If you’ve ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or stuck — you are welcome here.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR EMBODIED LIVING
At OTTIMA, we support people living with chronic and invisible illness to reconnect with their bodies, reclaim meaningful daily occupations and participation, and move toward empowered, embodied living. We offer a holistic and integrative approach to occupational therapy, grounded in neuroscience, trauma-informed, somatic-based, nervous-system-focused care, and neuroaffirming practice.
O T T I M A
[ˈɔt.ti.ma] An Italian word that represents the highest possible state of health, balance, and vitality.
Occupational
Therapy
Trauma-Informed
Integrative
Meaningful
Attunement
Our Approach
At OTTIMA, we know that healing is not linear — and neither is life with a chronic or invisible illness. Our services are grounded in a deep understanding of the complexity and nuance that come with long-term conditions, misdiagnosis, and nervous system dysregulation. We provide adaptive, individualised occupational therapy through a trauma-informed and nervous system-aware lens.
Our approach is gentle, collaborative, and responsive to your lived experience. We work alongside you, not over you, to support embodied change at your pace and on your terms. Whether you're rebuilding your routines, rediscovering your strengths, or simply trying to make sense of your daily energy limits, we’re here to help meaningful living feel possible again.
Who We Support
We work with people living with a wide range of chronic and invisible conditions, including:
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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
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Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) & Dysautonomia
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Fibromyalgia
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Long COVID
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Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
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Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
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Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
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Neurodivergence, including Dyspraxia, Autism, ADHD & Sensory Processing
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Complex Trauma & PTSD
If you’ve ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or stuck — you are welcome here.
Our practice is informed by both clinical expertise and lived experience. Josie, OTTIMA’s founding therapist, brings a unique combination of professional skill, specialised training, and firsthand knowledge of invisible illness. Her work is grounded in empathy, insight, and up-to-date evidence-based care.
We Are The Zebras
Reclaiming Life Through Meaningful Occupation,
One Stripe at a Time
Medical professionals are often taught: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” But we are the zebras — people whose symptoms don’t always look like the norm. We live with conditions that are real but often invisible, misunderstood, or dismissed.
The zebra has become a symbol for those with rare, complex, or unseen illnesses. It stands for resilience, uniqueness, and the right to be seen and believed. At OTTIMA, we embrace this identity.
About Us
Josie brings a rich foundation of additional training and specialist skills to her occupational therapy practice. Her approach is grounded in neuroscience and nervous system-informed care, with a strong focus on trauma-informed and neuroaffirming principles. She has completed training in a range of somatic and sensory-based modalities to support regulation and recovery, including trauma-informed yoga, craniosacral therapy, and reflex integration techniques. Josie is also trained in acoustic vagus nerve stimulation methods such as the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), which she uses to support autonomic regulation and sensory processing.
Her special interests include ME/CFS, POTS, MCAS, EDS, joint hypermobility, and trauma-related chronic illness. Her lived experience deeply informs her practice — allowing her to meet clients not just with knowledge, but with understanding.
Josie is an AHPRA-registered occupational therapist and a member of Occupational Therapy Australia. She has presented at both the WFOT (World Federation of Occupational Therapists) and national occupational therapy conferences, and continues to engage in ongoing professional development. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science (OT) and a Master of Health Science (Neuro).
Whether you are newly diagnosed, undiagnosed, or navigating long-term illness, you are not alone. We are here to walk with you toward a life that feels more manageable, meaningful, and your own.
Where We Work
We offer personalised & flexible support, wherever you are.
Appointments are offered In-Person or via Telehealth
In-Person
In-Person Appointments Offered In:
- Melbourne, VIC
-Adelaide, SA
Telehealth
Telehealth Appointments Offered:
- Australia-wide
- Southeast Asia
