about us
Hello, I’m Shelley! (she/her) 🌈
I’m an Accredited Social Worker (AASW: 479508) with a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Social Work. As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent human (ADHD), a proud member of the queer community and someone living with chronic illness, I bring both professional knowledge and lived experience to my work. These experiences inform my commitment to accessibility, belonging and making space for different brains, bodies and ways of being. I called our practice Diverse & Thriving because our goal is to help you thrive with the brain you have, rather than to change who you are. My approach is collaborative, strengths-based, trauma-informed and grounded in anti-oppressive, feminist and intersectional perspectives. Together, we consider your experiences, relationships and environment, including the barriers you face and the supports that work for you. I aim to create a space where you can show up as yourself, with your own communication style, energy and support needs. You are the expert in your own life, and we work together to explore what matters to you and what meaningful support could look like. I draw on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, psychoeducation and strengths-based approaches, alongside selected neuro-affirming elements of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). Always through a neuro-affirming and LGBTQIASB+ affirming lens, with support shaped around your needs, preferences and goals.
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Hello, I’m Kalina! (she/her) 😊
I'm the Virtual Support Worker at Diverse and Thriving. I'm here to support you in whatever way feels most helpful. Whether that's making overwhelming tasks feel more manageable, helping you think things through out loud, building support systems that actually work for you and your individual brain, supporting self-advocacy, or simply being someone in your corner – I'm here. I'm currently a third-year Social Work student, a late-diagnosed ADHDer, mum to two wonderful kids (and two very spoiled fur babies!), and wife to my best friend. When I need to recharge, you'll usually find me at the beach, listening to music, or taking the kids' paints and randomly creating something (not that I'm any good 😆). I've always been passionate about helping people and advocating for social justice. What I love most about social work is that it allows me to bring both my head and heart into practice, which is something I deeply value. By bringing the combination of compassion and practical support into each interaction, I hope to create a collaborative, authentic and comfortable environment. Every brain is different, and I love helping people better understand themselves, build on their strengths, and create systems that work for them – not against them. I believe there's no one-size-fits-all approach to support, and I'm always up for finding creative ways to make life feel a little easier.
Hello, I’m emma! (she/her) 👋
I am the admin half of Diverse & Thriving and you can reach me at admin@diverseandthriving.com.au. I am here to help you book appointments, complete intake documents, make payments and navigate the website with ease. I am a writer, editor and artist by day (and sometimes at 3am when creativity strikes). But I know from personal experience how daunting the process of seeking help can be, so I love the work I get to do at Diverse & Thriving to make it a seamless and empowering experience for you!
our core values
Inclusion & Accessibility
Adapting our approach to support each individual’s needs is important to us. We believe in the importance of asking, listening, validating and adjusting continuously to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. We welcome feedback about how we can improve in this area. We have also designed Diverse & Thriving to support our own capacity and wellbeing so we can show up fully for clients. We use our voice to educate, advocate and drive cultural change toward inclusivity, accessibility and affirming practice.
Persistent Messy Action & Growth
We value authentic, non-linear progress. Achieving goals doesn’t require perfect consistency – it comes from returning to what matters, even when the path is messy. We honour persistence, curiosity, creativity and rest over perfection – recognising that meaningful change often unfolds in imperfect, intuitive steps. By providing support, encouragement, knowledge and resources, we aim to empower individuals to learn about themselves, create a life that is meaningful to them and practice self-compassion.
Diversity & Affirming Practice
We value and affirm all forms of identity, including gender diversity, sexuality and neurodivergence. Our practice seeks to dismantle internalised and external oppression – including ableism and neuronormativity, homophobia and heteronormativity, and transphobia and cis-normativity. We support clients to explore, understand and celebrate their identities and define for themselves what thriving looks like. We value the richness that diversity brings to our community and strive to create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard and valued.
Collaboration & Shared Power
We believe that each individual is an expert in their own life. We honour their autonomy, encourage disagreement and feedback, and make space for their needs, boundaries and preferences. Our therapeutic relationships are grounded in collaboration, transparency and mutual respect. We acknowledge the systemic power imbalances and oppression that affect all clients in unique ways. We advocate for change and support individuals in their self-advocacy.
Authenticity & Connection
We aim to create spaces where people feel safe, welcomed and deeply accepted for who they are. Authenticity is encouraged, celebrated and protected. We honour each person’s unique way of thinking, feeling, processing and being – including our own. By embracing authenticity, we strive to foster meaningful connections and empower each individual to embrace who they are.