Nikoo is the passionate founder and Clinical Director of Wonderful Minds. She is registered Art Therapist and certified clinical supervisor, she brings a deep commitment to supporting her team's professional development. She is dedicated to empowering children and families to thrive using a family-centered and holistic approach to therapy, recognising the crucial role of family dynamics in a child's well-being.
Wonderful Minds is a neuroaffirming practice, celebrating the diverse ways that individuals experience and interact with the world. Nikoo is a passionate advocate against ableism, actively working to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every child feels accepted and valued.
A Certified Learn to Play Therapist, Nikoo deeply values the power of play in her practice. She utilises play as a dynamic tool to connect with children, observe their development, and help them build essential social and communication skills. Within her therapeutic relationships, Nikoo creates a child-led space where children feel empowered to explore their thoughts and feelings, fostering their autonomy and self-discovery.
As a Certified Autism Assessor (ADOS-2), Nikoo specialises in early childhood development, certified SPARK Communication practitioner that provides a framework for helping parents and caregivers improve their child's communication skills. Nikoo utilises a trauma-informed approach she focuses on the interplay of trauma and attachment. Integrating art therapy with evidence-based modalities including, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Attachment Theory. She recognises the profound impact of early childhood experiences on development and believes that art provides a powerful avenue for accessing and processing traumatic memories.
With a Master's degree in Art Therapy from La Trobe University, Nikoo has extensive experience working with children and adults facing psychosocial and physical challenges. She views art as a unique form of communication that allows individuals to express their "true colors" and connect with their inner experiences.
In her practice, Nikoo draws upon neuroscience principles to help clients understand the connection between their emotional responses, trauma, and art-making. She creates a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences through sensory activities and cognitive reasoning, fostering emotional regulation and rewiring unconscious stress responses. Her goal is to empower clients to gain distance from their trauma, process their experiences through a different lens, and cultivate a greater sense of peace and well-being.
Outside of her practice, Nikoo nurtures her own creativity through music, ceramics, painting, and writing. She finds that art and philosophy offer unique lenses for understanding the human experience and encourage a broader perspective on the world.
