Hi, I’m Donelle
I’m an Occupational Therapist and workplace consultant with over 20 years of experience in mental health and neurodivergence.
I specialise in identifying the hidden drivers behind performance and behaviour issues—especially where communication, stress, or neurodivergence is involved.
As an occupational therapist, I am trained and experienced in both physical and mental health. I also have a background in corporate HR and health and safety, alongside my clinical experience.
This enables me to quickly get to the core of complex problems and offer clear, practical solutions that work in real-world environments.
I consult to organisations when standard HR tools aren’t quite enough. I am also active in clinical practice, working privately and through Beehyve Health Ltd, with adults who have ADHD, autism, anxiety, and co-occurring conditions. I also work with a small number of children and their families in private practice.
Qualifications:
Master of Social Science (Psychology) - first class honours
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
NZ Registered Occupational Therapist
Professional Memberships:
Occupational Therapy NZ - Whakaora Ngangahau Aotearoa (OTNZ-WNA)
Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA)
ADHD New Zealand
Why work with me?
Experience:
I have 25+ years of professional experience in health and educational sectors, including:
- Clinical experience in physical and mental health, hospital, and community settings. My youngest client was three and the oldest was 99!
- Business experience in HR, health & safety, and analysis roles;
- Central and local government roles;
- Experience in NZ and the UK
I’ve worked with hundreds of neurodivergent clients, understand the diagnostic process, and have my own personal experience with neurodivergence.
Registered Health Professional with business experience.
As a registered health professional, I am regulated and required to demonstrate the competencies set by the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand. I also participate in regular clinical and peer supervision.
Assurance
All my services are provided in accordance with the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003), and The Privacy Act (2020).
When HR tools don’t work, I help you figure out what will.
If you’re a leader managing high-pressure performance targets and a diverse team, you’ve probably hit a wall when it comes to supporting staff with ADHD, autism or other neurodivergent traits.
You want your team to thrive, but traditional ‘motivational’ strategies often fall flat. That’s where I come in.
How I work
I translate neurodivergence into something you can understand and work with.
I help you to:
spot the difference between a performance issue and a support need;
reduce friction, miscommunication and burnout;
apply simple, tailored strategies that improve performance fast.
Why it works
Most workplace support plans miss the mark with neurodivergent staff. They’re built on assumptions that don’t match how neurodivergent brains work - so you get little change, and growing frustration.
I take a different approach -
I focus on function, not labels.
I tailor everything to your team’s real-world environment.
I teach you how to manage and support neurodivergent brains without lowering standards or over-accommodating.
Who I work with
I work with leaders, HR professionals, educators, and professionals across sectors.
If your people are -
Great in some areas, but inconsistent or hard to manage;
Showing signs of burnout, anxiety, withdrawal or shutdown;
Missing deadlines or struggling with focus or communication;
…we should talk.
Let’s simplify the complex
Neurodivergent employees bring serious value to your team - but they may need the right support to perform at their best. Like an orchid planted in fertile soil, they will bloom in the right conditions.
My job is to help you make that happen, without wasting time, money or goodwill.