Elsa Barnett
Occupational Therapist · 15+ years’ experience
“Together, we can look for the conditions that help your child feel safe and capable.”
Looking behind what we see on the surface
What interests me the most about this work is the challenge of looking behind what we see on the surface to understand what might be driving a child's responses and particularly how they interact with their social, emotional and physical environments.
A child sitting within a family system
It's helpful to think about a child sitting within a family system to understand and support rather than an isolated 'problem' to solve. Behaviour is complex, and that struggling in a particular situation doesn’t mean that either the child or the parent is doing something wrong.
My own experience as a parent has taught me that when you’re immersed in a situation - and emotionally invested - it isn’t always easy to step back, make sense of what’s happening and see a way forward. Together, we can look for the conditions that help your child feel safe and capable.
A 5km run in nature
The quickest route to settling my nervous system or some muddy thinking is always a 5km run in nature.
Connection to sunlight and green space
I try to practice what I preach in creating my own space as an environment supportive of everyone's nervous systems: kid's sensory swing, connection to sunlight and green space, lego and drawing workstations, fish tank and a garage set up for all ages exercise.
Following the child’s lead through play
There is a degree of vulnerability in inviting a health professional into your home to support positive changes, so a first visit is very much focused on creating a sense of safety and comfort for the child and family. Whilst I will have a plan, and will be transparent about it, the session is also about following the child’s lead through play.
Parents are very much part of the process. I like to hear what they’re noticing, share my observations and think things through together.
Afterwards, I’ll share what I noticed and what I think might be worth exploring further. I want parents to come away with a little more understanding of what may be happening for their child, along with a few practical ideas that feel realistic for their family.
A background in mental health.
Elsa has significant experience in mental health occupational therapy, in community and clinical mental health services in Melbourne.
For about six years she worked as a mental health case manager and occupational therapist, supporting adults living with moderate to severe mental illness to work towards their own goals. Her work with people, one to one and in groups, included goal setting, relaxation skills, graded exposure, mindfulness and changes to their surroundings, and drew on motivational interviewing and solution-focused approaches.
In a sub-acute clinical mental health setting, a community care unit, her work included occupational therapy assessments, care planning, risk assessment and family meetings, and she ran the unit’s group program. As an NDIS mental health occupational therapist, she has worked with people with psychosocial disability, completing functional assessments at home and in the community, writing reports for NDIS planning, and working on practical strategies that build skills, confidence and participation.
Across these roles she has worked with people facing social disadvantage, including people for whom mainstream health care is hard to access. Her practice is trauma-informed and recovery-oriented.
Qualifications
Master of Occupational Therapy Practice, La Trobe University. Registered occupational therapist with AHPRA (general registration).
Further training
CBT Fundamentals: Process and Techniques in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, a course from the Australian Psychological Society.
For children and adults, by telehealth.
Elsa also offers ADHD coaching at Seeds for children and adults. Sessions are held online through Google Meet. For anyone under 18, an adult parent or legal guardian makes the enquiry and agrees on their behalf.
Read about ADHD coaching →At home, school or kinder.
Elsa welcomes enquiries for children aged four to eight, with particular interests in ADHD and emotional regulation.
Elsa visits families across Melbourne’s inner north, around 12 km from Brunswick West. Her visiting areas include Brunswick, Coburg, Pascoe Vale, Northcote, Thornbury and nearby suburbs.
Thursday visits
Thursday mornings and early afternoons.
Familiar places
Home, school or kinder, depending on your child’s needs.
Tell us a little about your child.
Use the link below to enquire about working with Elsa. Her name will be included in your enquiry. Nisha reviews enquiries and helps find a suitable match; our admin team gets back to you about options and next steps.
Once you’ve decided to go ahead, your OT contacts you to introduce themselves and plan the first visit.
Enquire about Elsa →