Hi there! My name is Sonya (she/her) and I am an occupational therapist who has worked in mental health since 2007. I am a senior occupational therapist and co-director at The Social Confidence Collective.

I also teach prospective OTs within mental health subjects at ACU in Melbourne.

I really value connecting with OTs and workers from other disciplines. My areas for interest include youth mental health (which I have worked in since 2009) both individually and in groups, how to work in more neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed and culturally responsive ways. I feel comfortable working with workers in clinical settings, as well as those who work in schools and other educational settings, youth organisations and other community organisations. I have experience supervising OTs, as well as psychologists, music therapists, social workers, housing workers, youth workers and counsellors.

I blend theory and practice together in a reflective way, and I always place you, the supervisee, as the expert. Supervisees have let me know that they enjoy working me. I know what it's like working while being a parent, and especially value working with supervisees who grapple with the various life roles they have, to also still show up as the best versions of themselves at work.

I have worked in mental health since graduating in 2007. I have worked in adult area mental health services in an inpatient unit and a community care unit.

Most of my experience has been in youth mental health, and I worked at a youth mental health service for 15 years across various teams - the early psychosis team, within the psychosocial group program, the community development team, and as the chief occupational therapist.

I also have seven years' experience working in the private sector, working as a mental health occupational therapist with primarily young people (although I do work with adult clients, too).

When I am not at The Social Confidence Collective, I also teach undergraduate OT students at Australian Catholic University, and have engaged in a casual academic role since 2016.

I am the co-director at The Social Confidence Collective, where I work individually and with groups of young people to develop their social confidence (feel better around others).

Michelle's Bihary's Advanced Supervision Training

I have been described as a warm, empathetic person. I value having a supervision space where people can turn up as themselves, in a safe space to be able to discuss the good and not-so-good things about their practice. I acknowledge I am also a human! I don't have all the answers, and don't expect for you to have them as well. What I do provide is a space to be able to ponder and reflect and consider.

I am reflective, and incorporate lots of things (like theory, best practice guidelines) in my informal style. I value neurodiversity-affirming practice, trauma-informed practice, and culturally responsive practice.