Maddi

Hi, I’m Maddisyn (Maddi) English, a Speech and Language Therapist and co-founder of Onyx Therapy. I have extensive experience working with autistic and neurodivergent individuals across a range of ages and settings, alongside a strong passion for delivering meaningful, accessible training to families, educators, SENCOs, carers, and workplaces on neurodiversity and its impact on day-to-day functioning. 

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from Southern Cross University in Australia, I have worked across educational and clinical settings internationally. This includes working within specialist autism provision in the United Kingdom, autism resource provisions (ARPs), and supporting children and young people educated outside of mainstream settings, including those accessing Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS). A core part of my role involves working closely with families, providing practical, neuroaffirming training and guidance to support communication, regulation, and participation in everyday life. 

I enjoy working collaboratively with clients and their families to ensure support is individualised, strengths-based, and responsive to real-world needs. I recognise the diversity within neurodivergent experiences and am committed to providing tailored support that goes beyond traditional approaches. My practice is firmly neurodivergent-affirming, valuing individual communication styles and identities, and creating environments where differences are understood, respected, and empowered. 

Alongside my clinical work, I deliver training to SENCOs and education professionals internationally. Following a recent ADHD diagnosis, I continue to deepen my understanding of how brain–body differences influence communication, regulation, and learning, which further strengthens my reflective and neuroaffirming practice. 

Please feel free to get in touch to learn more about our services and how Onyx Therapy can support you. 

Qualifications and Memberships 

• BA Speech and Language Therapy (Southern Cross University, Australia) 
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists 
• Member of the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice 
• Health and Care Professions Council registered. 
• Shape Coding Level 1 and Level 2 trained 
• Up to date training in safeguarding & prevent  

Holly

Hi, I’m Holly Walker, a qualified Occupational Therapist. I graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2021 with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy.

Since qualifying, I have gained experience across a wide range of clinical settings, including mental health, stroke rehabilitation, palliative care, and acute general medicine. This breadth of experience has enabled me to develop a diverse and adaptable skill set, which I now bring to my work with Onyx Therapy.

Following my time in general medicine, I took a career break in 2024 to live and travel in Australia. During this time, I worked as an au pair supporting a neurodivergent child, where I had the opportunity to implement occupational therapy–based interventions in a real-life setting. Seeing the positive impact of these approaches and witnessing the child grow and flourish was incredibly rewarding and ignited my passion for working with neurodiverse individuals.

I am deeply passionate about supporting neurodivergent children, young people, and adults to access learning opportunities, build independence, and thrive within supportive environments. I strive to work collaboratively with each individual, as well as the important people in their lives, including families, carers, and educators.

My approach is holistic and person-centred, focusing on the whole individual by considering physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. This ensures that therapy is meaningful, tailored, and responsive to each person’s unique needs.

I strongly believe that being neurodivergent is not something to fix, but something to understand, value, and work with. Everyone deserves to feel understood, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Qualifications and Memberships:

• BSc Hons Occupational Therapy (Oxford Brookes University) 
• Health and Care Professions Council registered

Jackie

 I’m Jackie. I am Onyx’s Client & Operations Coordinator, and I support the team in any way they may need.

Much of my role involves responding to enquiry emails, supporting recruitment processes, managing invoicing, and keeping our documents organised and easy to find (Justine has a habit of saving things in the wrong folders!).

If you email Onyx, it’s very likely that I’ll be the one replying and helping to guide you in the right direction.

Before joining Onyx, I worked as a Mental Health Nurse, and I am now retired from nursing. I have also worked as a transport escort supporting young people attending my local SEN school, which gave me valuable experience supporting children with additional needs.

My granddaughter is autistic, which has given me a personal understanding of how complex and overwhelming the SEN world can sometimes feel to navigate.

Through my role at Onyx, I hope to help families feel supported, reassured, and confident as they begin or continue their journey.

Justine

Hi, I’m Justine McDonnell, Occupational Therapist, Clinical Lead, and Co-Founder of Onyx Therapy. I am a neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience supporting autistic and neurodivergent children, young people, and adults across education, community, and specialist settings.

My clinical work focuses on sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, participation in everyday activities, and helping individuals better understand how their brain and body work. I am also involved in multidisciplinary autism assessments, training, consultancy, and supporting schools and families to create more inclusive and accessible environments.

Throughout my career, I have worked within specialist schools, multidisciplinary teams, and leadership roles, developing occupational therapy services that are practical, compassionate, and centred around the individual. My earlier work in assistive technology and independence support continues to shape my approach today, with a strong focus on reducing barriers and increasing meaningful participation in daily life.

I am passionate about moving away from deficit-based models and instead helping people recognise and work with their strengths, needs, and differences in ways that feel authentic and sustainable for them. My approach combines professional knowledge with lived experience as someone with dyslexia and ADHD, which gives me a personal understanding of the importance of flexibility, self-understanding, and genuinely individualised support.

At Onyx Therapy, we believe therapy should feel collaborative, empowering, and affirming — not something that asks people to change who they are in order to fit in. Whether working directly with individuals, supporting families, delivering training, or contributing to assessments, my aim is always to help people feel understood, supported, and able to thrive as their authentic selves.

Qualifications and Memberships 

• BSc Hons Occupational Therapy (Coventry University) 
• PgCert Sensory Integration (Ulster University)
• PgDip Sensory Integration (Sheffield Hallam University) 
• Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists 
• Health and Care Professions Council registered. 
• Up to date training in safeguarding & prevent 

Dean

Since graduating with a degree in Illustration in 2012, I’ve been employed by schools and colleges for the majority of my working life, spanning from residential care to student welfare I have worked alongside young people who have experienced a wide variety of challenges, situations and diagnosis’s. Now I am fortunate enough to use my initial degree and years of experience to help provide visuals for Onyx Therapy and assist in all the wonderful work they do.

Catie

Hi My name is Catie. I am a therapy assistant with Onyx Therapy.

I work face to face with clients in homes and schools across the area. I have lived experience of neurodiversity with both of my now adult children. I also have over 25 years experience working with neurodiverse children and young people in school settings. I have seen first hand how challenging this can be , both for the children/young people and the adults who support them. I hope that my input can help both sides to navigate the world a little easier and with a little more understanding of the challenges involved. I firmly believe in meeting a child/young person where they are and supporting them to understand how their brain works so that they can become effective advocates for themselves rather than just telling them what to do.

I enjoy crafting and riding my motorcycle in my spare time, something I did not do until adulthood having believed for many years that I wouldn’t be able to. Overcoming the challenges involved for myself to achieve this makes riding even more enjoyable.

Kai

Hi, I’m Kai, Onyx Therapy’s social media manager.

I manage and bring to life everything you see across our pages, with a focus on keeping content relatable, supportive, and truly reflective of our community. I’m also a proud mum to my “ausome” kids, so my connection to neurodiversity isn’t just professional it’s lived, everyday life.

I love blending creativity with authenticity, helping share content that resonates, informs, and supports in ways that genuinely matter.