Meet our team
Socially Speaking is a secure, welcoming, and all-inclusive online space. We provide the PEERS® Evidence-Based programs to support adolescents and adults who are wanting to improve their social skills. We support individuals with ASD, ADHD, and anyone else facing social challenges. We prioritise each person's unique strengths, challenges, and goals to assist them in gaining social confidence and empowering a greater sense of self.
​
​
Certified PEERS® coach
About Natasha
Natasha Schellander is an experienced and certified practicing Speech Pathologist with a special interest in Social Skills within Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Natasha enjoys working with neurodiverse individuals and embraces and relates to their unique way of thinking. Natasha herself has been diagnosed with ADHD and and can empathise with the challenges that it can bring. She successfully manages this and is motivated to empower others to do the same.
Natasha is passionate in supporting people across all domains socially, in their place of employment or educational setting. Natasha is driven by the positive outcomes of this program, including social participation, happiness and overall quality of life.
Natasha is a certified PEERS® coach and undertook training with world renowned Clinical Psychologist, Dr Elizabeth Laugeson.
PEERS® Social coach
About Akanksha
Akanksha is a compassionate, approachable, reliable and dedicated provisional psychologist pursuing general registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) through an intensive supervised training program. She possesses valuable experience working with individuals with diverse needs, support workers, educators, and parents in various roles such as provisional psychologist, positive behaviour support, mental health worker, and educator. Akanksha's main drive is to promote compassion, kindness, inclusivity, and cultural safety in her work.
One area of expertise for Akanksha is working with adolescents and young people diagnosed with conditions such as ADHD, ASD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, attachment disorders, and adjustment disorders. She has extensive experience in providing assistance to clients and their support systems in overcoming communication barriers, improving confidence, fostering independence, dealing with performance-based difficulties, such as motivation, goal-setting, and achieving outcomes. In her practice, Akanksha confidently applies evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is adept at facilitating group sessions aimed at helping parents, practitioners, and educators implement strategies and methods that enhance a person's quality of life with clarity and ease.
Akanksha's approach to her work is characterized by warmth, friendliness, and down-to-earth manner. She strives to be as practical as possible in her delivery, ensuring that her clients and their support systems can easily apply the strategies and techniques she provides.
About Brittany
PEERS® coach
Brittany is passionate about helping clients feel confident in building relationships through teaching and practicing social communication.
Brittany completed Masters of Speech Pathology from The University of Melbourne in 2022. She is currently studying a Diploma of Counselling at Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. Previously, she worked in mainstream schools in Hong Kong supporting students with special needs. Brittany is trained in:
Mental Health First Aid (2022)
PEERS® for Adolescents(2023)
NeuroACT® (2023)
In her free time, Brittany enjoys language-learning (working on Brazilian Portuguese at the moment!), playing the ukulele, listening to podcasts and socialising with friends.
She is also a multilingual speech pathologist who provides therapy in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish.
About Mikaela
PEERS® Social coach
Mikaela is a compassionate and driven provisional psychologist completing her Masters in Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University.
She has gained valuable experience as a disability support worker and mental health worker, assisting clients to achieve their respective goals and practice psychological therapies. Through implementing evidence-based practice such as CBT and adopting cultural sensitivity, Mikaela empowers clients to increase their confidence surrounding making friendships and increased independence in everyday functioning.
Mikaela's empathetic nature and attentive listening allow her to establish genuine connections with her clients and make a positive impact on their lives.
In her free time, Mikaela enjoys going surfing, walking her puppy on the beach, and going to the gym.
About Amanda
PEERS® Coach
Amanda is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and completed a Master of Speech Pathology from Curtin University in 2013. Amanda has worked with children and adults across a range of settings, including community, disability, acute and rehabilitation settings.
She currently works with people with communication and/or swallowing difficulties to help them achieve their goals. Amanda believes that everyone has the right to be heard and supports clients with their communication so that they can participate optimally in their social interactions and everyday life.
About Kim
Kim has completed a Bachelor in Applied Social Science (Counselling) and other related courses which has provided an opportunity to connect with individuals through crises, mental health challenges, trauma and other life challenges, with over 20 years of experience, Kim has worked in creating safe spaces for individuals to express themselves and find healing through others empathy, understanding, and a commitment to providing personalised care tailored to each person's unique journey. Kim believes in the strength and resilience of every individual, with her own goals that include to empower others through difficult times, giving a way of finding inner strength and developing coping mechanisms. Kim is also passionate about fostering mental wellness and guiding individuals towards a path of recovery and self-discovery. Kim's hobbies include camping, listening to music, and photography in particular nature and steam trains
About Taz
PEERS® Social coach
Tasneem (Taz) Fataar has a Bachelor of Social Work for Griffith University and is an accredited Social Worker.
Taz works with toddlers, children, adolescents, young adults, adults and older individuals.
​
After obtaining her Bachelor of Social Work, she went on to explore social work practice opportunities in different settings. Taz has previously been a community development worker within a Refugee and Asylum seeker community hub, homelessness support worker, mental health intake officer, mental health counsellor, child protection officer, group psycho-education facilitator, principal wellbeing advisor and private practice practitioner. She enjoys working with people from all different walks of life, across all ages and cultures. Taz places high importance on attending varying needs in all domains to ensure a holistic and individualised approach is used to improve quality of life.
​
Taz enjoys being able to understand and connect with the experiences, emotions and challenges of her clients. She believes in assessing each clients' needs and working together to develop an personalised plan that will work best for them as an individual, while being able to adapt and adjust treatment plans and my approach as needed. She is passionate about creating a safe and supportive space for clients to share their experiences and providing support that is non-judgemental and non-stigmatising.
Taz employs evidence-based therapeutic modalities in counselling and use Focused Psychological Strategies such as:
-
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
-
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
-
Mindfulness based cognitive therapy
-
Strengths based therapy
-
Brief-solution focused therapy
-
Motivational interviewing
-
Narrative therapy
-
Trauma informed practice
-
Gestalt therapy
-
Crisis intervention
