Therapists

Elen Nathan is a NZ registered Occupational Therapist and certified Sensory Integration Practitioner. She has over 20 years experience working with children and adults who have  diverse needs. Elen has specialised in Autism and Sensory Processing Differences, which has led her to work in peak body organisations including Autism New Zealand, The National Autistic Society (UK) and Autism Victoria (AUS).

Elen is passionate about working with neuro-divergent people to build their self esteem through understanding themselves better, as well as upskilling the people and systems around them to be able to provide better understanding and supports. 

Elen is the Mum of 2 busy boys who have taught her that often children come with their own plan and need an understanding team in their corner coaching them through life's challenges. 

Richard Nathan is an NZ registered Occupational Therapist with 20 years experience in the adult health and disability sector in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

Richard is a busy father of 2 young boys and understands the transition to fatherhood can be transformative with both challenges and rewards. 

Richard has worked in both health practitioner roles and senior management roles for national and local agencies and enjoys applying a practical strengths based approach to his work

"LEGO - Based Therapy Facilitator Training with Elen Nathan is a must for autistic people wanting to learn to support other autistic people, especially young people. This was the first non 'autistics-for-autistics' space I have ever been in where the facilitator spoke our language, articulated our cultural understanding and had thrown every stereotype about autistics away. This isn't just Lego-therapy facilitator training. It is a safe place for autistics. It is the kind of experience every autistic person deserves to have. It is where I got to hear that the non-autistic community can and does get it, that our gifts and our right to self-determination and leadership are understood and that there is huge room for hope. For once, as an autistic public speaker and educator, I heard the understanding I strive to create in society coming back at me from a non-autistic person in a public forum. I can't describe that feeling. I had no idea how tired I was of being a rare voice. 

Go check this training out if you are autistic. Elen is a genuine ally and not afraid to speak our truth. I wasn't even particularly into Lego. But even that has changed! I'm so glad I took a chance - steeling myself for the usual stereotypes and fear of having to listen to my kind of people being discussed like problems to be fixed. It happens so often I have just come to expect it. But not with Elen Nathan. I'm so glad I did this training. Elen rocks it with the performative energy of a visionary."

- Annie Southern, PhD

The Different Kind of Human Project

“From the first phone conversation Elen was incredibly helpful & generous with her time & knowledge. 

She was the first person who listened and understood my perspective in the midst of our family struggling with our child’s sensory difficulties. I’d tried various avenues to access help to no avail. She offered clarity & a practical way forward, which has been invaluable to us as a family. 

I couldn’t put a price on the positive effect Elen’s support has had on us all: stress levels are down, confidence is up & we are able to get on with life in a calmer, happier way.

Appointments are a highlight of our child’s week; she has a lot of trust in Elen & has the best time during their sessions. 

I highly recommend Elen as a dedicated & passionate therapist who always has your child’s individual needs at the forefront of her work.”

" I highly recommend Elen from the Playful Place. The changes we have seen in our 10 year old son since working with Elen for the past year have been immense. She has taught him many tools and strategies for coping in the aspects of his life he finds particularly hard, such as social situations. 

We have had teachers, family, and friends  also comment on the huge change they have seen in our son in the past year since attending the Playful place.

Elen has been a rock for our son, having someone in his life that completely understands his way of thinking. We are hugely appreciative of everything Elen has done for our son but also our family."

"Elen's presentation was a refreshing learning experience and I will approach my grandchildren with new insights. Such a special presentation" - Professior & Head of Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care.  

"Elen is an engaging, authentic and knowledgable presenter who took the participants on a learning journey through excellent slides, evidence based information and experience as a professional and as a parent." - Child Development & Movement Consultant. 

"We had immediate requests to run another session with Elen - she shared her extensive knowledge through a lively presentation keeping the audience engaged. Warm and approachable, her sharing of personal anecdotes from professional life and family life kept it very real for the audience and they connected to this and to Elen herself" - Ministry of Education.