Meet Dr Rosalba Courtney 

Dr Rosalba Courtney DO PhD is an osteopath and naturopath with more than four decades of clinical experience and a PhD in dysfunctional breathing and breathing therapy.

 

She is developed Integrative Breathing Therapy and an internationally recognised leader in the field of breathing assessment and treatment.​

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Philosophy and clinical approach

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Central to Rosalba’s philosophy is the belief that effective healing must be evidence-informed, personalised, and directed at the key factors that truly support recovery, not just symptom suppression. She is particularly interested in how the mechanisms that cause and perpetuate illness can be addressed through both physiological and psychological pathways.

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Her work emphasises:

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• Identifying and addressing dysfunctional breathing and respiratory dysregulation

• Assessing the three dimensions of breathing - the biomechanical, the biochemical and the psychophysiological

• Individualised treatment based on clinical assessment

• Providing breathing therapy based on the patient's needs, and adapting the breathing practices as they progress

• Integrating mind–body and behavioural strategies

 

Rosalba aims to help patients achieve deep and durable change rather than short-term “band-aid” solutions. She is committed to pacing interventions so they are sustainable, respecting each person’s adaptive capacity, and adjusting programs as their physiology and function change over time.

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Areas of focus and who she works with

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Rosalba works with a broad range of clients, but has particular expertise in:​

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• People with complex chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS and overlapping syndromes

• Individuals with dysautonomia, including POTS and related conditions

• Clients experiencing chronic fatigue, breathlessness or respiratory dysfunction

• People with health span and longevity-focused goals who need carefully regulated, evidence-informed interventions

• Athletes seeking performance gains with sustainable recovery and long-term resilience

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Research, teaching, and professional contributions

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Rosalba has published widely on breathing, respiratory dysfunction, and breathing therapy, contributing to the scientific and clinical understanding of how breathing patterns affect health and performance. Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, and she has contributed to the development of assessment tools and frameworks used by practitioners internationally.

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She is the founder and principal developer of Integrative Breathing Therapy, an approach that combines respiratory physiology, manual therapy, behavioural change, and mind–body principles. Rosalba regularly teaches and trains healthcare practitioners, including osteopaths, physiotherapists, naturopaths, and other clinicians, offering workshops, courses, and supervision in breathing assessment, treatment, and integrative approaches to care.

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Through this combination of clinical practice, research, and education, Rosalba continues to refine evidence-informed, patient-centred ways of working with breathing, adaptive oxygen training, and nervous system regulation to support meaningful, long-term change.