Connected Hearts
Consultation And Therapy Services
Emotional development begins at life’s early stages and this development is fostered by social connection throughout the lifespan. This is the underpinning philosophy that motivated the team to curate Connected Hearts with the understanding that Social (Connected) and Emotional (Hearts) domains of health are at the core of our intervention and consultations.
ABOUT US
Experienced Healthcare Consultants
We are a team experienced developmental clinicians including Mental Health Nursing with collective clinical experience in the disability, therapy, mental health and leadership sectors of health and Not For Profit organisations.
In our experience working with family and services we recognise a need for specialised assessment and interventions. Children and families are presenting with increasing complexity and high needs which can be challenging to seek services with the suitable multi-modal skills sets required.
OUR SERVICES
Consultation and Therapy Services for Private and NDIS Clients
Therapy Services
Consultation
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Clients Say
Parent
“Thankyou for the amount of time and attention you gave us. I really appreciate your patience and support. The girls bonded with you as soon as they saw you and that was lovely to see. You are a real asset.”
School Support
“You are such an asset to our school and I value your input, but also your honesty and passion to see better outcomes for our students.”
School Principal
“Fantastic communication and demonstrated deep undertsanding of the situation. Great understanding of barriers and our limitations. The student and family she is working with will be long term, but she has amazing resilience and calmness.”
Meet the Team
Co-Director / Therapist
Maxine Gavros
Maxine Gavros graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Nursing (2006) and holds dual qualifications as a Mental Health Nurse and Developmental Educator. She has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health, a Postgraduate Certificate in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, and a Master of Autism. Maxine is also a certified Tuning into Teens facilitator, a trained DIR® Floortime™ practitioner, and trained Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) psychotherapist.
Across her career, Maxine has practiced in the fields of Developmental Disability, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, and Private Practice as a clinical supervisor. Her collective experience is invaluable in understanding complex presentations of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health challenges, including trauma.
Maxine is deeply passionate about supporting connection—often disrupted in complex situations—and brings a unique lens shaped by her background in psychotherapy and family work. She works relationally and reflectively with families and systems, embedding trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and rights-based principles. Maxine’s warm therapeutic presence and authentic sense of self underpin every interaction, fostering safety, dignity, and growth.
Co-Director / Therapist
BECK schefe
Graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2004. Beck then completed a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing in 2007 and a Post Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Studies in 2017. Most recently, Beck completed her DIR Floortime training and is now a recognised DIR Floortime practitioner. She has practiced across the fields of Developmental Disability, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Adult Mental Health Services.
Beck’s broad range of experience allows her to understand complex presentations not only for the child, but the larger systems and community in which they live. Interventions are primarily based within a DIR Floortime framework but Beck’s experience also allows her to drawn on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational interviewing when needed.
Beck values transparency and being able to work with everyone in a child’s life to deliver meaningful outcomes. One of her favourite sayings is ‘no one lives in a bubble!’ and this is evident in her therapeutic approach.