Stephanie Castañeda

What draws me to this work.

I also get to help parents build healthy attachments with their children through how they communicate, respond, and interact with their little humans, especially in play and the tricky bits of their everyday.

I believe a thriving society starts with how we treat children in the most mundane, everyday moments. Those early relationships help shape how they regulate their emotions, build resilience, and approach the tasks in front of them with confidence, both as children and later as adults.

Getting to contribute to that is a big part of why I love this work.

How I think about children.

Kids aren’t born knowing how to regulate. We co-regulate with them. We do it WITH them first, many, many times. I often say to families that "the first 1,000 times will be the hardest," because it's true. It's something that needs to be done again and again, with consistency, patience, and support.

I think it’s unfair to expect kids to manage big feelings on their own when, honestly, we adults sometimes struggle with that too. And parents need support through all of this too. Being firm and kind is sometimes easier said than done, especially when you’re tired, running late, or overwhelmed yourself.

I show what this can look like in sessions, and we work out together how it could fit into the messy, chaotic everyday moments of family life.

What I’m like in a session.

Some sessions feel like they’re not sessions at all. It can look like play, because it is! But what I bring, where I place things, whether I sit next to your child or opposite them, how I respond, and the tone of my voice are all deliberately chosen. There’s a reason behind what I’m doing.

There are also sessions where I won't be talking much. But that quiet is purposeful. I’m observing and noticing. If I don’t help straight away, it isn’t because I don’t care.

If I’m always talking, asking questions or jumping in to help, I can fill up the space before your child has had a chance to take things in and respond.

And their response is a really important part of it. What’s their own idea? How will they solve this problem or keep the play going? Will they use a gesture, a word, show me something or ask for help? What happens if they get frustrated?

That’s where there’s so much opportunity to build skills: in having time to think, notice, try something and see what happens.

My pause gives them room to have a turn in their own way. I’m still right there, noticing when to wait, when to respond, and when they need more help.

Most of the time I’m calm, because kids pick up on the energy I bring. I often say that the first step towards having a regulated kid -- is to have a regulated adult.

I always feel privileged and honoured to be welcomed into someone else’s space, and I have the utmost respect for the lives welcoming me.

I’m not there to make executive decisions about someone else’s life. I’m there to observe, notice, provide guidance and work together with families, because they’re the ones who know what a meaningful, satisfactory, and joyful life looks like for them. My job is to guide them towards something that feels close to that.

How I set up my space and day.

In another life I believe I could be an interior decorator. I have some specific and strong opinions about lighting and furniture (chairs, particularly). I only turn the big lights on in the kitchen and everything else is either natural or small lamps.

When things feel cohesive and that they are there because someone made the intentional decision for them to be there, I do good work. The space that we move through is not just the backdrop to what we do. It’s a main character in how we feel, think, and go about our day.

What I’m thinking about.

At the moment, a lot of my life revolves around training for hyrox. I’m excited but mostly quite anxious about it, and thinking about how to take on something challenging without letting it take over all the enjoyable bits of my day.

As I write this and from where I'm sitting: my yoghurt bowl to my left is excellent, weather's nice today I can see the leaves swaying and the sun touches them beautifully. Most of my life really is paying attention and noticing. I hope it won't be too windy when I do my home visits later because hay fever and sneezing in sessions is not very ideal for this job!

What keeps me regulated.

I put a LOT of work into myself and the things I know bring me joy and a deep sense of meaning: movement, immersing myself in nature, and play. For me, that includes yoga, lifting, running, and hiking. Adults need to play a lot too!

I also believe in making small, simple tweaks to my day to bring extra fun and enjoyment—having breakfast outside instead of in, dressing up just because, stopping at the beach when I drive past it between home visits, or dancing when my favourite song comes on.

Sometimes it’s also about asking less of myself, having a quiet night, or getting some sleep. I don’t always need to turn the day around, sometimes I just need to call it a day. “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Mary Oliver sums up how I generally approach my life.

At home, school or kinder.

Stephanie welcomes enquiries for children and teenagers on Wednesdays and Fridays, in the mornings and early afternoons.

Her listed visiting suburbs are Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, Essendon, Essendon North, Essendon West, Avondale Heights, Airport West, Niddrie, Maribyrnong, Maidstone, Flemington, Footscray, Seddon, West Footscray, Yarraville. Visits are confirmed when you enquire.

Tell us a little about your child.

Use the link below to enquire about working with Stephanie. 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.