About Me

Hi, I’m Kiran – an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a multicultural background and a warm, grounded approach to therapy.

I support young people (16+) and adults who are feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, stuck, or navigating significant life transitions – often while continuing to manage work, relationships, or family responsibilities.

My work is grounded in evidence-based practice and draws on experiential and tactile approaches. Depending on what feels supportive for you, this might include walk-and-talk sessions, creative or art-based practices, grounding and mindfulness strategies, gentle movement, or simply talking in a space that feels more comfortable than a traditional therapy room.

I’ve seen this way of working be particularly helpful for people who are neurodivergent, feel anxious or overwhelmed, or find traditional clinical environments difficult.

Every session is tailored to what you need on the day. We work at your pace, in ways that feel accessible, supportive, and aligned with who you are.

I offer face-to-face sessions on the southern Gold Coast, as well as telehealth sessions online, so you can choose the setting that feels right for you.

Kiran, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker offering outdoor and online therapy on the Gold Coast

Professional Experience

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across clinical, community, and frontline mental health settings, including:

  • Senior Clinician & Group Facilitator at headspace (Gold Coast), providing individual and group-based mental health support within a multidisciplinary public service

  • Co-designed and delivered the 12-week Youth in Power adventure therapy program, supporting over 60 young people across two years, independently evaluated in partnership with Griffith University (PDF)

  • Trauma-informed Mental Health Support (Refugee & Multicultural Contexts), supporting adult refugee clients with trauma, adjustment, and resettlement

  • Crisis Counsellor, providing short-term therapeutic support during acute distress

  • Outdoor & Experiential Therapy Guide, facilitating surf therapy, bushwalking, adventure-based learning, and nature-based groups

  • Founder of Skate Mate, a youth skateboarding charity that promoted confidence, belonging, and mental wellbeing

Youth in Power is an adventure and experiential therapy program supporting young people through outdoor, movement-based and group therapy approaches.

Skate Mate youth program promoting confidence, belonging and mental wellbeing

Who I work with

I support people navigating things like:

  • Anxiety and stress

  • Emotional overwhelm

  • ADHD

  • Trauma

  • Burnout

  • Major life changes

  • Cultural and family pressures

  • Feeling stuck, lost or unsure how to move forward

You don’t need to have everything figured out – you just need a place to start.

How I Work (Therapies & Approach)

I use evidence-based approaches to help you understand what’s going on, regulate your nervous system, and build practical tools you can use in everyday life.

My therapeutic toolkit includes:

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)-informed strategies

  • Somatic + grounding approaches –  to support your nervous system

  • Strengths-based + solution-focused frameworks

  • Outdoor + experiential therapy – nature-based sessions, movement, creative practices

We’ll tailor your sessions together so the approach fits who you are, not the other way around.

If you’re curious about whether this approach might be right for you, a free intro call is a simple place to start.

Book a Free Intro Call

 

Calm, supportive therapy for anxiety, overwhelm and burnout, including outdoor and online counselling

Fees & Rebates

50-minute telehealth (online) session: $200
Medicare rebate: $87.25
Out-of-pocket: $112.75

50-minute face-to-face session (outdoor / nature-based): $225
Medicare rebate: $112.40
Out-of-pocket: $112.60

Face-to-face sessions are primarily offered outdoors as part of a nature-based therapeutic approach.
In-clinic sessions may be offered where clinically appropriate or required, and are billed at the same rate and rebate as telehealth sessions.

How Medicare rebates work

If you have a current Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral from your GP (or a psychiatrist/paediatrician), you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative.

Your referral does not have to be addressed to me specifically – as long as it is valid, you can use it with any therapist who holds a Medicare provider number.

If you’re unsure how to arrange an MHTP, I’m happy to guide you – it’s often a quick chat with your GP.

Rebates are processed through Medicare after your session.

Private Health Insurance

Some private health funds offer rebates.
Coverage varies between insurers and policies, so it’s best to check directly with your fund.
(You can’t claim a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session.)

No referral needed

You’re very welcome to see me privately without a GP referral – your sessions simply won’t attract a Medicare rebate.

Book a Session

FAQ

I offer an optional free 15-minute intro call before we begin. It’s a chance to ask questions, get a feel for my approach, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.

We’ll briefly talk about what’s bringing you here and what kind of support you’re looking for. I’ll also explain how sessions can work – so you can choose what feels most comfortable.

Therapy works best when it feels safe and collaborative. You don’t need to have everything figured out – just a willingness to start where you are, and we’ll take it step by step.

The first session is a space to slow things down and get a clearer picture of what’s going on for you.

We’ll talk about what’s brought you here, what you’re navigating right now, and what kind of support feels most helpful. There’s no pressure to share everything or have the “right words” – we go at your pace.

The focus is on helping you feel safe and understood, and on gently shaping how we’ll work together moving forward.

There’s no fixed number – everyone’s needs are different.

Some people come for a few sessions to gain clarity, support, or practical tools around a specific issue. Others choose ongoing sessions to work through deeper patterns, transitions, or longer-term challenges.

We’ll check in along the way and decide together what feels helpful. There’s no pressure to commit to a set timeline – therapy here is guided by what you need.

Experiential therapy is an evidence-based approach that focuses on learning and processing through experience – not just talking.

Rather than sitting face-to-face for the entire session, experiential therapy can include movement, time in nature, creative activities, or practical exercises that support regulation, insight, and emotional processing. Conversation is still an important part of the work – it just isn’t the only tool used.

Many people find this approach helpful when:

  • Talking alone feels overwhelming or limiting

  • Sitting still or staying engaged is difficult

  • They feel anxious, shut down, or disconnected in clinical settings

  • They make more sense of things through doing, noticing, or experiencing

At Wild Ground Therapy, experiential and outdoor approaches are used thoughtfully alongside evidence-based talk therapy. Sessions are tailored to the individual – some are more reflective, some more movement-based, and many are a mix of both.

The aim is the same as traditional therapy: to support understanding, regulation, and meaningful change – just through a way of working that feels more accessible and grounded for some people.

Face-to-face sessions are typically offered in outdoor settings on the southern Gold Coast, such as quiet parks or walking tracks, as this can feel more grounding and supportive for many people.

I also work from clinic spaces in Varsity Lakes and Currumbin so indoor spaces are also available when needed – for example, during poor weather or when a private room is more appropriate. The setting is discussed in advance and guided by clinical considerations such as safety, privacy, and what best supports the work we’re doing.

Sessions may involve walking side by side, sitting in one place, grounding or mindfulness practices, creative or practical regulation tools, or simply talking. The approach can shift over time as your needs and capacity change.

Yes – confidentiality still applies to outdoor sessions.

Sessions are held in carefully chosen locations to support privacy. Before we begin, we talk through boundaries and what feels comfortable for you.

If we happen to encounter someone you know, your privacy is always prioritised. We’ll follow a pre-agreed plan – whether that means pausing, changing direction, or shifting the conversation as needed.

If the weather isn’t suitable, we can move undercover, indoors or switch to a telehealth session – whatever feels most supportive and practical for you.

We’ll decide together, with safety and comfort as the priority.

Yes.

I regularly support young people (16+) and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, ADHD and neurodivergence, overwhelm, identity concerns, cultural or family pressures, and major life transitions.

Support is always tailored to your needs, using approaches that prioritise regulation, engagement, and meaningful change.

Please note that I do not offer any diagnosis.

Yes – I support young people aged 16 and over as long as they are engaging in therapy by choice.

For those under 18, parent or caregiver consent is required, and involvement is guided by the young person’s needs, age, and best interests.

Yes.

I work with young people aged 16+ and adults who are engaging in therapy by choice. While much of my experience is in youth mental health, the same grounded, experiential approach can be helpful for adults navigating anxiety, burnout, overwhelm, life transitions, or feeling disconnected from themselves or others.

Sessions with adults may be outdoor, movement-based, reflective, or conversational – depending on what feels most supportive for you.

An Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) is a qualified social worker who has completed advanced postgraduate training and demonstrated expertise in mental health assessment and therapeutic support.

AMHSWs are accredited through the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and are recognised by Medicare as specialist mental health clinicians.

In practice, this means I can provide evidence-based mental health therapy under the Better Access initiative, and you may be eligible to claim Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Accreditation also requires meeting strict professional, ethical, and ongoing training standards.

No – you’re welcome to see me privately without a referral.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP (or a psychiatrist/paediatrician) simply allows you to access Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.

If you’re unsure whether an MHTP is right for you, I’m happy to talk it through.

Yes.

Your referral does not need to be addressed to me specifically. As long as it’s valid and current, you can use it with any eligible Medicare provider, including an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker or psychologist.

If you have a current Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral from your GP (or a psychiatrist/paediatrician), you may be eligible for Medicare rebates under the Better Access initiative.

Your referral does not need to be addressed to me specifically – as long as it’s valid, it can be used with any eligible provider.

Full session fees and rebate amounts are outlined in the Fees & Rebates section above.

I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session.

Cancellations within 24 hours are charged at the full session fee, as that time is reserved specifically for you. If something unexpected or unavoidable comes up, please get in touch as soon as possible.

You can book a session directly using the button below.

If you’re unsure whether this approach is the right fit, you’re also welcome to Book a Free Intro Call. This is an optional space to ask questions and talk things through before getting started.

Contact

If you’re unsure where to start, you’re very welcome to reach out.
You can book a session directly, or – if you’d prefer to talk things through first – you’re welcome to book a short intro call to see whether working together feels like the right fit.

Option 1 — Book an Intro Call
A brief, no-pressure conversation to talk through what you’re looking for and how I work.

Book a Free Intro Call

 


Option 2 — Email
If you prefer, you can also contact me by email: kiran@wildgroundtherapy.com.au
I aim to respond within 1–2 business days.


A gentle note – If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency or need immediate support, please contact 000, Lifeline (13 11 14), or your local emergency service.