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.
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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 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.
Certified PEERS® coach
About Katrina
A Speech Language Pathologist for over 30 years, Katrina has had a special interest in social learning for the majority of this time.
In 2023, Katrina underwent a mentorship program with Pamela Crooke and Michelle Garcia Winner - experts in Social Thinking and the developers of the Social Thinking Curriculum.
She also received certification in The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) through UCLA. Katrina is currently undergoing certification training in the CPS (Collaborative Problem Solving) model through Dr Ross Greene.
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Katrina and hubby, Hamish live in the bush in country Victoria. She is a mum of 2 wonderful adult daughters and is a crazy dog lover. She breeds Labradoodles and could talk about her passion for dogs for hours on end!
I look forward to developing relationships and empowering others as we negotiate the complex social world together.
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.
PEERS® Social Coach
About Julia
Julia Day completed her first degree in Commerce which was followed
by a short career in finance and investment banking. Leaving the finance sector Julia decided to follow her passion and optimise her natural skill set and embark on a more authentic personal journey into the mental health
sector. Whilst working as a local coordinator in the NDIS space and as a respite accommodation manager, Julia embarked on studying a degree in psychology part-time and acquired a double degree in Psychology and
Counselling. Today, Julia offers a variety of services including counselling,
support coordination, advocacy, and life coaching.
Julia's approach is totally client focused; her ethos is entirely client-led, closely following the humanistic approach with unconditional appreciation and focus on the client's strengths. Julia offers an unconventional approach in providing a non-clinical counselling experience often in nature or where the client feels comfortable and safe.
During free time, Julia enjoys cycling, hiking and studies philosophy (which
she uses in counselling), Roman history (because Italy is her favourite destination) and history of art, as English philosopher Edward Scruton once said ‘Art and music shine a light of meaning on ordinary life, and through them we are able to confront the things that trouble us and to find consolation and peace in their presence.’
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Julia looks forward to helping clients live their best life, empowered, confident
and unique.
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 Vivian
PEERS® coach
Vivian completed her Bachelor in Applied Science (Speech Pathology) at the University of Sydney in 2019. She has practised across multiple settings including private practice, schools, and early learning centres in Canberra. She is passionate about research in preventative health, health promotion, and working with families and educators to support children's language development in the home and school environment.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, doing yoga and training at the gym.
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 Ashley
PEERS® Social coach
Ashley Evans is a provisional psychologist, currently completing a Master of Psychological Practice (School Psychology). She has a keen interest in preventative psychology and psychoeducation for young people.
Ash also enjoys facilitating yoga sessions and currently teaches primary aged children. You'll often find Ash in the ocean or on her mountain bike, which helps her find balance.
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 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.
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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.
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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:
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Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
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Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
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Mindfulness based cognitive therapy
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Strengths based therapy
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Brief-solution focused therapy
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Motivational interviewing
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Narrative therapy
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Trauma informed practice
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Gestalt therapy
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Crisis intervention
