Areas of Focus

Inclusive     Connected        Holistic    

Wonderful Mind was founded in 2021 by our passionate clinical director, Nikoo Chamani, Wonderful Mind embodies a deep commitment to nurturing early childhood development and providing crucial psychological support for survivors of domestic violence.

 

Wonderful Mind is a specialized pediatric allied health and mental health practice established in Melbourne’s northern suburbs to provide holistic, multidisciplinary care for children, adolescents, and their families. Founded with a commitment to accessible early childhood intervention and creative therapeutic supports, Wonderful Mind serves the growing communities of the Whittlesea and Hume regions with primary clinic locations at Doreen VIC 3754 and Craigieburn VIC 3064.

 

Across both locations, Wonderful Mind delivers a comprehensive range of allied health, psychological, and specialized support services: Speech Therapy & Occupational Therapy: Targeted intervention for communication, motor skills, sensory processing, and everyday life skills. Dietetics & Nutrition: Specialized support for complex eating challenges, picky eating, and clinical conditions such as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), sensory food aversion, and pediatric nutritional needs. Psychology & Counselling: Individual therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and developmental/behavioural assessments. Trauma-Informed Positive Behaviour Support (PBS): Compassionate, trauma-informed behaviour supports that prioritize safety, emotional regulation, and skill-building over restrictive practices. Creative & Expressive Therapies: Clinical Art Therapy, Clinical Music Therapy, Clinical Play Therapy, and Filial Therapy. Mind & Body Programs: Allied Health Assistant (AHA) Gym/Gymnastics programs and Aqua Play Therapy (water-based play therapy).

 

NDIS & Early Intervention Services: Early Childhood Intervention, Support Coordination, and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching. Wonderful Mind Four Core Values: Trauma-Informed Care: Wonderful Mind prioritizes emotional and physical safety, recognizing how past experiences impact a child's nervous system. Therapists focus on regulation, trust, and evidence based modalities like IFS and somatic art therapy to facilitate healing without re-traumatization. Neuro-Affirming Practice: Wonderful Mind views neurodivergent traits (such as Autism and ADHD) as natural brain variations rather than defects to be fixed.

 

Wonderful Mind adapts environment, communication, and sensory inputs to honor each child’s unique processing style instead of pushing for masking or compliance. Child-Centered Therapy: Wonderful Mind respects child autonomy by allowing interests, choices, and developmental readiness to guide sessions. Utilizing play, expressive arts, and movement, Wonderful Mind meets children in their natural language of expression. Family-Centered Collaboration: Wonderful Mind actively partners with parents, carers, and siblings, integrating clinical strategies into daily routines so that progress continues seamlessly at home and in the broader community.

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Nikoo Chamani, the Clinical Director, brings a passionate and specialized focus on autism and trauma, guiding the clinical vision of the practice.

 

Reza Makouei serves as the Managing Director, leveraging his extensive experience in business and financial consultation to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the organization.

 

Together, this leadership team ensures that Wonderful Mind continues to provide comprehensive, evidence-based, and compassionate care.​ At Wonderful Mind, we champion a family-centered and holistic approach to therapy, recognizing the profound impact of family dynamics on a child's overall well-being. Our neurodiversity-affirming practice is comprised of a multidisciplinary team from diverse backgrounds, united by a dedication to evidence-based practice. We actively pursue ongoing academic pathways to continually enhance our knowledge and provide the highest quality of support for our clients.

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We deeply value and celebrate the myriad ways individuals experience and engage with the world. As passionate advocates against ableism, we actively cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment where every child feels genuinely accepted and valued for who they are.

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Wonderful Mind is practice is guided by the following values:

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Presence 

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o   Being fully present with each child, acknowledging their unique experiences and emotions

o   Creating a safe space where children feel heard and understood

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Compassion 

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o   Approaching every child with kindness, empathy, and non-judgment

o   Recognizing their struggles and supporting them with compassion

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 Acceptance

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o   Embracing imperfections and challenges as part of the healing journey

o   Encouraging self-acceptance and self-compassion

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Mindfulness

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o   Teaching children mindfulness techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and emotions

o   Helping them stay grounded in the present moment

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Balance

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o   Striving for balance in mental, emotional, and physical well-being

o   Supporting children in finding equilibrium amidst life’s ups and downs

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Harmony

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o   Fostering collaboration among families, therapists, and educators​

o   Creating a harmonious environment where children can thrive.

We know by heart that every child's development is unique and every individual have their own path to meaning and purpose in recovery. This has shaped our flexible approach to practice and our aim in providing genuine choice and control to our clients regardless of their age, sex, gender, sexuality race and background.

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At Wonderful Mind, we aim to empower individuals and families experiencing mental health challenges. Our evidence-based, family-centred approach works alongside health services, community organisations, and government entities. We prioritise creating a safe, nurturing space to optimise children’s wellbeing.

 

At Wonderful Mind, we recognise that each person’s path toward a meaningful and purposeful life is diverse. This perspective informs our flexible approach to practice, where we prioritise empowering our clients with meaningful choice and control. We strive to facilitate a supportive environment for everyone, regardless of age, sex, gender, sexuality, race, neurology, or background.

 

Areas of Focus:

 

• Developmental Delays Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Intellectual Disability (ID)

• General Anxiety

• Trauma and Domestic Violence

• Bereavement Eating Disorder (ED)

• Sensory Processing Disorder

 

Our services extend to children, including early childhood intervention and youth who experience mental health, wellbeing, and developmental challenges. We set individually tailored goals in collaboration with our clients, fostering awareness and skills to support them to achieve their aspirations

Wonderful Mind is a registered NDIS provider delivering comprehensive pediatric allied health and mental health services across clinic-based, outreach, and online telehealth settings.

 

Guided by the core values of Trauma-Informed Care, Neuro-Affirming Practice, Child-Centered Therapy, and Family-Centered Collaboration, Wonderful Mind ensures that every child receives safe, respectful, and strengths-based support tailored to their unique processing style and developmental needs.

 

Academic Excellence, Education, & Future Industry Growth

 

To advance the pediatric allied health sector and build workforce capacity, Wonderful Mind partners directly with Australia’s leading tertiary institutions, including La Trobe University, Deakin University, The Cairnmillar Institute, and the University of Melbourne. Through clinical placements, student supervision, and collaborative research initiatives, Wonderful Mind contributes directly to the education of the next generation of Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Art Therapists, and Dietitians. By training emerging clinicians within a genuine neuro-affirming and trauma-informed framework, Wonderful Mind actively shapes future industry standards—shifting pediatric healthcare toward practices that prioritize child autonomy, sensory regulation, and self-advocacy over rigid compliance.

 

Community Partnerships & Specialized Trauma Support

 

Recognizing that systemic collaboration is essential for holistic healing, Wonderful Mind works in direct partnership with key child protection, family welfare, and non-for-profit organizations— including Child Protection, The Orange Door, Kids First, and local trauma support networks. Through these essential service pathways, Wonderful Mind delivers specialized, multi-disciplinary care for children and young people navigating acute or complex trauma, including: Serious accidents and medical trauma Family bereavement and loss Migration, refugee experiences, and cultural displacement Domestic, family, and relational violence Integrated, Wrap-Around Community Care These combined academic, sector, and community networks allow Wonderful Mind to extend its values beyond the clinic walls. By connecting families to local community resources, school supports, and specialized welfare services, Wonderful Mind delivers a seamless, wrap-around care experience—ensuring children and families feel safe, understood, and empowered within their own communities

 

The Wonderful Mind Team

 

At Wonderful Mind, we believe that every individual and family deserves compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based support. Our passionate team of allied health professionals brings a wealth of diverse knowledge, extensive clinical experience, and heartfelt care to everything we do.

 

Experienced & Multidisciplinary Care

 

Our multidisciplinary team comprises dedicated experts across psychology, occupational therapy, creative arts therapy, play therapy, music therapy, counselling, and nutrition. With advanced qualifications ranging from Master’s degrees and Doctorate PhDs to specialized clinical training our practitioners bring deep clinical expertise and a passion for supporting children, youth, and adults. We work collaboratively across disciplines to ensure that every client receives personalized, well-rounded care designed to meet their unique goals and needs. Registered with Trusted Professional Associations To ensure the highest standard of ethical practice, quality, and continuous professional development, our practitioners are registered with leading industry and professional bodies, including:

 

ACA (Australian Counselling Association) ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association) APPTA (Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association) AMTA (Australian Music Therapy Association) AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency