Kahli is currently on maternity leave and will not be taking new clients until 2027

Hello, my name is Kahli and I am the principal Occupational Therapist and Director of Stretchy Minds Paediatric Occupational Therapy. I am an incredibly passionate Occupational Therapist who loves to empower children, young people and families with the skills, confidence and knowledge to thrive in their everyday lives.

I completed my Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Australian Catholic University, graduating with First Class Honours and an Executive Dean’s Commendation in 2016. Since then, I have worked in paediatric private practice, serviced schools in both metro and remote areas, and conducted assessments at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

I also love to learn and to share what I learn; in conjunction with Monash University, I have been extensively involved in research that investigated the experiences, service needs and overall health and wellbeing of parents of children with a disability. I have collaborated on research papers and presented at two national Occupational Therapy Conferences.

I am an avid yogi and love to be upside down! I teach yoga to both adults and children at MVMT by Stretchy Collective. I am a mama to my little love Lila and honestly think childhood development is simply extraordinary. When I am not at work, you would likely find me taking my fluffy groodle Penny for a walk, practising my handstands, writing and drawing, going to the beach, or spending time with my friends and family.

Principal Occupational Therapist & Director

Kahli Joyce

I love to talk about neuroplasticity – the power of the brain to wire and rewire itself – and this served as the springboard for Stretchy Minds Paediatric Occupational Therapy!

I have worked with children with a range of strengths and challenges, having worked in Out of Hours School Care, school holiday programs, and at the Royal Children’s Hospital. I also designed and implemented a handwriting program in a Victorian primary school, and spent three years delivering play-based therapy as part of a Son-Rise Program®.

I take a holistic approach to therapy, tailoring my approach to suit the unique needs of each child and family. I have experience working with children and adolescents with challenges related to: living autistic in a neurotypical world; sensory processing differences; anxiety; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders; social emotional difficulties; regulation and behavioural challenges; complex/chronic and acute trauma; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; intellectual disability; Cerebral Palsy; neurological disorders; and autoimmune diseases.

I have a love of learning and am continually seeking new opportunities to broaden my skillset and enhance the effectiveness of the therapy I provide. I completed extensive training in the Son-Rise Program® and continue to undertake training in the DIR Floortime® model of intervention, integrating a focus on child-led learning and play into my practice. I also have experience using the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach to teach motor skills (such as handwriting and tying shoelaces), and incorporate executive problem solving into therapy. I am also experienced in using the Zones of Regulation® concepts developed by Michelle Garcia Winner to empower children to monitor and manage their emotions, and to navigate social situations.

I am also a keen yogi and love helping children and adolescents find their ‘zen’; I am a certified Adult and Kids Yoga teacher, with additional training in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga.

Special Interests and Clinical Experience