Leadership Spotlight Series: Creating Safe Spaces for Great Therapy
At Therapy Pro, we believe great leadership inspires great therapy.
In this edition of our Leadership Spotlight Series, we’re excited to introduce you to Danielle, our National Head of Positive Behaviour Support & Social Work. With a social work background and 14 years of experience in the disability sector – eight of those with Therapy Pro – Danielle has developed a leadership philosophy that puts people first, always.
What makes Danielle’s approach so compelling is her deep understanding that before anyone can deliver great therapy, they need to feel safe, valued, and genuinely supported themselves.
We sat down with Danielle to explore her leadership style, her thoughts on what separates good therapy from great therapy, and the powerful metaphor that shapes how she leads her teams.
Leaving the “bag of rocks” at the door
When we asked Danielle about her leadership style, her response was refreshingly honest:
“I see therapists as people first and employees second,” she shared.
“Most of us carry around a “bag of rocks” from past employment, and I want to provide a place where they can leave the bag at the door and focus on what we’re really here for.”
It’s a simple yet insightful metaphor that captures something many leaders overlook: the emotional weight that people bring to their work.
Past disappointments, difficult managers, workplace trauma, or simply the accumulated stress of working in challenging environments – these invisible burdens can significantly impact how someone shows up, both for their colleagues and their clients.
For Danielle, creating a safe space for her team is clearly about kindness first. But it also encapsulates strategic leadership that directly impacts therapeutic outcomes.
What makes therapy “great”?
Danielle’s definition of great therapy is rooted in authenticity and genuine connection:
“Great therapy means working with participants and their network. Delivering a service FOR them, not AT them,” she explained.
“Relationship building is paramount. We can’t expect our clients to commit to therapy if they feel the therapist isn’t committed to them.”
For Danielle, great therapy requires reflective practice – recognising knowledge gaps and committing to closing them. It means creative thinking when standard methods aren’t connecting.
And most importantly, it requires genuine commitment – showing up authentically for clients, because that authentic connection is what makes therapeutic relationships work.
Leading with honesty, transparency, and shared learning
Danielle’s leadership approach can be summed up in four words: “Honesty, transparency, listening, and learning – together.”
But what does this look like in practice?
“I appreciate who my team members are as people, their experiences, their backgrounds,” she explained.
This creates psychological safety – the foundation that allows people to take risks, admit mistakes, ask questions, and ultimately deliver their best work.
When team members feel seen and valued for who they are, not just what they produce, they’re more likely to bring their whole selves to their therapeutic work.
And by helping her team “leave the bag at the door,” Danielle enables them to show up fully for their clients, which is when great therapy happens.
Lessons learned along the way
When we asked what advice she’d give her past self when first stepping into leadership, Danielle’s response brought some levity: “Organise your desk and systems better!”
It’s a refreshingly honest nod to the importance of setting up clear systems and staying organised from the outset.
In many ways, it echoes what makes Danielle’s leadership approach so grounded – valuing progress over perfection, embracing growth at every stage, and that learning and reflection are ongoing.
More leadership stories coming soon
This is just one of many stories about our incredible leaders here at Therapy Pro supporting a range of clinicians including positive behaviour support practitioners and social workers. Follow along as we continue to spotlight the voices shaping our therapy teams, championing innovation, and building positive, person-centred workplaces across Australia.
Want to continue your reading? Here are our previous articles in the series:
