What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy focuses on how people experience everyday life — including routines, roles, environments, energy, and sensory patterns.
Rather than looking only at one part of a difficulty, occupational therapy considers the wider picture: how different aspects of life interact and where small adjustments can make things feel more manageable.
It is a practical, evidence-informed approach that aims to support people to participate in daily life in ways that feel sustainable and meaningful.
Some people initially wonder whether they are looking for counselling, coaching, or another form of support. Occupational therapy offers something slightly different.
As a regulated healthcare profession, occupational therapy combines reflective conversation with structured clinical reasoning and practical strategies that support participation in everyday life.
This means our work together focuses not only on understanding experiences, but also on identifying sustainable changes that can make daily life feel more manageable.
About Kirsty
I am an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist and member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT). I continue to work within the NHS alongside my private practice and have a strong interest in sensory understanding and learning from lived experience.
I have worked in the NHS for over twenty years in different settings in addition to teaching on undergraduate occupational therapy degree programmes and undertaking research to support evidence based practice and improve quality of care.
Qualifications
PG Diploma in Occupational Therapy; Masters Specialist Healthcare Practitioner; PG Certificate in Sensory Integration; PG Certificate in Medical and Healthcare Education; BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Health Care.
How I work
I work relationally and from a strengths-based perspective. I believe people make sense within the context of their lives. Experiences are shaped not only by personal patterns, but also by environments, expectations, responsibilities, culture, and the barriers that can exist within the world around us.
In our work together, we may explore:
- What supports you
- What feels draining or overwhelming
- Where your strengths already lie
- How different aspects of your life interact
Our work begins with listening.
We take time to explore your experiences at a pace that feels manageable. While sensory understanding is often part of our work, we also explore the wider context of everyday life — including routines, identity, expectations, or the impact of environments that don’t quite fit.
Rather than asking “What is wrong?”, we begin with “What has been happening?” and “What might help?”
Together, we build understanding — looking at both your strengths and the wider context around you.
This is a space to think things through, without judgement.
As things begin to make more sense, we can start to identify practical ways forward. Many people notice they feel calmer, clearer, and more confident in responding to everyday challenges.
What might need to shift — within or around you
I aim to offer a space that feels calm, respectful, and collaborative. A place where you can reflect openly and feel confident that your experiences will be taken seriously.
Alongside my private practice, I continue to work within the NHS. My approach is reflective, evidence-informed, and grounded in specialist training in sensory integration and sensory intelligence.
Above all, I hope people leave our time together feeling:
- Understood
- Less alone
- Clearer about themselves
- More able to navigate future challenges with steadiness
In our work together, we take time to understand what has been happening for you and what might help things feel steadier. Sometimes this involves exploring sensory experiences, but often it also includes the wider context of life — expectations, responsibilities, environments, and the barriers people can encounter in the world around them.
Ready to begin your journey?
Every journey begins with a conversation. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your child, or your team, get in touch to discuss your needs or arrange an initial consultation.