About Us
Coyra's Story
Coyra/Coira: a Gaelic word meaning churning waters.
A few words from Rebecca: I love water, its ability to soothe and invigorate, its ever-changing potential.
It also happens to be an amalgamation of my faithful friends: Coca (feline) and Lyra (canine). The three of us have been on a journey for several years; animals teach us so much. They remind me to reconnect with my own primal needs and to listen to my body. We communicate on a ‘body’ and energetic level that goes beyond any capacity of speech.
Wisdom from Animals
My understanding of trauma has been shaped by Lyra’s trauma-based responses, and I am indebted to her allowing me to observe her reactions — her uncensored ‘shaking it out’ after an activating event, her self-soothing, her re-regulation. Learning to create a safe space in order to co-regulate with each other has been a daily lesson.
Equally integral, Coca, with her healing purrs and love of sleep, reminds me that sometimes I need to sit and watch and rest.
A Personal Journey
Mission
Coyra was founded with a deep commitment to supporting individuals and businesses in navigating the complexities of trauma, conflict and emotional distress. Rooted in years of experience within the legal system and trauma-informed practice, my mission is to create a space where people can regain clarity, confidence and connection.
Law and Humanity
Prior to founding Coyra (and co-founding its sibling business, Trauma Informed Law), I spent over 15 years working at the intersection of law and trauma, providing guidance for those facing legal challenges, workplace conflict and personal distress. My approach integrates somatic coaching, neuroscience and compassionate leadership to facilitate meaningful change for individuals and organisations alike.
Values
Coyra’s work is grounded in three core values:
Expertise
As the founder of Coyra, Rebecca brings a unique blend of legal expertise, trauma awareness and embodied coaching techniques to her work. With over 15 years as a practising barrister and more than 16 years working with trauma-affected individuals, she specialises in:
- Somatic coaching for individuals living with the effects of trauma, overwhelm, and distress.
- Navigating legal disputes, including specialist support for witnesses, professionals navigating workplace disputes, and those impacted by legal proceedings.
- Trauma-informed training and consultancy for businesses seeking to embed compassionate, sustainable practices within their organisations.
Rebecca’s background in law, corporate settings and advocacy allows her to provide coaching that is both deeply empathetic and highly practical. She has worked extensively within prisons, legal systems, corporate environments, education, the armed forces, the media & TV industry and domestic abuse support services.
Rebecca collaborates with a number of subject matter experts where appropriate, including neuroscientists, psychotherapists, somatic coaches, safeguarding leads and clinical psychologists.
Rebecca engages in regular supervision with an experienced body-oriented psychotherapist. She also undertakes regular continuing professional development.
Approach
Coyra takes a trauma-informed, client-centered approach. We understand that distress and conflict affect both the mind and body, so our work integrates:
- Embodied techniques to support nervous system regulation and emotional resilience.
- Practical strategies to help clients navigate high-stress environments with clarity and confidence.
- Bespoke solutions tailored to the unique needs of individuals and businesses.
Whether you are an individual seeking personal coaching or a business looking to create a more supportive workplace culture, Coyra’s approach ensures that every client receives compassionate, expert guidance.
Credentials
Rebecca Norris
Wild at heart: Passionate about all things nature and animal-related. I love growing vegetables. I value rigorous thinking and creativity and am a keen musician with theatrical pursuits. I have seen the transformational effect of body-oriented work in my own life, as well as the lives of those I have had the privilege to support.
Certified body-oriented coach: The Somatic School, accredited by the International Coaching Federation.
Certified in integrative somatic trauma therapy: The Embody Lab, including studying with world-leading experts in trauma such as Dr. Peter Levine & Dr. Pat Ogden.
Co-Founder of Trauma Informed Law: training, empowering, and supporting legal professionals to navigate trauma-based responses
Barrister with 15+ years’ London-based experience: specialising in crime, business crime and financial regulation, representing board-level executives and well-known international corporate institutions in leading litigation and contentious regulatory investigations. I spent time at the independent Bar, employed within legal firms and working in-house for global investment banks.
Thorough understanding of business dynamics: 12+ years representing global corporate institutions including extensive advice in relation to risk, reputation and business-led decision-making, personal experience setting up and running a successful business and charity, attendance at Harvard Law School Executive Education Programme, including completion of multiple MBA modules.
Motivated academic approach and love of learning: First-class law degree, Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, with particular interest in jurisprudence and philosophy – the big life questions: why are we here? why do people do what they do? what is the intersection of morality and the law?
Qualified mediator: The Society of Mediators, committed to trauma-informed conflict resolution and communication.
15+ years working with trauma and distress, including:
- working with incarcerated individuals and groups, including those involved in serious gang violence (UK and Jamaica);
- providing support and education in relation to stress, overwhelm and burnout in corporate workplaces;
- supporting witnesses and contributors giving evidence or taking part in interviews, particularly in respect of traumatic experiences;
- developing a programme of support and education in relation to distress and trauma in the context of giving evidence;
- working with individual coaching clients to provide body-oriented coaching specialising in the aftermath of trauma;
- supporting those affected by domestic abuse, including developing education tools and safeguarding policies for leading international law firms; and
- participating in local and global wellbeing committees within corporate institutions.
Commitment to serving to some of our most vulnerable members of society, including:
- co-founding 3 Pillars Project, which develops and delivers sports-based mentoring programmes within the criminal justice system;
- conducting pro bono work in Kingston, Jamaica with disabled inmates and those without legal representation; and
- involvement in multiple death penalty appeal cases.
Take the Next Step
Whatever challenges you’re facing—whether personal or professional—Coyra offers thoughtful, tailored support to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.