Hi, I’m Rachel! I'm an Occupational Therapist with around 20 years’ experience in mental health practice. Over the years I’ve worked in senior clinical roles within youth or adult area mental health services, in private practice, and in university teaching. I’m a co-founder of The Social Confidence Collective in Melbourne, where I support young people aged 15–25 through individual mental health and OT support, therapeutic groups, and where I also provide training, supervision and consultation to professionals.

2022 - Present: Co-founder and Director at The Social Confidence Collective

2014- 2024: Senior Clinician (then Clinical Specialist/OT4) in the Community Development team at Orygen

2010-2014: Group Clinician and EPPIC Case Manager, Psychosocial Recovery Program, Orygen

2008-2010: Case Manager with Intensive Mobile Youth Outreach Service (IMYOS), Orygen

2006- 2008: Graduate Rotation Program across IPU, CCU and MSTS of Alfred Adult Area Mental Health Service

Alongside these 'main gigs' I've also done some private practice work at Crisalida, sessional teaching for LaTrobe and ACU universities and clinical moderation of online forums for beyondblue.

I am a senior OT, director and co-founder of The Social Confidence Collective. The SCC is a Melbourne-based service that works with young people (14-25) who would like to build their social confidence and connectedness. Alongside 1:1 work, we have a big focus on facilitating in-person therapeutic social groups that are embedded in principles of being collaborative, trauma-informed and neuroaffirming. We also deliver consultation and training to schools and youth-based agencies (in topics such as group facilitation, youth mental health, school can't, sensory modulation), and provide clinical supervision to a number of individuals and small teams.

• I graduated from LaTrobe in 2005 with Bachelor of OT (Hons) and a Bachelor of Behaviour Science, and hold a CertIV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (2007).
• Have completed training across a range of mental health topics, and hold more than a decade of experience in training about youth mental health as a clinical specialist at Orygen Youth Health, and now in my role at The SCC.
• I have engaged in learning and CPD about a range of therapy approaches that I like to draw on flexibly with my orientation and training as an OT (I'm a big fan of ACT, but have also completed training in Cognitive Analytic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, narrative approaches, family therapy, etc)
• I have completed Tuning into Teens training and co-facilitated a few TinT groups
• I have done supervision training with Michelle Bihary and completed OTAs Professional Supervision Program.

Clinical supervision has always been a meaningful part of my own professional journey, and this strongly shapes how I work as a supervisor. I aim to offer supervision that feels safe, supportive and collaborative, and a space where you can slow down, reflect openly, and make sense of what’s feeling challenging or stuck in your work. I currently provide individual supervision to clinicians across Australia, and also work with small teams in Victoria to facilitate reflective practice groups.

My supervision is formulation-led and grounded in curiosity about the 'why' behind behaviour (both our clients’ and our own responses as clinicians). I draw flexibly from approaches including CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, while holding a strong occupational therapy lens. With significant experience in group work, complex systems and multi-agency collaboration, I support supervisees to build confidence and clarity in their practice, while also attending to sustainability, balance and wellbeing. As a busy mum of three, I’m very aware of the realities of juggling professional responsibilities alongside life outside of work, and I value supervision that supports clinicians to work in ways that are thoughtful, ethical and sustainable over the long term. My work is informed by a commitment to ongoing learning, and to trauma-informed, neuro-affirming and inclusive practice.

I work with early career and experienced clinicians, particularly those working in youth mental health, as well as clinicians who are curious about developing or refining their group work practice or are new to developing and delivering training.

You can read more about my thoughts on supervision on an article I wrote for Linkd In here:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7426397959401132032/?originTrackingId=tiaUWy5AEOCTs%2F7bSEdauA%3D%3D