The Neurodivergent Naturopath

The Neurodivergent Naturopath Clinical Naturopath, Specialising in paediatric & women's health care (fertility, hormones, pregnancy & postpartum). Support for Neurodivergent families

PRACTITIONER
As a medical practitioner my role is to provide educate, my role is to guide and support you and your family. NURTURER
I have always been a nurturer, however by becoming a mother my nurturing skills have really flourished. This is one of my biggest strengths and helps me in holding space for parents to release what they need to in our sessions so that they can resume being the awesom

e parent they are. It's not just children that thrive in a position of being nurtured. SUPPORTER
I will be your biggest supporter, this is a completely judgement free zone where you are able to express yourself completely and freely. CONNECTION
Connection & feeling safe within the work we do together is important. A healthy connection between myself and clients is what I strive for. Trust is formed from this connection (after all we are working within your family unit). CHILDRENS DEVELOPMENT
I have a background in Education. Children, their development & health/wellbeing has always been a keen interest of mine. With a special interest in neurodiversities, I'm constantly sifting through research for information that can assist neurodivergent families like mine with the various health challenges that arise.

These little bottles were created for the very human moments we all move through. The wobbly days. The overwhelmed days....
14/06/2026

These little bottles were created for the very human moments we all move through. The wobbly days. The overwhelmed days. The emotionally spicy days. The days where you just need something gentle to reach for while your nervous system catches up.

Flower essences are one of my favourite ways to support emotional wellbeing because they are subtle, soft and easy to weave into everyday life.
This collection has been made to feel practical, beautiful and supportive. A little emotional first aid kit for real life.

Available now :)

Did you know that we offer Microba microbiome testing?If you’ve been stuck in the loop of bloating, unpredictable bowels...
10/06/2026

Did you know that we offer Microba microbiome testing?

If you’ve been stuck in the loop of bloating, unpredictable bowels, reflux, skin flares, recurrent infections, fatigue, or “nothing is working”… guessing can get expensive (and exhausting).

Microbiome testing helps us:
1) To see what your gut ecosystem looks like right now
2) Connect patterns to symptoms (where that link is clinically relevant)
3) Choose clear next steps instead of trial-and-error

How it works: order your kit → quick at-home sample → results in 14–30 days → we go through the report together and map out a targeted plan.

Want to know if this test is a fit for you? DM MICROBA and we can chat :)

But what if hunger is not the barrier?I need to say this clearly because I really, really hate the phrase:“They’ll eat w...
09/06/2026

But what if hunger is not the barrier?
I need to say this clearly because I really, really hate the phrase:
“They’ll eat when they’re hungry.”

But for many neurodivergent children, anxious children, sensory sensitive children, children with ARFID, and children whose nervous system experiences food as unsafe, hunger does not magically override panic.

-Hunger does not override nausea.
-Hunger does not override gagging.
-Hunger does not override texture aversion.
-Hunger does not override fear.
-Hunger does not override demand pressure.
-Hunger does not override a body that has learned food can feel unsafe.

A child can be hungry and still not be able to eat the food in front of them.

That is the part so much feeding advice misses.
When we tell parents “they’ll eat when they’re hungry,” we can accidentally teach them to wait. To push harder. To remove safe foods. To hold firm. To ignore distress because surely hunger will win eventually.

Hunger doesn't win.
Distress wins.
Shutdown wins.
Food fear wins.
The nervous system wins.

And the child is left carrying the message that their very real difficulty is just behaviour, manipulation, fussiness, or lack of discipline. Not to mention the deeper wound: Their safe adult has been taught to use food as the battleground.

That phrase can be deeply damaging because it makes feeding challenges sound simple when they are often complex, layered, sensory, physiological, emotional and neurological.

Hunger is not a feeding strategy for a child whose body experiences food as unsafe.

Safety is.
Trust is.
Predictability is.
Safe foods are.
Reducing pressure is.
Understanding the whole child is.

Because feeding support should never be built on the idea that a child just needs to get hungry enough to override their own fear.

If your child wakes at 4–5am, I have some practical tips 👇In clinic, I troubleshoot early waking in this order, because ...
08/06/2026

If your child wakes at 4–5am, I have some practical tips 👇

In clinic, I troubleshoot early waking in this order, because it stops you chasing random hacks:

1) Sleep pressure + overstimulation: Overtired kids don’t always sleep longer, they often wake earlier. If bedtime is late, chaotic, or full of negotiation, their nervous system stays on alert.

2) Hunger / fuel debt: Especially if lunch comes home untouched or dinner is light. Some kids wake early because their body is doing a quiet “feed me” alarm.

3) Airway / congestion: Mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, chronic blocked nose = lighter sleep and earlier wakes (not to mention poor cognition that stems from this)

4) Discomfort you can’t see: Constipation. Reflux. Eczema itch. Growing pains (If the body isn’t comfortable, it won’t stay asleep).

5) Environment: Early light + warmth flips the “awake” switch fast (especially in lighter sleepers).

Here's a very practical and general 7-day experiment:
👉protein included at dinner
👉optional small bedtime snack if needed
👉darker room (block early light)
👉quick check on constipation/allergy signs

If early waking is relentless and your child seems unrefreshed, I take that seriously. Sleep quality affects regulation, gut function, skin inflammation, and immune resilience; it’s one of the first things I map in consultations.

So if you need a more solid plan that's beyond the general practical tips above, it might be time to book your initial appointment or book your free 15min naturopathic chat.

Look at all of these beauties!! We had a big order arrive just a few days ago and already down to these last 15 (yes the...
07/06/2026

Look at all of these beauties!! We had a big order arrive just a few days ago and already down to these last 15 (yes there will be more to come but only one of each pattern!).

If you see one you love here's the link: https://www.neurothrive.com.au/category/all-products

Maybe your body has been asking for support for a long time. Sometimes it talks through exhaustion that doesn’t make sen...
07/06/2026

Maybe your body has been asking for support for a long time. Sometimes it talks through exhaustion that doesn’t make sense.

It might be:
- A gut that reacts to everything.
- Hormones that seem to change the whole weather system inside you.
- Food feeling harder than it “should”.
- Sensory overwhelm.
- Shutdowns.
- The feeling that you’re coping… but only just.

You are allowed to have a body that needs gentleness.
You are allowed to need more rest.
You are allowed to need food that feels safe.
You are allowed to need support that actually fits your brain, your capacity, and your real life.

My work is about sitting with the whole picture of you. Your nervous system, your digestion, your hormones, your energy, your history, your lived experience.

Healing starts there.

I’m Sarah, naturopath, mum of neurodivergent kiddos, soon to be a paediatric counsellor, indoor plant murderer, golden r...
05/06/2026

I’m Sarah, naturopath, mum of neurodivergent kiddos, soon to be a paediatric counsellor, indoor plant murderer, golden retriever collector, and very big believer that food is medicine.

My work sits in the space where paediatric health, women’s hormones, neurodivergence, feeding challenges, gut health, mental health and real family life all overlap.

I support families navigating ADHD, autism, ARFID, picky eating, big feelings, sensory overwhelm, sleep struggles, gut symptoms, immune issues and the general “why does everything feel so hard right now?” season of parenting.

I’m also studying counselling, with the dream of bringing more paediatric counselling and animal assisted therapy into my work, especially for kids who need support that feels safe, gentle and neuroaffirming.

Also, yes, I do collect golden retrievers (For professional reasons, obviously).

# #

This might be controversial, but adults get to build meals around their preferences, then call kids “fussy” for having t...
04/06/2026

This might be controversial, but adults get to build meals around their preferences, then call kids “fussy” for having theirs.

As adults we choose the meals.
As adults we choose the flavours.
As adults we choose the textures.
As adults we choose what goes in the trolley.
As adults we leave things off our own plates all the time.

But when a child has strong food preferences, suddenly it becomes a problem.
And for children with ARFID, sensory eating differences, anxiety around food, gut symptoms, past choking, vomiting, pain, or neurodivergent nervous systems, this goes far beyond “just being fussy” Food can feel genuinely unsafe.

By removing safe foods, it doesn't magically create food confidence.
- It creates panic.
- It reduces intake.
- It increases pressure.
- It makes the table feel even less safe.

A safe food isn't a bad habit. IT IS A REQUIREMENT.
This is definitely not “giving in”. Sometimes it's the bridge we need.

Trust me I DO know how exhausting this is. The goal is to keep your child fed while we slowly build trust, safety, regulation and capacity around food.

Food bravery grows from safety, not pressure

✌️Sarah

04/06/2026

MORE pretty stuff landed at the clinic!!! Look at these heat bags by .by.ky 🩷🩷

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Brisbane, QLD
4509

Telephone

+61415622231

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