I am an Educational and Developmental Psychologist by trade—and have known I wanted to be one since I was 12. Growing up undiagnosed Autistic, I spent years observing people and wondering why humans do what they do. My ADHD daydreams were filled with frameworks and categories long before I had language for them. Stories have always been home for me, from my grandfather’s tales of faraway lands to the everyday stories we share here.
As an AuDHDer, a parent to an AuDHDer, an immigrant, and a psychologist, my work is inherently intersectional. It weaves together lived experience, clinical expertise, and the essence of who I am (kooky, and perhaps better suited to life underwater). The frameworks I use are neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and identity-affirming, grounded in approaches that prioritise understanding, dignity, and relational safety.
With the privilege I hold, I am committed to contributing to professional and community conversations that support meaningful systems change. I genuinely dream of an inclusive world where everyone finds their place, and where children and families are seen, respected, and supported exactly as they are.
Monash University
Deakin University
University of Melbourne
Many Autistic people display strong consistency to their values. Whilst this gets mistaken as rigidity, I prefer to think of it as philosophical consistency.
My values underpin my practice and are my core philosophy of being. It’s an approach that’s evidence-based, blending clinical knowledge, lived experience, cultural awareness, and above all, a deep respect for autonomy, safety, and connection.
So come—get to know a little bit about what I stand for.
Sandhya centres lived experience—listening deeply, respecting diverse perspectives, and shaping support around what people say they need, because they know themselves best.
The focus is on understanding what is happening beneath the surface and responding with compassion and curiosity, not coercive correction.
When people feel safe in their bodies and identities, learning follows. Relational safety allows curiosity, growth, and new understanding to emerge, forming the foundation of our educational work.
Identities do not exist in isolation. Sandhya brings a cultural and intersectional lens to her work, recognising the impact of family systems,privilege, culture, identity, and how this shapes support.
