About
About Krista Barry
Water has been part of my life since before I could walk. It has followed me through sport, through study, through every major chapter, not as a backdrop,
but as a constant teacher. That thread is still running.
A Life in Water
I grew up competing in the water. By the time I was a teenager, I was ranked among the best in the world as a swimmer, training through the Australian Institute of Sport, pushing my body and mind to places I could not have imagined as a kid.
Elite sport teaches you things that are hard to learn anywhere else: how to recover when things fall apart, how to keep going when everything in you wants to stop, how to find something steady inside yourself even when the conditions are anything but. Those lessons never left me.
More than 25 years ago, I founded Godfathers of the Ocean Surf School at Burleigh Heads.
Not as a surf coach, but as the entrepreneur and director who shaped the school's philosophy and approach, how it worked, what it stood for, and the kind of experience it created for the people who walked through the door.
Around the same time, I established the Godfathers of the Ocean Charity Foundation, bringing together world-ranked surfers, elite Australian swimmers and Surf Life Savers to raise funds for various charities. The water was the thread running through it all.
It still is.
The Question that Changed Everything
After years in elite sport, building a business, and working in the community, a deeper question started taking shape: what actually helps people thrive, not just perform under pressure, but genuinely live well?
I had seen people push hard and burn out. I had watched others quielty fall apart in the space between achievements. I wanted to understand what the research actually said.
That question took me back to studying. I graduated with Distinction from CQUniversity with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology, and my research focused on the relationship between water environments and human wellbeing, specifically how surfing in blue space affects the lives of midlife women.
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Alongside my MAPP, I hold a Certificate of Professional Development in Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health and a Neuroscience Coaching Certificate, giving me a strong foundation in both the psychology of flourishing and the neuroscience of how people actually change.
That research was published in the Annals of Leisure Research Journal in 2024, presented at the IPPA World Congress in 2023 and Brisbane in 2025, and covered by Australian Women's Weekly, Mamamia, ABC Gold Coast Radio, and Medical Link Magazine, where I also served as Editor. None of that happened in a straight line.
It happened because I followed the question.
What I Do Now
Flow Like Water Academy brings together everything I have learned in the discipline of elite sport, the rigour of published research, 25 years of building and running a business, and the lived experience of navigating my own major life transitions.
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I work with individuals moving through change, groups looking for something more meaningful than a standard workshop, and organisations that genuinely want their people to thrive.
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As an applied positive psychology practitioner and researcher, my work is grounded in evidence-based practice, neuroscience-informed practice, and the power of nature, particularly water and movement.
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I am a committee member of CQUniversity’s Positive Psychology and Workplace Wellbeing Course Reference Committee, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Coaching Psychology Committee, and I run wellbeing programs with the City of Gold Coast.
Available in person on the Gold Coast and online, wherever you are in the world.
I work in person on the Gold Coast and online - available wherever you are in the world.
The Flow Like Water Philosophy
Flow Like Water is not just a name; it is a philosophy. Not forcing, not fixing, but learning to move with what life brings. Adapting, finding your way through, and flowing forward. That is where real and lasting change begins.
Positive psychology is often misunderstood as the science of positivity. It isn’t. It is the rigorous study of what actually enables people to flourish, built on decades of evidence across the dimensions of human wellbeing: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.
Unlike approaches that focus solely on what’s wrong, positive psychology works with your strengths while addressing what’s holding you back. Building forward from what’s already working in you.
The neuroscience piece is what makes this practical. Understanding how the brain and body respond to stress, how we regulate, how we build genuine capacity for clarity and calm, not as theory, but as something you can feel and use in real life.
How we thrive is shaped by everything: our inner world, our habits, our nervous system, our environment, our relationships, and our connection to the natural world. I call this the inside-out approach, and it travels wherever people are ready to invest in how they live.
How I Work
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Grounded in real science, not trends, opinions, or quick fixes.
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Practical and applicable, what we work on translates into real life, not just the session.
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Strength-focused, we build forward from what's already working in you.
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Whole-person, we look at mindset, habits, environment, and how you connect with the world around you.
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Warm and direct, no overwhelm, just meaningful work that moves you forward.
To explore whether this work is right for you, I offer a paid initial consultation, the fee for which is credited toward your first session. This is a professional conversation about where you are, what you are working toward, and how we might work together.
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Whether you are navigating a life transition, ready to feel better in your daily life, tap into strengths you haven't fully used yet, or looking to invest in the well-being of your team.
Get in touch to book your initial consultation.
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Research & Academic Work
Krista Barry graduated with Distinction from Central Queensland University with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP).
Her master’s research explored the well-being benefits of water-based experiences, particularly for women in midlife, integrating insights from positive psychology, neuroscience, and nature-based well-being practices.
Krista presented her research findings at the International Positive Psychology Association World Congress in Vancouver (2023) and continues to contribute to the field through both academic engagement and applied wellbeing programs.
Her peer-reviewed research was published in the journal Annals of Leisure Research (2024) and has also received wider media attention, including features in The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Krista continues her professional development in neuroscience-informed wellbeing practice and holds additional qualifications, including:
• Certificate of Professional Development in Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health (2021)
• Neuroscience Coaching Certificate (2023)
She also contributes to the development of future wellbeing practitioners through her involvement with Central Queensland University’s Positive Psychology and Workplace Wellbeing Course Reference Committee.
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Coaching and Consulting Services
With over 25 years of experience running my own business, including the Godfathers of the Ocean Surf School, I have established programs that connect individuals to the therapeutic advantages of water.
My consulting services support various organisations, such as small, medium, and large companies, schools, youth groups, and community or sports organisations. I assist them in applying positive psychology principles to cultivate a healthier workplace culture, boost employee engagement, and offer strategies to prevent burnout while fostering a positive work environment. Organisations of all sizes can benefit from adopting positive psychology principles.
Alongside consulting, I provide personalised one-on-one and group coaching, as well as one to three-month coaching programs tailored for individuals at any life stage.
These programs are designed to address specific needs, such as navigating career transitions, enhancing overall well-being, or improving sports performance. My coaching emphasises identifying character strengths and applying evidence-based positive psychology strategies and principles.
At Flow Like Water Academy, I provide diverse services, ranging from traditional consulting and coaching to immersive water experiences, nature programs, and strength-based goal-setting coaching.
Through surf lessons, swimming coaching, or walk-and-talk sessions, I strive to foster an environment where individuals feel appreciated and empowered to pursue their goals. My coaching is offered both in-person at Burleigh Beach and online via different platforms. Together, we'll delve into the principles of positive psychology to nurture meaningful and sustainable changes in your life.