Schoolhouse Social was founded in 2023 by Nina Parrella and James Clinch.
Our groups are run jointly by Nina and James, drawing on a network of carefully selected allied health professionals as needed.
James Clinch
Grad. Dip. (Psychology), Grad. Dip. Adv. (Psychology), Grad. Cert. (Counselling & Psychotherapy)
James has honours in psychology and is currently undertaking his clinical psychology training and certification. He has a keen interest in supporting children and adolescents with unique social and behavioural profiles. He aims to help them express themselves authentically while working towards their goals.
In addition to his psychology training, James holds a graduate certificate in counselling and psychotherapy, equipping him with a wide range of contemporary therapeutic approaches.
James has a natural ability to connect with people, especially children and teens. He radiates an inclusive and supportive energy that encourages these learners to open up and explore themselves.
In addition to his work in allied health, James spent over a decade working for the Victorian Government, most recently as an executive within the COVID-19 pandemic response. Prior to his training in psychology, he completed a BA(Hons) and MSc in Political Science.
James's unique combination of career experience and training, and his intuitive ability to support children, brings a distinctive energy to our groups.
Nina Parrella
BSp, MSc (Cognitive Neuroscience), Ph.D Candidate
Nina is a certified practising speech pathologist and neuroscience researcher.
Nina has worked clinically with children and adults for over a decade. Her career has taken her from Adelaide to London, Bologna, and Amsterdam before bringing her to Melbourne in 2020. During this time, Nina has supported a wide range of communication and feeding challenges.
Alongside her work with Schoolhouse Social, Nina is pursuing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. Her research explores the potential for cannabidiol (CBD) to support autistic children with social difficulties.
Nina has a warm, confident style that immediately puts children at ease. Her extensive paediatric experience means she’s able to confidently manage whatever excitement emerges during sessions ;) Children of all ages gravitate to her gentle energy, natural authority, and infectious sense of fun.
Nina's combination of clinical experience and research expertise make her perfectly suited to lead the social groups and curriculum development at Schoolhouse Social.
Ruby Dennis
Social group mentor
Ruby has been an integral part of our team since the start of 2024. She brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to her role, helping kids to be themselves. Diagnosed with ASD at the age of 13, Ruby understands the challenges that kids face and is passionate about providing support and friendly advice. Currently, in her final years of high school, she finds school to be the most stressful part of her life and offers many coping strategies and insights to help others navigate similar challenges. Ruby has participated in many social skills groups and values the supportive and inclusive environment that James and Nina foster in their programs.
Sessions