Hi, I'm Kristen from Thriving OT & the Trauma Informed Care OT. I am a passionate advocate for mental wellbeing, perinatal health, family mental health, mindfulness, yoga, and evidence-based practice. I also have lived experience as a carer of family members with physical and mental health difficulties. I'm a registered occupational therapist & endorsed mental health clinician with over 17 years experience, a trauma informed yoga therapist, mindfulness & self-compassion teacher, university educator, trauma informed supervisor, coach & Mum.

I have worked in mental health roles since 2007 and have made the most out of work and learning and development opportunities, enabling me to gain experience across a number of roles and sectors. I have worked in both the public and private sectors, clinical and non-clinical, and with roles in: perinatal & infant/child mental health and disability & ECIS; CYMHS; Adult MHS; FaPMI; DET & Education (early learning, primary, secondary, tertiary, post-graduate).  I offer clinical & reflective supervision to individuals and groups, including: MCHN Universal services; Family Violence practitioners, Practice leads and Managers; Paediatric OT organisations; Undergraduate and Masters of OT students; Family and Child centered organisations; Housing services; Trauma-informed services; and Mental Health staff and organisations. I also work as a Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mind-Body Therapist, Trainer, Consultant and Guest speaker, in private practice OT, Mental health & Trauma recovery.

I currently work in private practice 2.5 days a week providing supervision, training, consultation, guest speaking and sessional direct MH/OT services, as the owner of Thriving OT & Trauma Informed Care OT https://traumainformedcareot.mykajabi.com/thriving-ot I also love teaching and work casually as a Teaching Associate at Monash University in the OT Department.

Many Supervision Training courses. Master of Occupational Therapy Practice, Post-Graduate in Mental Health Sciences - Infant & Parent mental health, Diploma of Music.

Certified Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Facilitator and Trainer, Certified Senior Yoga Teacher (RYT & YACEP) & Yoga Therapist (IAYT)

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Professional, Mindfulness in Education (MIE) Teacher, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) trained, Compassion-Focussed Therapy trained

Due to my employment and roles across sectors over 15 years, I have also engaged in multiple training opportunities across group programs (e.g BUGK, PPP, TIK, CASEA, Peek-a-Boo Club, Dads on board, Sensory skills etc), MH, FV and paediatric frameworks, as well as clinical skills (EMDR, CBT, etc), in addition to required training in these roles.

I love sharing how people can Thrive even in the face of challenging conditions. Clinical supervision has been a key component of my learning, growth and wellbeing, whilst enabling me to provide safe and high quality care and services. I am a trauma Informed supervisor, who is also influenced by Infant and parent mental health and occupational therapy models of supervision, as these have been the beginnings of my own supervision development.

Before we enter into a supervision agreement, we will have time to meet and discuss the trauma-informed supervision methods that might suit you, or your team, how I can best support your needs, inclusive of your experience and knowledge, learning style and preferences and work related needs and context.