Connect 2 Thrive

08/03/2026

International Women’s Day 💜

Today is a day to recognise and celebrate the achievements, strength and contributions of women in our communities and across the world. It is also a reminder of the importance of continuing to work towards equality, safety and opportunity for women and girls everywhere.

This year I felt incredibly surprised and honoured to be nominated for Celebrating Women of the Moira Shire as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations. The theme for this year is “Give to Gain.”

Reading the nomination provided me the opportunity to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning behind the work I do each day. At its heart, my work is about giving — giving time, compassion, knowledge and care to support children, families and individuals who are navigating trauma, emotional challenges and developmental needs.

Through play therapy, EMDR, counselling and parenting support, I have the privilege of creating safe spaces where people can feel seen, heard and supported as they heal, grow and build resilience.

I feel deeply grateful to the person who nominated me. Your words meant more than you probably realise and reminded me why this work matters so much.

Today I also want to acknowledge the many women in our community who quietly give so much of themselves every day — in families, services, schools, workplaces and community spaces. Your care, strength and dedication make a real difference.

Happy International Women’s Day.

04/03/2026

Now Accepting Referrals – In Person & Online ✨

At Connect 2 Thrive, I am currently welcoming new referrals for children, adolescents and adults seeking compassionate, evidence-based mental health support.

As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, I provide:

🌿 EMDR Therapy (adults, adolescents & children 3+)
🌿 Child-Centred Play Therapy
🌿 Parent Support & Attachment-Focused Work
🌿 Neuro-affirming Therapy for Neurodivergent Children & Adults
🌿 Trauma-Informed, Person-Centred Mental Health Care
🌿 NDIS Early Years & Ongoing Supports
🌿 Functional Developmental Assessments

I work from a neuro-affirming, strengths-based, and trauma-informed framework — supporting individuals and families to build regulation, connection, resilience, and self-understanding.

📍 In-person appointments available in Yarrawonga
💻 Online therapy available Australia-wide

Referrals welcome via:
✔️ Mental Health Care Plans
✔️ NDIS (Self & Plan Managed)
✔️ Agency referrals
✔️ Private/self-referral

If you are a GP, paediatrician, school, allied health professional, support coordinator — or someone seeking support for yourself or your child — I invite you to connect.

📧 Referrals can be sent to: hello@connect2thrive.com.au

Let’s work together to support healing & growth to thrive in life.

TraumaInformedCare Yarrawonga telehealth parentsupport childtherapy AcrossTheLifespan

04/03/2026

“Name it to tame it.”

We often say this when supporting children.

When we help a child name their emotion —
“You’re feeling overwhelmed.”
“That looks frustrating.”
“I notice your body feels worried.”

— we are supporting regulation.

We are acknowledging their internal state so their nervous system doesn’t have to work so hard to be understood.
When emotions are named, the brain integrates.
When feelings are acknowledged, the body softens.
When the state is seen, growth becomes possible.

When we name it, we begin to understand what the nervous system needs.

But how often do we do this as adults?

How often do we pause and say:
“My body feels tight.”
“I’m overstimulated.”
“I’m grieving.”
“I’m exhausted from masking.”
“I’m anxious because this feels unsafe.”

For many neurodivergent adults, especially those who grew up in environments that didn’t understand their sensory, emotional or relational needs — naming internal experience wasn’t always supported.

Instead, many learned to:

• Push through
• Mask
• Minimise
• Overachieve to compensate
• Shrink themselves
• Doubt their instincts

When your nervous system wasn’t understood as a child, you may have internalised the message that you were the problem — rather than your environment not meeting your needs.

Invisible difficulties often led to invisible effort.

And sometimes, limited achievement wasn’t about capacity —
it was about chronic dysregulation, burnout, or navigating systems that weren’t built with your nervous system in mind.

Neuro-affirming practice invites something different.

It invites us to go inward rather than block what’s happening.
To listen rather than override.
To feel rather than suppress.

Naming what is present isn’t weakness.
It’s regulation.

When we say:
“I’m overstimulated.”
“I need predictability.”
“I need rest.”
“I need connection.”
“I need less demand right now.”

- we are responding to our nervous system with respect.

This is adult regulation.
This is self-trust rebuilding.
This is growth.

Not forcing calm.
Not pretending we’re fine.
But acknowledging what is true — and responding with compassion.

Your nervous system is not an inconvenience.
It is communication.

And when we name it —
we begin to meet ourselves in the way we may not have been met before.

03/03/2026

Now Accepting Referrals – In Person & Online ✨

At Connect 2 Thrive, I am currently welcoming new referrals for children, adolescents and adults seeking compassionate, evidence-based mental health support.

As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, I provide:

🌿 EMDR Therapy (adults, adolescents & children 3+)
🌿 Child-Centred Play Therapy
🌿 Parent Support & Attachment-Focused Work
🌿 Neuro-affirming Therapy for Neurodivergent Children & Adults
🌿 Trauma-Informed, Person-Centred Mental Health Care
🌿 NDIS Early Years & Ongoing Supports
🌿 Functional Developmental Assessments

I work from a neuro-affirming, strengths-based, and trauma-informed framework — supporting individuals and families to build regulation, connection, resilience, and self-understanding.

📍 In-person appointments available in Yarrawonga
💻 Online therapy available Australia-wide

Referrals welcome via:
✔️ Mental Health Care Plans
✔️ NDIS (Self & Plan Managed)
✔️ Agency referrals
✔️ Private/self-referral

If you are a GP, paediatrician, school, allied health professional, support coordinator — or someone seeking support for yourself or your child — I invite you to connect.

📧 Referrals can be sent to: hello@connect2thrive.com.au

Let’s work together to support healing & growth to thrive in life.

17/02/2026

Sibling relationships are complicated — they can love each other deeply and drive each other crazy in the same day.

But this is where kids learn some of their biggest life skills: repairing after arguments, sharing space, managing big feelings, and staying connected even when things feel hard.

Nate is on his first school camp, and Finn really felt his absence. The way he showed it was by drawing a picture of them together — his way of saying “I miss you.”

Supporting sibling relationships early really matters. How they learn to connect now can shape how they show up for each other for life.

13/02/2026

Weekend plans = comfy clothes, cups of tea, and getting lost in a good book 📚

I’m spending some time going back through Unleash Your EMDR: Release the Magic ahead of professional development in Sydney next week, diving even deeper into my EMDR practice.

It’s no secret — I genuinely love learning. I’m naturally curious, and I get really excited about opportunities to grow and keep refining how I show up for the people I support. And honestly… I’m very excited for this next week.

I’m also really looking forward to connecting with some incredible EMDR clinicians I admire ❤️

Feeling very grateful to work in a space where learning never really stops.

08/02/2026

I am not usually an on trend person, however, this seemed like a bit of fun. I think this came up as a good mix of my professional self- my years of supporting children and my passion for EMDR as well as being affirming with rainbow representation. Also- anyone who has seen me in my rooms, knows I am mostly a shoes off person ! Happy Monday to all :)

08/01/2026

For all locals people take note of the following. Take care, keep indoors, stay well hydrated with plenty of water and pets kept cool 🙏.

🚨 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗖 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗

A 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 has been declared for 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆, alongside an 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 and a 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻.
From 𝟲𝗮𝗺 on 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝟲𝗮𝗺 on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆, the following locations will be 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘂𝘀𝗲:
❌ 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗺 (including the boat ramp and café)
❌ 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, 𝗬𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮
❌ 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗵

𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆:
❌ Cobram, Nathalia, Numurkah, Strathmerton and Yarrawonga 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀
(under YMCA’s Catastrophic Fire Danger policy)
❌ 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹

🌬️ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁:
✅ Cobram, Nathalia, Numurkah and Yarrawonga 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 (during opening hours)
✅ 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 from 12pm–5pm

For full details, go to: https://www.moira.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/News-and-information/Beaches-and-pools-to-close-as-Catastrophic-Fire-Danger-is-forecast-for-Friday

Please stay informed and take care in these extreme conditions.

11/12/2025

Wow! Had to share as I found this really interesting

26/11/2025

✨ Big Moments for Small Humans ✨.
What a brilliant day for the kids — meeting their Richmond heroes and soaking up every second. These are the moments that light something up inside children… confidence, connection, and the feeling that their dreams matter.

A huge thank-you to the Richmond Football Club for taking the time to show up for young regional kids. Your presence builds community, inspires belief, and creates memories that sit proudly in a child’s story of who they’re becoming.

A couple of afternoons full of smiles, signatures, and the kind of encouragement that lasts.
💛🖤

16/11/2025

Some days, the world tells us to “fake it till you make it.”
But the truth is… that’s not how growth works. Growth is messy. It’s uncomfortable. It asks us to fall—sometimes hard—and still choose to stand again.

The quote in the first photo hit me today. Not because it’s inspirational in a shiny, picture-perfect way, but because it’s honest. Mistakes, failure, judgement, disapproval, loss… they’re real. They’re part of being human. And they can feel heavy.

But beneath every fall, there is strength quietly forming. There is learning happening in the background, even when all we can see is the stumble. It takes courage to get back up and face the world again. And compassion—both from others and from ourselves—as we learn to do a little better each time.

That’s why I brought home this little plant growing out of a rock. A reminder that life can feel rocky, but beauty still finds a way through. Even in the hardest times, something new can take root. Something resilient. Something full of potential.

If you’re in a season of falling, failing, or learning… be gentle with yourself. Growth doesn’t always look soft or easy. Sometimes it looks like a plant pushing through stone.

And that’s still growth. 🌱✨

16/11/2025

✨ So Grateful ✨

This weekend was a big refresh of the therapy room at Connect 2 Thrive — new couch (260km round trip for this beauty!), new armchair, fresh cushions and a cosy throw rug… with a rug on the way.

A special shout-out for the stunning sunset painting created by a local 13-year-old artist. Yep, 13! Her talent blows me away, and her work brings such calm, warm energy into the space.

Every piece in the room is chosen with intention — soft textures, natural light, fidgets, calm visuals, little sparks of inspiration, seating options, and sensory choice (essential oils or not). All designed to support the nervous system as we do the deeper work.

Huge appreciation for my husband on lawn duty, Finn for his beautiful reading, and Nate for feeding the lawn so it can thrive too. 🌱💛

Private practice is such a gift — and a lot of behind-the-scenes work — and I’m endlessly grateful for my family’s support. My hope is that everyone who walks into the hub instantly feels a sense of calm.

✨ Feeling supported. Feeling grateful. Feeling ready as we come to the final weeks of the year. 🌿