SERVICES

How occupational therapy can help your child and family

Occupational therapy is highly personalised for each person and their family. The work Vanessa does will depend upon what goals you set with her.

Occupational therapy may include working with the person, family either individually or together.

Vanessa endeavours to provide services in the natural setting where the skills, understandings and abilities are required. This may mean the person’s kindergarten, school or home. 

Vanessa uses a range of evidence based therapeutic interventions including cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, relaxation strategies, behavioural interventions and  skills management.

Below are some of the ways occupational therapy may assist your child and family:

Self

Vanessa applies her skills to help young people identify and change unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns to improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health. She works with people towards their life goals such as building their readiness to try new things, thinking more flexibly and overcoming adversity.

Vanessa may work with the person to develop a greater understanding of self: strengths, likes, interests, skills and challenges. This work is important in facilitating self confidence as well as identifying barriers to goal achievement.

Vanessa believes understanding emotions, triggers and developing strategies to return to a place of calm are essential life skills. She works to help the person understand and self-monitor emotions, the way they process sensory information and to develop personalised ways to use sensory input and other evidence based strategies to regulate the nervous system.

Self care

Vanessa works to understand and overcome barriers to self-care and independence in performing everyday tasks such as toileting, sleep, dressing and eating (AFRID) when they are impacted by emotional wellbeing.

Play

Vanessa works to expand a child’s play skills so they can continue to learn and develop through their play.

Vanessa also works to explore leisure and sporting opportunities and support the young person’s engagement in community activities. 

Please note, Vanessa only works to develop a person’s motor skills when the primary reason for referral is their mental health and emotional wellbeing and the development of motor skills is integral to their mental health goals.

Social skills

Vanessa works to develop social skills so young people can engage with others, develop and maintain meaningful relationships and social connections. This may include developing skills such as taking turns, communicating effectively, making and maintaining friendships, solving social problems, understanding hidden rules, managing conflict and being a member of a team.

Learning and school engagement

Vanessa works to support young people with maximising learning by developing organisation and listening skills, increasing focus and attention spans, managing time, making decisions, problem solving and prioritising tasks.

She works with students, their families and school to understand school avoidance and barriers to engagement at school. She then works to identify and implement strategies to support a students return to school and ongoing engagement.

Family harmony

Vanessa works to foster family harmony,  strengthen relationships and build the capabilities of each family member to understand and communicate more effectively with each other.

She facilitates secure attachment between the child and their carers which is an important basis for the person's emotional development and shapes their future relationships with others.

She supports families to implement routines and strategies so the therapeutic work transfers into and is maintained and embedded at home.

Vanessa provides ongoing support and guidance to ensure the person continues to make meaningful progress at home, school and in other community settings.