Our Team

Cheryl is an Occupational Therapist who is deeply committed to person-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming practice. She graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in South Africa in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (BSc(OT)) and has worked in the field of paediatrics ever since.

With extensive training and decades of experience supporting Autistic children, sensory processing differences, and emotional dysregulation, Cheryl draws on current neuroscience to understand how children’s nervous systems develop and respond to stress. She uses a trauma-informed, mental health-aware lens to look beyond behaviours and see the underlying needs, aiming to create safety and connection as the foundation for growth. Her practice focuses on helping children and their families build a strong sense of identity, belonging, and confidence to thrive as their authentic selves.

Cheryl is a certified DIR/Floortime practitioner and values the foundational role of play and relationships in supporting regulation, learning, and development. She is passionate about empowering families, carers, and early childhood educators to understand each child’s unique sensory, emotional, and developmental profile, and to interpret behaviours as communication of underlying challenges or unmet needs.

Since early 2024, Cheryl has stepped back from a full clinical caseload to focus on delivering above-industry-standard training to the North Shore Kids Therapy team. She also provides consultation and co-treatment support to clinicians and families across the service as needed, ensuring the team’s work is grounded in up-to-date neuroscience and relational best practice.

As a mother of three busy children, Cheryl brings a personal appreciation of the ongoing challenges of finding balance in family life.

Lauren is a dedicated and compassionate occupational therapist who is deeply committed to supporting children and their families. She is currently completing her DIR/Floortime certification and continues to build her expertise in sensory integration, play-based practice, and neuro-affirming approaches. Lauren’s passion lies in helping children lead meaningful, engaged lives where they can experience joy, confidence, and holistic wellbeing.

Lauren completed a Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra in 2021, following a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) at the University of Sydney. Before joining North Shore Kids Therapy, she gained valuable paediatric experience in the community and within the NDIS space, working with children of varying ages, developmental profiles, and support needs.

She has also drawn on her background as a Teacher’s Aide at a school for children with disabilities, her volunteer work with Sense Rugby, and her role as a disability support worker. These experiences have shaped her commitment to family-centred practice and her strong belief that children thrive when their strengths are celebrated and their needs understood.

At the heart of Lauren’s practice is a collaborative, strength-based approach. She values working alongside families to nurture connection, meet needs, and promote wellbeing. With a focus on bottom-up models of support, Lauren prioritises sensory regulation and emotional health as the foundation for participation. She uses play-based and sensory-motor therapy to create safe, supportive environments where children feel encouraged to explore, connect, and learn.

Beyond work, Lauren enjoys life with her two cheeky dogs, playing futsal, taking dance classes, and spending quality time with her family.

Nicole (Nic) is a caring, patient, and reflective paediatric occupational therapist. She is dedicated to understanding the neuroscience and clinical evidence behind her work, and shows great skill in seeing the whole child—considering not just their individual strengths and challenges, but also family dynamics and the environments they live and learn in. Nic is mindful of meeting parents where they are, valuing collaboration and shared understanding as key parts of therapy.

Her practice is grounded in neuro-affirming principles. She believes in encouraging each child’s confidence and strengths, adapting therapy to their interests, and creating opportunities for joy in discovering their abilities and sense of self.

Nic completed a Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney in 2023. Her diverse experiences include volunteering with youths from challenging circumstances, teaching English to adolescents, and assisting in early childhood intervention. Knowing the importance of relationships, emotions, and sensory systems to a child’s development, she continues to expand her skills in therapeutic approaches such as DIR/Floortime, sensory integration, and emotional regulation. She is also an active member of the Paediatric and Mental Health Interest Groups with OT Australia.

Outside of work, Nic values time with family, slowing down through craft projects and beach swims, and delving into psychology books to deepen both her personal and professional growth.

Elise is a Speech Pathologist who is passionate about supporting children and young people with communication differences to enhance their quality of life.

Elise is from Ireland and graduated from the National University of Ireland, Galway with a Bachelor of Science (Speech and Language Therapy) degree. Since then, Elise has worked as a Speech Pathologist on a disability team, supporting young people and their families across their everyday environments.

Elise is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practise, and strives to support children and families in the most respectful way. She feels strongly about using a strengths-based approach to support individuals and believes in presuming competence for the individuals she works with. Elise works collaboratively with young people and their families to create goals which are holistic, functional and supportive. She respects all of the ways in which young people choose to communicate, and believes in empowering them to express themselves and advocate for themselves through their preferred methods of communication.

Elise has experience supporting individuals with communication differences using a wide range of approaches. These include Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) methods, parent training supports and strategies to support Gestalt Language Processors. Elise is eager to continue to keep up with the most up-to-date evidence-based practises and approaches to support children and young people.

Gabrielle is a passionate, creative, and strengths-focused Occupational Therapist who honours each individual’s unique way of experiencing the world. She strives to meet people where they are, advocate for their needs and preferences, and support them and their families in living lives that are meaningful to them.

Gabrielle graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy from Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. She was first introduced to OT during her psychology studies and was drawn to its holistic, person centred approach, leading her down the OT career path.

With a strong background in care and community work, Gabrielle has volunteered overseas in orphanages and schools, worked in afterschool care, been an au pair, volunteered with Riding for Disabled, and supported healthcare teams in podiatry and optometry settings. Her experience as a personal carer for many years also shaped her passion for caregiver support, psychoeducation, holistic and early healthcare prevention.

Gabrielle has over two years of experience in the NDIS sector, supporting clients aged 4 to 75 across mental health and disability inpatient, community, and clinic settings. She has completed additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma informed care, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. Previously, Gabrielle has delivered group programs and online workshops focused on emotional wellbeing, self harm prevention, neuro-affirming care, and care worker safety. Gabrielle strongly values collaborative practice and enjoys working alongside families, schools, and other healthcare professionals to provide aligned, person centred care.

Gabrielle is excited to grow with the North Shore Kids Therapy team, further develop her paediatric skills, and expand her therapeutic approaches such as DIR Floortime.

Outside of work, Gabrielle enjoys surfing, yoga, dancing, and painting. She also values time spent outdoors and with loved ones!