introducing me to the power of breath, movement, and subtle energy work.

To Roger Green, for your guidance through Feng Shui training—your teachings enriched how I view environmental harmony as integral to healing.

​And to the community, my family and life time friends—humans and animals alike—who have entrusted me with your care and caring for me too throughout: your trust has been among my greatest teachers. To those who have influenced my path but I can't remember—whether you are named here or not—thank you too!

Finally, to the voice within—my own intuition and the trust it took to follow it—thank you for leading me to the discoveries, insights, and pathways that gave rise to my heart work.

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Restorative Care: Our Approach in Action​​

At Mend Well, we work through our 8 Layers of Restoration system to provide comprehensive care for individuals and their animal companions. Our approach blends specialized methods of care, personalized support, and carefully crafted formulas to foster wellness and resilience naturally. To ensure each client receives the best possible care, we also network with highly skilled practitioners across complementary fields, creating a truly holistic support system. Through Mend Well, we’re committed to enhancing well-being, guiding our clients toward balance, vitality, and a sense of ease by working with the below outline of care:

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Restoring Structural Integrity
Releasing sensory-motor feedback loops
Re-establishing physical alignment and mobility
Encouraging functional balance between fascia, joints, and posture, while supporting neural pathways that reinforce new, healthier movement patterns

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Enhancing Function
Supporting systemic resilience
Addressing entrenched neuromuscular and brain processing patterns
Re-patterning neural circuits that have been shaped by trauma, injury, or habitual movement, fostering optimal brain-body coordination for long-term health and performance

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Optimizing Bioenergetic Health
Resetting vibrational patterns and energetic coherence
Using frequency-based remedies and energy work to restore flow
Supporting the body’s natural blueprint for vitality

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Regulating Mental & Emotional Patterns
Clearing trauma and subconscious imprints
Releasing limiting beliefs and outdated mental narratives
Supporting emotional resolution with essences, somatic work, and coaching

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Realigning with the Soul’s Blueprint
Reconnecting with inner truth, purpose, and potential
Dissolving distortions that mask clarity or direction
Creating space for intuitive alignment and soul-level expression

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Reconnecting to Inner Vitality (Spirit)
Honoring the energetic essence that fuels life force
Supporting subtle alignment with your original blueprint
Nurturing the spark of vitality through gentle energetic practices

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Reducing Toxic Impact & Supporting Environmental Harmony
Addressing chemical, emotional, and relational toxicity
Clearing physical and energetic environments
Encouraging restorative practices in home, community, and nature-based settings

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Integration: Whole-System Synergy
All layers are interconnected. At Mend Well, we don’t separate the mind from the body or the spirit from the environment—we support the full system. Our method fosters deep restoration by aligning structure, function, energy, emotion, and essence.

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Start Your Mend Well Journey

Care is personalised, responsive, and guided by what is most relevant for you or your companion animal in the moment—supporting restoration across structure, function, regulation, and overall wellbeing.

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Whether you’re navigating injury, change, or simply seeking greater ease and balance, we’re here to support you through each stage with an integrative, whole-system approach.

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Every step toward mending matters. We’re grateful to support yours.

 

 

Ready to Explore the Method?
If you'd like to learn more about how this philosophy is put into practice, explore the Mend Well Framework - Method Library.

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