by SA Woman Member | Mar 28, 2024 | Meet a Member, SA Woman
I’m an experienced Occupational Therapist who has been working with clients with physical and neurological conditions for over 20 years. I have particular experience with supporting individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals around driving and community access. I currently work primarily in the NDIS and Motor Accident space. I have a background in leadership and management across multiple sectors including public and private health. However, having experienced professional burnout through my work a few years ago, I have shifted my practice to be more focussed on supporting other allied health practitioners to prevent and manage burnout and to be the best therapist they can be, whilst still taking care of themselves!
Outside of my work, I’m a mum to 2 little boys and a dog mum to old dog Ella and puppy, Stevie. I love reading, LEGO, Barbies, painting and the performing arts. You’ll find me at park run most weekends or else creating a podcast with my sister or starting a new personal or professional project (I always have a 1000 things on the go at any one time!).
by SA Woman Member | Mar 1, 2024 | Meet a Member, SA Woman
Hi, I’m Caitlin and I own Dandelion Business Support. I am a virtual assistant for allied health professionals who are looking at moving their business to the next step through outsourcing their admin or creating systems in their business. I am a previous social worker, who had to stop working full time, because my children needed additional support. Both my children in 2023 were FINALLY approved for NDIS and both were diagnosed with ASD. I am a choc-o-holic, lover of reality TV and I’m in my reading era!
by SA Woman Member | Mar 1, 2024 | Meet a Member, SA Woman
Hello! My name is Meredith … lovely to meet you!
I started my small but mighty clinic eight years ago because, as my Mum says, I need to be captain of my own ship.
I came the long way around to Exercise Physiology, but I have definitely found my place in the world and how I want to make a difference.
I am super passionate about equitable healthcare, particularly for marginalised folks such as the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent people, BIPOC, and those living in larger bodies. When I am not in the clinic helping my clients you can find me on a soapbox somewhere, advocating to students, other health professionals, businesses, or anyone who will listen.
Outside of work I have a human (Luke) and a doggo (MacDuff). I love gardening, boardgames with friends, Disney movies, and swing dancing.
by SA Woman Member | Feb 11, 2024 | Meet a Member, SA Woman
Qualifications:
BA in Counselling (minor coaching) ~ children and youth, trauma and grief, family therapy, addiction.
Diploma in Positive Psychology & Wellbeing ~ Positive Parenting & Coaching.
Diploma in Youth Work.
Brainspotting Phase 1.
Mental Health First Aid – Master Trainer
“My passion is in promoting well-being and post-traumatic growth (as opposed to post-traumatic stress) for people who have experienced an activating event, a problem causing distress, or a desire to create a life change of some kind. As a counsellor I work with a lot of young people and parents, but can work with people from all walks of life.
Talking to people has always been my forte, from my early years as a hairdresser I was aware that my clients trusted me and I would bear witness to many things in their lives, happy, sad, and even traumatic.
When I began my career in health and fitness in 2011 I originally used it to keep myself motivated after having kids. I had to turn up, people were relying on me, but it was my time out. I worried constantly about my children, after some traumatic events both during and after their births, in fact, I barely have any memories of those early years because my brain was so full of worry and hypervigilant for potential dangers or things that could make them sick, it was one of the few things that could turn my brain off for a while.
I quickly attracted people who were using the gym to help with their own issues, like mental health, body image, self-worth, relationship problems, and more. Studying one thing turned into another and slowly my career and work have shifted. My first role outside of talking to people at the salon or the gym was as a well-being coach at an eating disorder clinic where I worked with women in a group setting, under the guidance of a psychologist to redefine their relationship to food, and moving their bodies.
Fast forward to the last 6 or so years and I have worked as a parenting coach with foster networks, in high school wellbeing teams, and as a mental health and wellbeing educator around Australia and NZ, both for Red Cross and in my own business. Program Counsellor SA for Raise Foundation and as a therapist in drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation Tumbelin Farm with young men.
I provide mental health and wellbeing education for workplaces, including Mental Health First Aid for organisations small-large, and clinical supervision to various organisations whose staff work with vulnerable people.
My passion for mental health and education revolves around social inclusion, mental health, and wellbeing literacy, and advocacy of a healthy Australia.”
Modalities most used: Trauma Focussed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Systemic Family Therapy, Mindfulness, and Somatic Therapy, Brainspotting.
by SA Woman Member | Jan 27, 2024 | Meet a Member, SA Woman
Hi, my name is Kendie and I am the Director and Occupational Therapist at My OT and Me. Throughout my 10 year career, my Occupational Therapy journey has taken me far and wide, from Gawler to the United Kingdom, working across public and private organisations. My position within these roles never ‘felt right,’ for me, so in 2023, I set off on my journey to establish an OT service that truly values people and that truly cares., and so, My OT and Me was born.
I wanted to create a service that focused on supporting the vulnerable in our community. To do this, I strive to support people with empathy, compassion and with the aim to be that OT that ‘gets it.’ In order to do this, I continue to seek opportunities to grow as a therapist and also learn from my patient cohort.
Beyond my professional career, I am a proud cat mum to Winston. I enjoy baking/cooking and creating an urban veggie patch to fulfil my ”sustainability cup’.
