Mx Nik Knighton (they/she)

I am an Occupational Therapist, yoga teacher, and certified iRest Yoga Nidra Teacher who has spent the last 25 years finding different ways to help people inhabit their bodies with a little more ease. At The Bendigo Rainbow Hub, I bring that work to the neurodivergent and LGBTIQA+ communities across Central Victoria and beyond.

My early OT career began in mental health, where I was drawn into the emerging field of sensory modulation as a way to support self-regulation and recovery. Those skills deepened through years of working with adults to support them with physical rehabilitation and self-management of pain and chronic conditions. My OT approach is also informed by my ongoing personal practice of yoga and training as a yoga teacher and facilitator of iRest Yoga Nidra.

I am a non-binary person with lived experience of gender diversity and a longstanding commitment to TGD inclusion including volunteering with Bendigo Pride and Trans & Gender Diverse Bendigo & Beyond. At the Rainbow Hub, that history and lived experience converge. I bring an occupational therapy lens to supporting trans and gender diverse people to safely explore the practical tools of gender affirmation, such as binding and tucking with attention to fit, fabric, duration, skin and tissue care, what to notice, when to rest, and how to adapt practices in the context of heat, exercise, rest, and the long arc of a day. 

As a lymphoedema practitioner with specialist compression garment and soft tissue expertise, I bring specific clinical knowledge to pre- and post-operative support for gender-affirming surgeries, including scar management, rehabilitation of breathing and movement, and recovery of function. My training in the Wheel of Consent informs how I make agreements with clients around the fitting process, product selection, and follow-up care. My fitting stock includes a range of binders, packing shorts, and trans-tape across styles, sizes, compression levels, and adaptive options to accommodate diverse sensory needs, skin conditions, and physical disabilities.

Sensory modulation expertise and somatic practice meet the needs of neurodivergent and trauma-affected clients who often arrive at gender-affirming services with bodies that have been on high alert for a long time. I draw on principles of trauma-informed care - safety, choice, and control; kindness, compassion, and respect - and I am committed to affirming the gender, neurotype, and bodily authority of every person I work with. 

What I love about being an Occupational Therapist is discovering what lights people up: their inner spark, the unique and special parts of who they are. That is particularly relevant to gender-affirming work, where so much of the journey is about coming home to a body and a self that have been waiting to be recognised.

Gender-affirming product fitting Individual support with trial and fitting for binders, packing shorts, trans-tape, and other gender-affirming products, with attention to safety, comfort, sensory needs, and adaptive options for people with disabilities or chronic conditions.

Pre- and post-operative support Occupational therapy support before and after gender-affirming surgeries, including scar management, breathing and movement rehabilitation, pain management, and restoration of functional capacity.

Embodied wellbeing One-to-one Deep Rest Integration and iRest Yoga Nidra sessions supporting a felt sense of calm, ease, and authentic self and group programs for trans and gender diverse people exploring an embodied sense of self, drawing on co-counselling practices, the Wheel of Consent, and iRest Yoga Nidra. These trauma-informed somatic practices are particularly suited to TGD people navigating dysphoria, disconnection, or the complex body-based experiences that can accompany transition.

My OT career began in acute and community mental health, contributing to sensory modulation initiatives and seclusion reduction projects, before moving into outpatient rehabilitation where I spent fourteen years working across pain and lymphoedema clinics at Bendigo Health. During that time, I built an understanding of Acceptance Commitment Therapy in practice through co-facilitating an ACT-based group pain program. I find the ACT skills and strategies helpful in supporting people with trauma and moving through significant changes in their life.

I have worked in private practice since 2020, starting with offering online group programs in sensory modulation and mindfulness with my cat Poppy joining sessions when she chooses. I have trained in 1:1 Deep Rest Integration with James Reeves, author of The Book of Rest, and have completed Wheel of Consent training, which I draw on in both individual and group practice. I am a Local Pain Educator with Pain Revolution, serve on the Advisory Board of Lipoedema Australia, and volunteer with Bendigo Pride and Trans & Gender Diverse Bendigo & Beyond.

• Graduate Certificate in Pain Science and Education — UniSA (2025)
• Master of Occupational Therapy Practice — La Trobe University (2007–2008)
• iRest Yoga Nidra Teacher Certification — iRest Institute
• Certificate in Yoga Teaching (350 hours) — YogaHara
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Trauma-Focused ACT
• Sensory Modulation — Tina Champagne; Cate Sinclair & Fiona Thomas

• AHPRA Registered Occupational Therapist
• Member, OT Australia - Mental Health Endorsed OT
• Member, AusPATH
• Member, Yoga Australia (Level 1 Yoga Teacher)