About Our Team
Our Director - Michelle
Ocean Grace was founded by Michelle on the 22nd of January 2018 and named after her family’s love of living near the ocean, its calming effect on their 3 living children, and after her daughter Grace whom she lost during her 5th month of pregnancy. Ocean Grace is her daughter’s legacy that teaches us to cherish our children, overcome our fears and follow our dreams.
Michelle is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work (MSWQ) and over 20 years’ experience providing support and interventions to children, adults and families across 3 different countries. Michelle has extensive experience working with families impacted by disability and with children with extreme behavioural difficulties.
Michelle is trained and experienced in delivering the Circle of Security Parenting program, Bringing Up Great Kids program and in Positive Behaviour Support Plans for children and adults with disabilities. Michelle is also trained and experienced in Expressive Therapies, which uses forms of creative expression such as art, symbol work, music and movement.
- Medicare provider number: 5669034W
- AASW registration number: 457537
- ABN: 1516 5145 068
Child and Family Therapist
Team Leader - Bea
Bea is a long-term Caloundra local with three adult children. Bea is a trauma Informed Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Master's in Narrative Therapy and Community Work with over 20 years of experience working with families, young people and adults.
Bea has extensive experience working with families, young people, and adults, impacted by homelessness, sexual assault, and domestic and family violence. Bea is trained in EMDR, and has a special interest in the areas of Trauma, Body Therapy and Regulation Techniques. Bea is also trained and experienced in Expressive Therapies, which uses forms of creative expression such as art, symbol work, music and movement.
As Team Leader, Bea is passionate about ensuring clients are supported through their entire experience with Ocean Grace, ensuring safety and care for not only our clients but the entire team.
- Medicare provider number: 6265931W
- AASW registration number: 456443
Child and Family Therapist - Helen Collingwood
Helen is a graduate of Social Work from James Cook University in Townsville, with extensive experience in crisis interventions. Helen has a passion for helping people realise their full potential despite the adversities that life can sometimes present, and she is a strong advocate for social justice and human rights.
Helen operates from a place of deep empathy and compassion, and her own journey in life informs and reflects her practice values. Helen’s experience includes crisis support, client intake and risk assessment including domestic and family violence, childhood trauma and suicide intervention.
Being a massive fan of animals of all shapes and sizes, Helen loves to spend time with her five hand-raised and fully flighted parrots and two small terrier dogs. Helen adores grounding herself in nature and weekends will see her camping in the bush with her husband or spending time at the beach swimming in the beautiful ocean.
Child and Family Therapist - Brooke Lehmann
Brooke is a qualified Social Worker with a passion for supporting individuals and families to grow in wellness. Brooke has five years experience working in the human services industry and has worked across a broad range of contexts.
Brooke has supported disengaged youth through case management, therapeutic support, and facilitating psychosocial programs. Brooke has experience supporting vulnerable families and children in ensuring they are linked with appropriate supports, and has worked as a counsellor and crisis response worker with women experiencing Domestic and Family Violence.
Brooke understands that life can be complex and difficult to navigate and her passion is in hearing people's stories and supporting people through their experience of healing and wellness. Brooke enjoys using psycho-education, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Trauma Informed practice in her therapy. In her down time, Brooke enjoys being out in nature whether at the beach, in the rainforest, or out for a drive in the country.
Child and Family Therapist - Angela
Angela is a qualified Social Worker and Counsellor with a passion for helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of life. Originally hailing from the UK, Angela has called Australia home for over a decade. When she’s not in the therapy room, you'll likely find her embracing local beaches and nature.
With over six years of experience in the human services sector her professional journey has included crisis support, grief counselling, and assisting families recovering and re-establishing from family and domestic violence; all of which have deepened her understanding of the resilience inherent in the human spirit.
Angela draws upon humanistic, trauma-informed approaches. Angela is trained in therapeutic modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
Heidi Langley - Contractor
Heidi Langley is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and also the director of REFOCUS child and family therapy at Beerwah. This is a therapeutic and support service to assist children and women with trauma, attachment issues, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and various other emotional and mental difficulties, just to mention a few.
Heidi’s therapeutic approach is client-centered, systems focused, strengths-based and she incorporates evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, Attachment Therapy and Trauma Therapy; whilst tailoring various treatment models to suit each person’s individual needs, goals, values and strengths. She works holistically and has an integrative approach. She now offers EMDR THERAPY as well.
Thu Andersen - Contractor
Thu is the Director of Love and Light Healing - Maroochydore and is a registered Social Worker who supports her clients with mental health challenges and their healing journey. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Play Therapy. She is currently pursuing her PhD in meditation and neuroscience. She is passionate about helping her clients unleash their potential and improve their quality of life through her care. She strongly believes everyone deserves better mental well-being and a happy fulfilling life.
About Our Offices
Ocean Grace© Offices
Are located in central Caloundra, 2 blocks back from the beach, in light, spacious and welcoming rooms on level 2 in Trinity House Medical Centre. (Click on images to view larger).
Our aim is to help families understand behaviour and know how to respond to it in a way that best supports the individual.
We do this by supporting families to reduce the frequency and severity of behaviour.
Find some helpful tips from Michelle Bowyer, Director of Ocean Grace, on our Facebook page:
“It is our mission at Ocean Grace to support families to create deeper, stronger relationships. ”
Here at Ocean Grace, while we care first and foremost about our clients, we also care for the world around us and here are some things we do for positive impact.
Environmentally friendly
Ocean Grace believes in protecting our beautiful environment and ecosystem here on the Sunshine Coast, and do what we can to be an environmentally friendly service including:
Paper free intake, assessment and handouts (unless clients prefer hard copy).
Use of recycled paper
Minimising use of air conditioning when unnecessary
Oxygen improving plants
Charitable Work
Ocean Grace and our employees do all we can to support local charities and have raised money for the following causes:
Dance for sick kids - for Ronald McDonald House Charity
Queensland floods - for Red Cross
Caritas - for those impacted by the war in Ukraine
Supporting Local Business
Ocean Grace understands the difficulties of owning and operating a small local business and do what we can to buy local produce and support local businesses and their families. Here are just a few of the local businesses we support:
iGenerate Marketing (marketing products, event planning)
The Stickerman (office signage)
Azara Collection (wooden signs, name badges, gifts)
Shaka air (air conditioning)
DSC Web and Business (website and IT support)
Raylene Hall artwork (local artist at Seaview Art Gallery)
Transformed Mind (workplace stress and anxiety)
Mama blooming (perinatal doula and massage)
Creating Space (professional organising support and education)
My Little Party Hire (party hire for events)