Hello

I’m Hanlie Wentzel — a qualified Social Worker and trauma-informed Art Therapies Counselor, autistic advocate, late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, and a parent of neurodivergent children.

My Story

Glimmers, Spins & Stims was created from both professional knowledge and lived experience. It is an autistic-led, neuro-affirming resource centre and Social Work private practice designed to guide neurodivergent people, families, parents, teens, adults, and those who walk alongside them.

This is a space for psycho-education, reflective tools, practical resources, career guidance, identity exploration, and gentle support — rooted in dignity, autonomy, respect, and the right to self-determination.

Here, neurodivergence is not treated as something to fix. It is understood as a different way of experiencing, processing, sensing, communicating, learning, working, connecting, and being in the world.

Why Glimmers, Spins & Stims?

Many neurodivergent children grow up to become neurodivergent adults who have spent years masking, coping, adapting, and trying to fit into systems that were never designed with them in mind.

Some arrive here after burnout.
Some arrive after a late diagnosis.
Some are parents trying to understand their child.
Some are adults trying to understand themselves.
Some are teens trying to find a future and career path that feels possible.
Some are families looking for practical, neuro-affirming and gender-affirming support.

Glimmers, Spins & Stims exists for all of them.

The name reflects the beauty, complexity, joy, intensity, and uniqueness of neurodivergent life:

Glimmers are the small moments of safety, connection, hope, regulation, and joy.
Spins honour deep interests, passion, curiosity, and the way neurodivergent minds often find meaning.
Stims celebrate regulation, expression, embodiment, and the right to exist without shame.

This is your time to bloom — not by becoming someone else, but by understanding who you are more deeply.

My background

I hold a BA in Psychology and an Honours Degree in Social Work, and I have worked for 10 years as a full-time Social Worker with children, families, parents, communities, and neurodivergent people across different areas of support. My work combines Social Work, psycho-education, wellness counselling, art-based approaches, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and practical family support.

My approach is informed by:

lived experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman
parenting neurodivergent children
professional training in Social Work and Psychology
trauma-informed, neuro-affirming and gender-affirming practice
years of supporting homeschool families and neurodivergent learners
collaboration with psychologists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, speech therapists and other professionals where appropriate

I believe support should never be about forcing people into narrow boxes. It should be about understanding the person, their environment, their sensory world, their nervous system, their strengths, their barriers, and the support they need to thrive.

What I offer

Glimmers, Spins & Stims focuses primarily on psycho-social counseling, psycho-education, online resources, self-help tools, reflective workbooks, training, and neuro-affirming guidance and support.

Psycho-Social Counseling

Psycho-social counselling is a supportive, practical counselling process that looks at the whole person — their emotions, relationships, family life, environment, stressors, strengths, and support systems.

From a Social Work perspective, counselling does not only focus on what is happening “inside” the person, but also on the world around them: home, school, work, community, trauma, disability, finances, relationships, and access to support.

The aim is to help the client feel heard, understand what they are going through, build coping skills, strengthen support systems, and take practical next steps toward wellbeing, safety, and stability.

It is especially helpful when someone is feeling overwhelmed, navigating life changes, family stress, neurodivergence, trauma, burnout, grief, parenting challenges, or social and emotional difficulties.

Support may include:

Neurodivergent identity exploration
For autistic, ADHD, AuDHD and otherwise neurodivergent teens and adults who want to better understand themselves.

Autistic identity and self-advocacy resources
Gentle tools to help people move away from shame, masking and internalized ableism toward self-understanding and self-acceptance.

Neurodivergent career guidance
Career support that looks beyond interests and aptitude alone, and also considers sensory needs, executive functioning, environment, values, support needs, energy, identity and long-term sustainability.

Parent and family psycho-education
Resources to help parents understand neurodivergence in a way that is compassionate, practical and affirming.

Neuro-affirming Education and learning support resources
Guidance for families navigating neurodivergent learning, curriculum choices, executive functioning, accommodations and alternative education pathways.

Neuro-affirming Workplace Wellness

Neurodivergent workplace wellness support helps autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, and other neurodivergent employees better understand their strengths, support needs, stress triggers, and working style. The focus is on creating practical strategies for emotional regulation, sensory needs, executive functioning, communication, boundaries, burnout prevention, and workplace accommodations.

Neurodivergent Wellness & Self-help tools
Resources that support regulation, emotional insight, nervous system care, burnout recovery, self-compassion and everyday functioning.

You are welcome here

Whether you are exploring your own neuro-type, supporting an autistic child, looking for a more neuro-affirming career path, navigating burnout, rethinking education, or searching for practical resources that finally make sense — you are welcome here.

Glimmers, Spins & Stims is a place to learn, reflect, unmask gently, build understanding, and find your way forward.

Not by forcing yourself to fit.
Not by hiding who you are.
Not by blooming on someone else’s timeline.

But by discovering what helps you grow.

Glimmers, Spins & Stims -
Your time to bloom.