Tessa Heine is an occupational therapist, but her favourite thing to do is connect and have fun with her children, especially where there is music, dancing and glitter!

As an occupational therapist Tess has nearly 20 years of experience working with adults, adolescents and children with a range of physical and psychological challenges. Tess is a senior clinician who has worked in various public health networks including the Royal Children’s Hospital in a range of settings including adult and paediatric, inpatient and outpatient, physical and psychological rehabilitation. Tess specialises in working with clients to manage or overcome conditions characterised by sensitised nervous systems, sensory systems and immune systems with clinical expertise in persistent pain and anxiety, but experience also with conditions such as ADHD and functional neurological disorder. Tess's work is based on the science that our brains and body’s systems work best when we feel safe, and that we sense safety through what we know, think and experience both within ourselves and in our physical and social environments. Tess has a love for making a difference in the lives of others, as well as being the best version of herself. A trained yoga instructor, Tess also uses her knowledge of mind-body connection in her work and her own self regulation. 

When working with children, Tess connects with parents to develop strategies to support their children with self regulation challenges at home, school and other environments.

Tess works with clients to identify the type of person they want to be, the things that they want to do, and how to overcome the barriers that stop them from doing so. She does this using a range of techniques including: