Kahli Joyce.

Hello, my name is Kahli and I am the principal Occupational Therapist and Director of Stretchy Minds Paediatric Occupational Therapy. I am an incredibly passionate Occupational Therapist who loves to empower children, young people and families with the skills, confidence and knowledge to thrive in their everyday lives.

I completed my Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Australian Catholic University, graduating with First Class Honours and an Executive Dean’s Commendation in 2016. Since then, I have worked in paediatric private practice, serviced schools in both metro and remote areas, and conducted assessments at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

I also love to learn and to share what I learn; in conjunction with Monash University, I have been extensively involved in research that investigated the experiences, service needs and overall health and wellbeing of parents of children with a disability. I have collaborated on research papers and presented at two national Occupational Therapy Conferences.

I am an avid yogi and love to be upside down! I teach yoga to both adults and children over at Tidal Flow Yoga. I am a new mama to my little love Lila and honestly think childhood development is simply extraordinary. When I am not at work, you would likely find me taking my fluffy groodle Penny for a walk, practising my handstands, writing and drawing, going to the beach, or spending time with my friends and family.

Special Interests and Clinical Experience.

I love to talk about neuroplasticity – the power of the brain to wire and rewire itself – and this served as the springboard for Stretchy Minds Paediatric Occupational Therapy!

I have worked with children with a range of strengths and challenges, having worked in Out of Hours School Care, school holiday programs, and at the Royal Children’s Hospital. I also designed and implemented a handwriting program in a Victorian primary school, and spent three years delivering play-based therapy as part of a Son-Rise Program®.

I take a holistic approach to therapy, tailoring my approach to suit the unique needs of each child and family. I have experience working with children and adolescents with challenges related to: living autistic in a neurotypical world; sensory processing differences; anxiety; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders; social emotional difficulties; regulation and behavioural challenges; complex/chronic and acute trauma; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; intellectual disability; Cerebral Palsy; neurological disorders; and autoimmune diseases.

I have a love of learning and am continually seeking new opportunities to broaden my skillset and enhance the effectiveness of the therapy I provide. I completed extensive training in the Son-Rise Program® and continue to undertake training in the DIR Floortime® model of intervention, integrating a focus on child-led learning and play into my practice. I also have experience using the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach to teach motor skills (such as handwriting and tying shoelaces), and incorporate executive problem solving into therapy. I am also experienced in using the Zones of Regulation® concepts developed by Michelle Garcia Winner to empower children to monitor and manage their emotions, and to navigate social situations.

I am also a keen yogi and love helping children and adolescents find their ‘zen’; I am a certified Adult and Kids Yoga teacher, with additional training in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga.

Certification, Further Education, and Professional Development.

• Endorsed Better Access to Mental Health Clinician

• Unpacking Affirming Paediatric Practice - Sandhya Menon

• When Children Won’t Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders, Assessment and Treatment Using the SOS Approach to Feeding - Dr Kay Toomey, Lindsay Beckerman, and Dr Erin Ross

• Beyond Behaviours: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioural Challenges - Dr Mona Delahooke

• Collaborative and Proactive Solutions: Moving From Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem Solving - Dr Ross Greene

• Autism Matters – Kimberley Barthel

• Your Best Self, The Alert Program for All - Sherry Shellenberger and MarySue Williams:

• Foundation Coach Approach for Early Childhood Intervention – Jacqui Snider

• The Action is in the Interaction – Training in the DIR Floortime® Approach

• Sensory Defensiveness Workshop & The Willbarger Protocol

• Teaching Strategies & Behaviour Support - Sue Larkey

• Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Different Way of Thinking, Learning and Managing Emotions - Dr Tony Attwood and Sue Larkey

• The Traffic Jam in my Brain - Genevieve Jereb

• Transforming Childhood Trauma: A Neuroscience Approach to Healing and Recovery – Dr Bruce Perry

• Connect, Communicate, Grow: Training in the Son-Rise Program - Sean Fitzgerald

• Handwriting Assessment (DASH, DASH 17+, Beery VMI) - Pearson Clinical Assessment, Australia and New Zealand

• 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training – Ihana Yoga

• The Trauma Centre Trauma-Sensitive Yoga – 20 hours of foundational training