Connect and Thrive Therapeutic Services

Connect and Thrive Therapeutic Services Therapeutic services including group programs, psychology, specialist behaviour support and equine/animal assisted therapy.

Where she belongs.Some therapists sit behind a desk. Ours stand in the mud, hold the reins, and let the horses do some o...
17/03/2026

Where she belongs.

Some therapists sit behind a desk. Ours stand in the mud, hold the reins, and let the horses do some of the talking.

Equine-assisted therapy works because horses are honest. They respond to what you actually bring, not what you say you're fine with.

That's where the real work begins.

connectthrive.com.au

The right support changes everything.Not the generic kind.The kind that starts with actually listening — to the person, ...
17/03/2026

The right support changes everything.

Not the generic kind.

The kind that starts with actually listening — to the person, their family, and their goals.
Then building support around who they are, not who a system expects them to be.

Individual psychology and behaviour support for children, adolescents and adults.

Medicare · NDIS · Private referrals
connectthrive.com.au

School holidays are almost here. Time to gear up.Our Nerf Program is back at the Guanaba farm these April holidays. Thre...
11/03/2026

School holidays are almost here. Time to gear up.

Our Nerf Program is back at the Guanaba farm these April holidays. Three hours of strategy, teamwork, and the kind of fun that gets kids off screens and into something real.
Different scenarios every session. Different challenges. A whole lot of running around.

Dates:
16th & 17th April
Morning session: 8:45am to 11:45am
Afternoon session: 12:15pm to 3:15pm
$69 per session · $140 for the full day

Max 20 per session · Snacks supplied · BYO lunch for full days

connectthrive.com.au

Term 2 bookings are open for the Horse Whispering Youth Program.
05/03/2026

Term 2 bookings are open for the Horse Whispering Youth Program.

For many children, the most powerful therapy doesn’t look like therapy at all.It looks like play. Like connection. Like ...
05/03/2026

For many children, the most powerful therapy doesn’t look like therapy at all.

It looks like play. Like connection. Like a trusted adult following their lead with patience and genuine curiosity.

For many children, being asked to sit still and talk about their feelings simply doesn’t work — and that’s completely okay. Play-based therapy is woven into our approach precisely because children communicate through doing, through creating, through playing.

At Connect and Thrive, our therapists enter your child’s world — not the other way around. We creatively adapt standard practice to make it accessible and meet the needs of those we support — which means no two sessions look exactly alike, because no two children are exactly alike.

Our approach is strengths-based, neuro-affirmative and family-centred. We work alongside your child, celebrating what they can do and building from there.
If your child finds traditional settings difficult, or if you’ve simply been wondering whether there’s a different way — there is.

We’d love to have a conversation about what might work for your family.

Serving families across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, and via Telehealth across Australia.

connectthrive.com.au

Meet Viv 🤎Viviana Sorensen is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Advanced Positive Behaviour Support Clinicia...
02/03/2026

Meet Viv 🤎

Viviana Sorensen is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Advanced Positive Behaviour Support Clinician and one of the people at the heart of what we do.

With over a decade of experience across forensic, mental health, child protection, and neurodiversity-affirming settings, Viv has supported some of the most complex child and family presentations developmental trauma, neurodivergence, disability, and high-risk behaviours of concern.

Her approach is grounded in attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based frameworks including Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Theraplay, and Positive Behaviour Support.

But what families remember most about Viv isn't her credentials, it's how safe she makes them feel. She's known for her clinical depth, her warm and collaborative style, and for building strong, stable teams around every child.
We're proud to have her on ours.

This one is booking fast… We have opened a few more spots for Tuesdays.Looking for an after-school activity your child w...
17/01/2026

This one is booking fast… We have opened a few more spots for Tuesdays.

Looking for an after-school activity your child will actually be excited about?

NERF Social combines structured play, teamwork, and active fun — all in a safe, supervised environment.

✔ Confidence
✔ Social skills
✔ Movement & fun

Tuesdays have limited spots remaining.
Mondays are waitlist only.

A mum who never leaves her son’s side. 🤍Ruby (left) is Henry’s mum.She’s looked after him since the day he was born — an...
09/01/2026

A mum who never leaves her son’s side. 🤍

Ruby (left) is Henry’s mum.
She’s looked after him since the day he was born — and she’s never left him.

She watches quietly 👀
She stays close 🤍
She steps in when reassurance is needed… and steps back when it’s not.

This is what safety looks like in the animal world 🐴

What’s fascinating is that science now backs up what we see firsthand on the farm every week 🧠🌿

Research shows that equine-assisted therapy can support emotional regulation, self-esteem and nervous system calming, because horses are highly attuned to body language, tone and emotional state. They respond honestly, in real time — without judgement or expectation.

And that’s exactly what we witness here.

When an animal feels safe enough to lie down, to stay close, to remain present — the people around them begin to regulate too. Breathing slows 😌
Shoulders drop.
Guard comes down.

At our farm, these moments aren’t created or forced.
They happen naturally — because animals do what they’ve always done best:
they meet others where they are 🤝

That’s why animal-assisted therapy works so powerfully.
Not through talking things out 🗣️
Not through pressure ❌
But through connection, presence, and trust 🤍

It isn’t the property that makes this place special.
It’s the animals 🐴
It’s the people 👩‍👩‍👦
It’s the quiet moments that science can measure — and hearts can feel ✨

This is their story 🤍

—

If this resonates with you, you’re always welcome here 🌿
Text “CONNECT” to 0499 104 644 and Joel will be in touch 📱

🚨 5 spots left for Tuesdays (Term 1).🏃‍♂️ Running😄 Laughing🧠 Problem-solving🤝 TeamworkThis is what confidence in motion ...
08/01/2026

🚨 5 spots left for Tuesdays (Term 1).

🏃‍♂️ Running
😄 Laughing
🧠 Problem-solving
🤝 Teamwork

This is what confidence in motion looks like.

The kids are loving it.
Parents are loving seeing them outside, moving, and building real-world skills 🌿

If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time ⏳
Monday sessions coming soon 👀

Take a moment to slow down.This is what connection can look like when there’s no pressure — just calm, trust, and presen...
07/01/2026

Take a moment to slow down.

This is what connection can look like when there’s no pressure — just calm, trust, and presence. Through gentle, guided interaction with horses, young people learn emotional regulation, confidence, and respect in a way that feels safe and natural.

Quiet moments like this are where real growth begins.

📍 Guanaba
🐎 Equine-assisted youth mentoring

If you’re curious to learn more, you’re welcome to reach out or follow along as we share more of the journey.

We’re expanding the program 🚀Nerf Social launched this week and the response has been incredible.Tuesday sessions are al...
07/01/2026

We’re expanding the program 🚀

Nerf Social launched this week and the response has been incredible.
Tuesday sessions are already down to 5 spots left, so due to demand we’re expanding the program with an additional Monday after-school session.

This is a structured, team-based program focused on confidence 💪, mateship 🤝, and getting kids off screens 📵 — all in a safe, supportive environment.

📍 Guanaba
🗓 Tuesdays | 5 spots remaining
🗓 Mondays | new session added

👉 Comment “MONDAY” or send us a DM 💬 and we’ll send through the details.

Happy 2026!
01/01/2026

Happy 2026!

Address

Gold Coast, QLD
4217

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+61411960651

Website

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Rowena Woolly, Psychologist

Rowena Woolley has been a registered psychologist for 12 years and is the owner of Connect and Thrive Psychology. Prior to private practice, Rowena worked in clinical and leadership roles in the Queensland Government’s Disability Services. Rowena works along side a team of experienced therapists and previous Disability Services clinicians at My Therapy Space in Burleigh. Rowena has extensive experience providing services to people who have a disability, behaviour difficulties, complex trauma and mental health concerns. She has a passion for working with people who have a dual disability and currently coordinates the Metro South Dual Disability Mental Health Professionals Network Meetings. Rowena has also combined her passion for horses to provide an alternative modality for people who don’t respond well to room based therapy and would benefit from an experiential approach.

Rowena is a Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor to people completing the 4+2 or 5+1 pathway to registration. Rowena also provides professional supervision to behaviour support practitioners who are seeking to meet their requirements for registration with the NDIS under the category of Improved Relationships. Rowena has an interest in research and has participated in a number of research projects focused on parenting and early childhood development.