A child who covers their ears, constantly seeks movement, withdraws from touch or struggles to recognise hunger and pain is communicating something important through their nervous system. Trauma Research suggests an association between childhood trauma, attachment and adverse childhood experiences, and differences in sensory responsiveness. Trauma may affect threat detection, startle responses, body-signal awareness and the child’s capacity to regulate alongside a trusted adu

Occupational therapy is deeply rewarding, but let’s be honest: it’s also complex, emotionally heavy, and occasionally leaves you wondering if you are doing it right. Whether you’re navigating risk, balancing competing demands, or trying not to lose your core OT identity in a task-focused service, carrying that weight alone is exhausting. Supervision isn't just a tick-box exercise for students or a safety net when you’re struggling; it’s the breathing room every therapist need

Traditionally, we are told that research comes first. Then comes theory. Only once those foundations are firmly in place should we begin developing practical tools. But what happens when your brain simply does not work in that order? As a neurodivergent professional, my information processing does not always follow a neat, linear path. I often need to see an idea, explore how it might work in practice and understand how its different parts connect before I can step back and f

Understanding Neurodivergence, Interoception, and Supportive Body-Based Approaches Neurodivergence describes natural variations in how people think, learn, communicate, process sensory information, and experience the world. The neurodiversity paradigm recognises these differences as part of normal human diversity rather than deficits requiring correction. From this perspective, wellbeing is enhanced not by encouraging conformity to neurotypical norms but by creating environme

Hurrah! Thank you all for your continued support and for trusting me with your health, hopes and stories. My company was formed in June 2021, so it has been 5 amazing years of working with you all! I have some exciting meetings, events, and collaborations coming up over the next few weeks, along with plenty of scheduled content that I'll be sharing here. On Leave I also wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a month of annual leave over the summer to rest and recharge. Y

Following my neurodivergent ageing seminar last year, I am back at the National Neurodiversity Show 2026 to present Axia's Dyspraxia Centre of Excellence (DCOE). I am incredibly passionate about this service, and honoured to be able to talk about what we hope to achieve. Dr Buchan's vision for the DCOE seeks to raise awareness of dyspraxia and ensure that all stakeholders understand the wider implications of this condition. This approach prioritises treating individuals with

Being an independent OT, I am lucky to choose who I work with. Many months ago, I was tasked with designing and developing the Dyspraxia Centre of Excellence for Axia ASD Ltd. I have a longstanding relationship with Axia because they understand neurodivergence, in all its beauty and complexity. I was honoured that they would commission my services for this centre and got to work. I was able to draw on a wide-ranging evidence base and years of clinical practice when developin

I consider myself fortunate to receive a consistent flow of inquiries. I recognise that I may not always be the ideal match for every client, and I’m more than willing to direct them to someone who is. What truly matters to me is that they receive the right service and are satisfied with the results; there's no 'hard sell.' EHCP and IDP OT Reports Recently, I've received several queries related to EHCPs, which stands for Education, Health and Care Plan, used in England. These

This week, and every other week, I champion neurodivergent individuals. I recognise their unique strengths and gifts while acknowledging their specific differences and difficulties. Highlighting Inspirational Neurodivergent Individuals This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I want to shine a light on some of the inspirational, successful, and talented neurodivergent people in the public eye. Their stories show us the beauty of neurodivergence and how we can talk about it posit

This article on neurodivergent ageing is based on my seminar at the Neurodiversity Show and Axia's Post-Diagnostic Support Group. In the OT Magazine article, I talk about the lifelong nature of neurodivergence. We know that you don't grow out of it. It is part of who you are and how you experience your world, and that both challenges and coping skills change over time. Yet, there isn't enough understanding of what this might mean practically, how it might alter the presenta

I am delighted to share that my story and activity book is now available on Amazon. I wrote this many years ago when my daughter was diagnosed with Autism, and over the years, it has taken many forms. Now I am proud to offer this as post-diagnostic support to help children understand themselves better. I believe every child deserves to feel seen and understood. When children understand their differences, they are better able to recognise their strengths. Lily’s Story and Acti

Neurodivergence, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dyspraxia / developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is increasingly talked about in clinical and educational settings and on social media, although these conditions are often misunderstood. Over the last 5 years, carrying out over a thousand neurodevelopmental assessments, I have been asked about NICE compliance and the assessment tools I might use. These questi

I have been editing my Autism Workbook For Women for some time now, and it is finally available on Amazon here: https://amzn.eu/d/1v5ZUPb The next book to transition from Etsy to Amazon will be 'A Bird's Tale', which is being edited to include a larger workbook element. I am so pleased to be sharing these with a wider audience and have taken feedback from previous versions to produce what I hope is a really useful resource. I hope you love using them as much as I have loved m

The festive season is often sold to us as a time of joy, connection and celebration, but for many children, young people, families and neurodivergent adults, it can also be one of the most overwhelming periods of the entire year. Routines shift. Sensory environments intensify. Social expectations grow, and on top of that, we’re all carrying our own stories: grief, change, transitions, burnout, financial strain and the pressure to “stay jolly.” As a specialist Occupational The

I am tempted to make some lame jokes about how learning to drive 'drove me mad' or was the 'road to Hell', but let's just say it was tricky! Many neurodivergent individuals excel at driving, such as professional racing driver Bobby Trundley, NASCAR driver Armani Williams, and international karting driver Elliott Shaw. However, many struggle with this task. This is not an intelligence issue; it is not a common-sense issue; it is a processing difference. Understanding this, usi

Halloween can be such a mix of excitement and anxiety, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent. The lights, the noise, the costumes, the crowds; it’s a lot. And if you’re a neurodivergent parent, like me, trying to make the day magical for your child while managing your own sensory limits can feel like walking a tightrope in an ill-fitting clown costume. Parents often feel overwhelmed before the day even arrives. Pumpkin carving sounds lovely in theory, but in pra

A Bit About Brain Breaks When we think of “brain breaks,” we often picture restless kids in a classroom who need to switch tasks and...

While many activity and resource packs lean toward the needs of children, the sensory and self-regulation needs of neurodivergent teens...

So many people would benefit from greater access to therapy, to personalised interventions carried out without time or budget...

I wanted to share my experience of exhibiting and speaking at The Neurodiversity Show, Liverpool. This was my first time at the show, and...