About the authors:
Michelle Newby
Michelle is Clinical Director of Stepping Stones Therapy for Children and is enjoying living back in Newcastle after many years of work and study abroad, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Azerbaijan and China.
Michelle is a registered Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in the field of paediatrics. She graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1998 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) and has also completed a Master of Science with Distinction (Health and Social Research) from City University, London in 2007. Since 2018, Michelle has been a PhD (Occupational Therapy) Candidate at the University of Newcastle. She is using her doctorate to examine the developmental challenges experienced by children with Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), including the impact that sensory processing has on daily performance. Michelle is a respected leader in supporting children with PANS and training therapists globally. She has published her PANS research in Q1 journals and presented her findings at conferences in Australia, the UK, Sweden, Brazil, and online worldwide. Ā
Passionate about helping children to achieve their potential, Michelle has a strong family centred approach. She has extensive experience in working with children of all ages and levels of ability, and particularly those with developmental coordination disorder; sensory processing disorders; developmental delay; developmental trauma, those on the autistic spectrum; those with PANS/ PANDAS; ADHD; and children with neurological disorders (e.g.: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury). Michelle has a special interest in early intervention and working with babies, toddlers and children who have been born preterm and has worked on neonatal units and within neonatal follow-up programs.
Michelle is committed to providing high quality, evidence-based care to her clients. She has post-graduate certification in Sensory Integration (UK), Paediatric Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT-Bobath), Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (COOP) and the PEERS Social Skills Certification Training. She has also undertaken training in developmental trauma and sensory processing, feeding therapy (SOS), handwriting remediation, visual perceptual training, postural management and infant massage amongst others.
Dr Nicolette Soler
Nicolette is our Clinical Lead at Stepping Stones Therapy for Children and has been enjoying living in Newcastle since moving from Sydney in 2021.
Nicolette is a registered Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in the field of paediatrics. She was born in South Africa and graduated from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy). After working in an early intervention preschool (The Talk Shop) as part of a multi-disciplinary team, Nicolette immigrated to Australia in 2008. Nicolette has just completed her PhD through The University of Sydney this year, following research with children with tic disorders and their families since 2007. Her passion and PhD topic relate to investigating a novel assessment and treatment approach for children with tic disorders.
Nicolette has published her research in a number of Q1 journals and presented her findings at several national and international conferences. She has also been awarded a number of research grants and scholarships, including the Health Education and Training Institute Mental Health Allied Health Research Scholarship.
Passionate about helping children to achieve their potential, Nicolette believes in a family-centred and play-based approach. Through her experience working as the senior occupational therapist on the Developmental Disabilities Team at The Childrenās Hospital at Westmead, Nicolette brings extensive experience in working with children of all ages and levels of ability, particularly children with handwriting challenges, developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and intellectual disabilities.
Nicolette has a special interest in family and child attachment, self-regulation skills, play and tic disorders. Nicolette is committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care to her clients and values working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Nicolette has undertaken additional training in the Alert ProgramĀ® (program using sensory motor strategies for emotional regulation), Advanced play courses, developmental trauma, sensory processing, feeding therapy (SOS), Wilbarger Brushing Protocol for sensory defensiveness, Therapeutic Listening Program, DIR Floor Time training, handwriting remediation, and visual perceptual training in addition to other training. As Clinical Lead, Nicolette provides regular supervision and mentoring to the other members of our Stepping Stones team.Ā
Find out more about Michelle, Nicolette & Stepping Stones atĀ www.steppingstonesforchildren.com.au
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