About Well-being Practice

Our Vision and Values

At Well-being Practice Group, we are committed to reimagining mental health and occupational therapy by centering compassion, accessibility, and cultural relevance. Based on Yugambeh Country in the Gold Coast, our service offers inclusive and trauma-informed occupational therapy and mental health services for individuals and communities across the lifespan.

Founded and led by Catherine Mendoza, our work is grounded in both clinical expertise and lived experience. Catherine blends her professional background in Occupational Therapy, trauma-informed yoga, and art therapy with a personal understanding of navigating mental health and trauma. This fusion of human-first, evidence-based, and holistic care guides every interaction.

We believe that early intervention, accessibility, evidence-based, community-orientation, and authentic human connection should be the foundation of our allied health care. Our mission is to create a welcoming, affirming space, online and in-person, for those who may not feel seen in traditional clinical environments.

Whether you’re a young person, culturally diverse, neurodivergent, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, living with psychosocial disability, or navigating complex trauma, our services are designed to meet you where you are and collaborate to support your goals.

ABOUT CATHERINE MENDOZA

Founder | Occupational Therapist | Mental Health Practitioner | Yoga Instructor

Grounded in trauma-informed and occupational therapy frameworks, Catherine brings a deeply compassionate, evidence-informed, and person-centred approach to her work. With a background in mental health occupational therapy, she supports people across the lifespan to reconnect with their values, build sustainable routines, and feel more empowered in their bodies and daily lives.

Catherine integrates a holistic-lens, client-centred, and trauma-informed approach into her practice, offering care that recognises the profound connection between mind, body, and environment.

At the heart of Catherine’s practice are her core values:

  • Early intervention to support long-term well-being and development

  • Accessibility to ensure everyone has the opportunity to receive support, regardless of ability or background

  • Evidence-based practice that is informed by current research and clinical outcomes

  • Community-orientation that embraces collaboration with families, support networks, and local services

  • Trauma-informed care that honours safety, choice, and empowerment

  • Authentic human connection as a foundation for meaningful therapeutic relationships

Catherine’s work is shaped by her own lived experience, as well as her identity as a Peruvian (Indigenous) and Australian woman, which informs her culturally responsive, neurodiversity-affirming, and inclusive practice. She creates a warm, safe space for individuals and families who may have felt misunderstood or overwhelmed in traditional systems.

Her mission is to make therapy feel accessible, validating, and meaningful- whether it’s through one-on-one sessions, group programs, advocacy, or community education.

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her dog Theo, and family, practicing yoga, bush walking, trying new cafes/restaurants, learning, and dabbling into art.

Catherine’s therapeutic focus includes:

  • Support for building structure, routines, and everyday independence.

    • Executive functioning, time management, and daily living skills for all ages

    • Functional goal setting and life skills development for NDIS participants

    • Behavioural support and routine development for children with additional needs

    • Support for life transitions- school, employment, home, and community

  • Therapy to support emotional wellbeing and mental health recovery.

    • Emotional regulation, self-awareness, and social-emotional development

    • Mental health support for anxiety, depression, and mood challenges

    • Strength-based therapy to build confidence and self-esteem

    • Holistic wellbeing planning for burnout, overwhelm, and daily stress

    • Therapeutic support for disengaged youth and vulnerable adolescents

  • Helping individuals feel safe, regulated, and connected in their bodies.

    • Sensory processing support for children, teens, and adults

    • Burnout recovery and nervous system regulation

    • Trauma-informed therapy for children, adolescents, and adults

    • Interoception and body-based modalities to assist with understanding self and regulation

  • Helping you understand, access, and maximise NDIS supports.

    • Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA) and therapy reports

    • Capacity-building strategies for independence and daily participation

    • Psychoeducation and self-advocacy coaching

    • Collaboration with support coordinators and allied health professionals

  • Supporting inclusion, access, and meaningful social connections.

    • Therapy to support community access and social participation

    • Social skills support and advocacy for children, teens, and adults

  • Affirming, strengths-based support across the lifespan.

    • Support for children, teens, and adults

    • Developmental support for social, communication, and emotional needs

    • School readiness and early intervention for developmental delays

    • Parent coaching and carer collaboration for consistent support