Expressive Mind Therapy

07/11/2025

Another amazing opportunity to connect, educate, and inspire.
Today, I had the privilege to deliver Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue training to an incredible group of professionals who take challenging calls and support people in crisis every day.

Exploring these important topics through real-life case studies created powerful conversations about resilience, empathy, and self-care in emotionally demanding roles.

It’s always rewarding to see professionals pause, reflect, and re-energise—because caring for others starts with caring for ourselves.

06/11/2025

🌿 Building Awareness, Strength, and Compassion 🌿

Today, our Lead Facilitator Nathan Darvill proudly delivered two impactful virtual training sessions to valued clients:

💠 Vicarious Trauma & Compassion Fatigue
💠 Understanding Self and Others

These sessions explored the emotional impact of supporting others, the importance of boundaries, and the strategies needed to maintain personal wellbeing and professional resilience.

Nathan’s sessions are known for blending lived experience, clinical expertise, and practical takeaways—empowering participants to recognise signs of stress, strengthen self-awareness, and nurture compassion in themselves and those they support.

At Expressive Mind Therapy, we’re passionate about helping organisations build emotionally intelligent, trauma-informed, and connected teams. 💙

📩 To learn more about our training programs or to book a session for your organisation, contact us at training@expressivemindtherapy.com.au.

05/11/2025

🌿 Day One | ANZMHA Rural Mental Health Conference | Hobart, TAS 🌿

Nathan, Director of Expressive Mind Therapy, is attending Day One of the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association’s Rural Mental Health Conference in beautiful Hobart, Tasmania.

This conference brings together mental health professionals, community leaders, and lived-experience advocates to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of supporting rural and remote communities.

For Expressive Mind Therapy, it’s an invaluable opportunity to expand clinical knowledge, explore innovative therapeutic approaches, and strengthen partnerships that directly enhance the quality of care provided to our clients across regional NSW.

Nathan will be taking these learnings back to our EMT team to inform best-practice frameworks, trauma-informed care strategies, and evidence-based interventions—ensuring our work continues to meet the evolving needs of rural and neurodiverse Australians.

We look forward to sharing key insights and reflections from this incredible event over the coming days! 💙

31/10/2025

31/10/2025

Position available

Speech Pathologist & Occupational Therapist – Expressive Mind Therapy (Ulladulla, NSW)
Location: Ulladulla / Milton region (Flexible service delivery – clinic, school, community, and home)
Employment Type: Full-time or part-time (flexible)
Salary: Competitive – based on experience + super + professional development allowance .$70,000–$90,000 per Start Date: Immediate or negotiable

About Expressive Mind Therapy
Expressive Mind Therapy is a registered NDIS multidisciplinary allied-health practice located on the NSW South Coast. We provide Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, and Behaviour Support services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Our team is committed to delivering trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and person-centred care that supports individuals to communicate, participate, and thrive in their communities. We work collaboratively with families, schools, and community organisations to provide holistic, evidence-based support that makes a meaningful difference.
About the Roles
We are seeking passionate and motivated Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists to join our growing Ulladulla team. These roles offer variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to work across a diverse caseload including paediatrics, adolescents, and adults.
You will:
Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop individualised, evidence-based intervention plans.
Deliver therapy across clinic, community, home, and school settings.
Collaborate with a supportive multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic, coordinated care.
Maintain clear clinical documentation and contribute to NDIS reporting and goal monitoring.
Participate in regular supervision, case discussions, and professional development activities.

About You
You are a compassionate, skilled clinician who is eager to grow within a supportive and flexible team environment.
Essential Criteria:
Relevant tertiary qualification in Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy.
Current professional registration:
Speech Pathologist – Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Occupational Therapist – Registered with AHPRA
NDIS Worker Screening Check and Working With Children Check (or willingness to obtain).
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a person-centred focus.
Commitment to trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and strengths-based practice.
Desirable:
Experience working with NDIS participants in community or paediatric settings.
Interest in developing expertise in AAC, literacy, sensory regulation, executive functioning, or functional skill development.
New graduates with the right values and enthusiasm are welcome to apply – structured supervision and mentoring are provided.

What We Offer
Supportive multidisciplinary team with a culture of collaboration and learning
Regular supervision, mentoring, and reflective practice sessions
Annual Professional Development Allowance + paid PD days
Varied caseload across ages and communication/functional needs
Flexible working arrangements (clinic, hybrid, or community-based
Opportunity to make a real difference in a regional community
Apply Now
If you’re ready to join a passionate, community-focused team where your ideas are valued and your growth is supported — we’d love to hear from you.
Email your CV and a short cover letter to: admin@expressivemindtherapy.com.au
Learn more about us: www.expressivemindtherapy.com.au
For a confidential discussion, contact Nathan Darvill Managing Director on 0438115812

Expressive Mind Therapy – The Allied Health and Training Specialists Expressive Mind Therapy is a trusted NDIS Registered Provider delivering comprehensive allied health, EAP, and professional development services across the South Coast—from Nowra to Batemans Bay—and Australia-wide. Our dedica...

29/10/2025

Important message and a timely reminder from our director Nathan.

Summed up perfectly in two photos.

⸻

In the first image, I see a man who smiled on the outside but was struggling on the inside. Someone who carried the weight of self-doubt, pain, and exhaustion. The body language shows a person surviving — not thriving. Every day was about getting through, not moving forward. That version of me didn’t fully believe I could change, heal, or find balance again.

In the second image, I see the same man — but this time, he’s standing lighter, freer, and prouder. That’s not just a physical transformation; it’s the reflection of mental clarity, self-belief, discipline, and purpose. The difference isn’t just in the body — it’s in the eyes, the posture, and the energy.

That’s what positive mental health looks like.
Not “perfect,” not “fixed,” but empowered.
It’s about finding your spark again — through movement, connection, and purpose.

⸻

If you’re in that first photo right now, please know this:
You can become the second one.
You can rebuild. You can rediscover who you are beneath the stress, the struggle, and the noise.

Every small step — the walk, the gym session, the talk with someone who listens, the moment you say I want to feel better — it all adds up.

I’m living proof that change is possible when you choose to back yourself, even when you’re at your lowest.

⸻

💭 Mental health is not about never struggling — it’s about learning to keep moving, even when the world feels heavy.
Keep showing up. You’ll thank yourself later.

28/10/2025

🌟 Supporting Our Future Workforce 🌟

At Expressive Mind Therapy, we’re proud to play our part in building the future of Australia’s allied health workforce by providing student placements in counselling, social work and more right here on the South Coast.

Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, to our Ulladulla office, where she met with University of Wollongong social work student, Leanne Condie — one of the many students now benefiting from the Commonwealth Prac Payments initiative.

Under this Albanese Labor Government program, from July 1, eligible nursing, midwifery, teaching, and social work students across Australia receive $331.65 per week while completing their mandatory placements.

This initiative provides much-needed cost-of-living support, allowing students like Leanne to focus on their studies and professional development without the added stress of juggling multiple jobs or financial strain.

As Fiona Phillips shared:

“It’s so good to see the people who are training to do such important jobs in our community getting a bit of financial help to get the qualifications they need.”

While this is an incredibly positive step forward, there is still a long way to go. The Labor Government must continue expanding this support to include all allied health, counselling, psychology, and other placement-based disciplines, ensuring that every student who contributes to the wellbeing of our communities receives the same recognition and financial assistance.

At Expressive Mind Therapy, we’re passionate about supporting emerging professionals, fostering learning opportunities, and creating pathways for students to gain real-world experience in a supportive and inclusive environment.

We’re committed to helping shape the next generation of practitioners who will go on to make a meaningful impact in the mental health and social services sectors. 💙

South Coast university students are reaping the rewards of the Albanese Labor Government’s Commonwealth Prac Payments.

21/10/2025

🏆 Triple Finalists at the Australian Womens Small Business Champion Awards! 🏆

For the third year in a row, Expressive Mind Therapy has been recognised as a Finalist in the 2025 Australian Womens Small Business Champion Awards — this year in the Disability Support category! 💖

This achievement is a true reflection of the dedication, compassion, and excellence of our incredible team — a group of strong, independent women who continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients every single day.

To be recognised nationally, three years running, is more than just an award — it’s a celebration of the impact we create, the relationships we build, and the passion that drives everything we do at Expressive Mind Therapy. 🌿

We are beyond proud to stand alongside so many inspiring Australian businesses and can’t wait to celebrate this honour on awards night. ✨

21/10/2025

✨ Empowering Minds at Jobs and Skills Australia! ✨

Today, Nathan had the incredible opportunity to attend the Jobs and Skills Australia Strategic Planning Day at the QT Hotel in Canberra, where he delivered an engaging Stress, Burnout, and Self-Care training session to more than 100 employees, managers, and executives.

The session focused on practical, real-world strategies to recognise the early signs of stress and prevent burnout — equipping participants with tools to build resilience, protect their wellbeing, and lead with empathy.

Nathan is extremely grateful to have been invited to contribute to such an important day and to continue advocating for neurodiversity, mental health awareness, and sustainable workplace wellbeing across Australia. 🌿

Because when we understand how stress works, we can change how we work — and thrive together. 💪

20/10/2025

Expressive Mind Therapy thanks Altura Learning for coming down to Ulladulla to film my su***de story to be used in support of there online training courses. To have the opportunity to speak about my mental health and su***de journey was a pleasure and I only hope it will help break stigma and support more people to seek help.

Altura Learning provides aged care courses online and with flexible delivery. Tailored solutions we help Australians aged care providers upskill their workplaces and grow there business.

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

15/10/2025

Today, Nathan, our Director at Expressive Mind Therapy, had the honour of delivering a powerful virtual training session on Stress, Burnout and Self-Care — a topic that continues to resonate deeply across every sector of our workforce.

This interactive and evidence-based session explored the psychological and physiological impacts of chronic stress, helping participants recognise the early warning signs of burnout before they escalate. Nathan guided attendees through the stress response cycle, unpacking how unmanaged demands can erode wellbeing, productivity, and emotional regulation over time.

The training provided practical and immediately applicable strategies, including:
• Building self-awareness to identify personal stress triggers and emotional fatigue.
• Implementing micro-recovery practices such as grounding techniques, breathing regulation, and mindfulness resets.
• Developing a sustainable self-care plan tailored to individual needs and work environments.
• Re-framing stress through cognitive flexibility and strengths-based reflection.
• Creating organisational cultures that value wellbeing, psychological safety, and healthy boundaries.

As with all Expressive Mind Therapy training, today’s session combined real-world lived experience with professional insight, equipping participants with practical tools to protect their mental health and foster resilience.

The feedback from participants reflected the power of this approach — insightful, relevant, and deeply human. Because when we invest in self-care, we’re not just preventing burnout — we’re building stronger, more compassionate workplaces where people can truly thrive.