Bravo Occupational Therapy

15/08/2025

𝐎𝐧-𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲/𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥/𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬. Reaching more families is a top priority for me.

There is only one of me (at the moment!) and I am thinking of new ways to be as effective as possible for more families.

I have started on-line sensory/emotional/well-being support and post-diagnostic support packages.

What I love about the packages is the following:

1. I get to really support the families. Many hope that a report will 'change things' for their children at school/with a LA but this is often not the case.
2. The package can include school advocacy directly from myself. I still write a short report based on sensory and interoception profiles and parent consultation but the package includes school advocacy and MyPlan support if chosen. I feel I am doing more for families this way, instead of a long report the time is invested in different ways
3. There is time and space for the families to feel heard, held and acknowledged.
4. Their children are spoken of in an affirming way

The comments I've had so far:

• 'We are focusing more on soothing. Our son has noticed and has remarked “we argue less now”.
• I understand their need for autonomy at a deeper level
• 'Nothing has made sense since our daughter was born (8years old). It ALL makes sense now (we were discussing her sensory profile and need for autonomy).
• 'You have made all the difference in our child's school day'.
• ‘It's helped me play and connect with my child more, which is vital as we cannot get out due to their anxiety'.

https://www.bravochildrenstherapy.com

15/08/2025

A new way of working to reach more families! Post diagnostic on-line support services.

I was so happy to hear a Dad, in our first online support session say about his 8 year old year daughter: 'It has not made sense for 8 years but now it ALL makes sense now'. We were talking about her unique sensory profile and her need for predictability.

Online in-person support packages are available now. Families can choose from the following options (among others):

1. Unlocking Your Child’s Sensory Profile – Understanding & Supporting Their Preferences
2. Creating a Calming Home – Sensory & Play-Based Strategies for Regulation
3. Speaking Their Language – Supporting Emotional Regulation Through Body-Based Strategies
4. Unmasking Autism – Recognizing & Reducing Autistic Masking for Wellbeing
5. Advocating for Your Child in School – Navigating Laws & Sensory Accommodations
6. Parent Wellbeing – Your Safe Space for Support & Reflection
7. Sleep Strategies for Restful Nights – Understanding Sensory Barriers to Sleep
8. Navigating Mealtimes – Supporting Eating & Sensory Preferences
9. Dressing Made Easier – Helping Your Child Feel Comfortable in Their Clothes
10. Smooth Transitions – Making Change Easier for Your Child
11. Celebrating Autism – Finding Joy & Pride in Neurodiverse Identity
12. MyPlan Mastery – Personalized Goals & Tailored Strategies for Success
13. PDA & Autonomy – Understanding the Drive for Independence
14. Rethinking Sensory Circuits & Fizzy – Why They May Not Fit Your Child’s Needs
15. Autistic Empathy – Understanding Deep Connection & Emotional Responses
16. Parent Sensory Profiles – Understanding Your Own Sensory Needs
17. Attention Through Connection – Play-Based Strategies to Strengthen Focus & Relationships

Contact at
https://www.bravochildrenstherapy.com

14/06/2025

Protest as a form of love
I am refusing to deliver Early Years training for a LA next week- why?

A wonderful mum I work with was subjected to distress in her TAC meeting last week. An LA EHCP caseworker described my report on her wonderful and complex child as ‘waffle’. You read it right the word 'waffle' was used.

On the one hand I am asked by this LA to consult and train and on the other my work is put into disrepute by the LA education team. But this is not about me….

As a result of the training I’ve undertaken, families have come to better understand the importance of sensory integration and Occupational Therapy in supporting their children’s needs (often through the EY practitioners passing on their knowledge), leading to an increase in EHCP applications. However, I now find myself in a position where, in advocating for the right support and in providing education on this very important area of child development, I am effectively funnelling parents into a system where they risk being treated in the same unacceptable manner as this particular EY mum.

What happened in her meeting was unacceptable. The EHCP team’s response — rather than simply stating a refusal to fund OT support — went further to disparage my professional judgement (and other private therapists) – this is consistent and on-going. That is not only unnecessary but completely inappropriate. I know of many families currently in this exact position. These are people I care deeply about, and I will not accept them being subjected to dismissive or disrespectful treatment or placed in situations that cause unnecessary stress - these are parents of children with very complex needs. This mum confirmed that what the LA case worker described as 'waffle' was actually a very accurate description of her son and his needs. I cannot imagine the pain she experienced.

In order to exclude private reports from the EHCP process the LA will state one of the following. 1. private reports cannot be used. 2. the reports are not 'specific' (when they really are!). 3.The private reports need to be 'checked' by NHS equivalents. 4. schools do not 'agree' with the report and therefore it is going to be excluded - which places teachers in a position that is outside their code of professional practice. 5. Reports get described as ‘large and overwhelming’ ‘waffle’ ‘wordy’ – apparently caseworkers need to ‘cut through the waffle and bring out the needs for that young person to meet their best interests’ (!!!)

And so to bring this issue to light – I have stated that my other work for this LA cannot go ahead. Will it do anything ? Probably not. But I have to try. Occupational therapy profession has a long history of activism.

Dear Parents there are people out there who see you and who are fighting with you. Occupational therapy has a social vision that is founded on a core philosophy of ‘enabling living’ (Polatajko 1992, p198), a vision of promoting occupational and social justice through enabling individuals to participate in society and to fulfil their occupational potential (Townsend 1993, Townsend and Whiteford 2005).

14/05/2025

Family Focus: why does OT help support non speaking/ pre-verbal children? Here’s how….

In the sessions we have focused on connection and joy, regulation, engagement and relating, and initiation and an amazing thing called PRAXIS. Praxis is the ability to coordinate movements to form body language and gestures. Understanding the praxis difficulties of pre-verbal children is SO IMPORTANT! Please do reach out for a parent consultation.

28/02/2025

Profound empathy and my autistic clients

I have the privilege of working with extremely sensitive children (and parents). They can often feel the emotions of others around them. They can also perceive and feel the bodily states of others (for example if someone in the room is cold).

It can be very hard to process these multiple realities. Children can shut down or take time to process what is their experience and what is the experience of others. They can then often be mislabelled as ‘lacking empathy’.

My work involves witnessing these incredible capacities, creating a safe space for this experience of life. Following the child’s lead and joy so they find in me a space that reflects their world. This is my work. This is why I advocate.

27/02/2025

We would not pull out someone’s hearing aid. We would not sn**ch out of someone’s hand their walking stick.
So why have I heard that a child experienced their ear defenders being pulled off their head in a school today?

19/02/2025

Good news!
For the last 4 years I have been working for the Early Years Service. I have just been recommissioned to deliver further practitioner training, reception class teacher training and parents sessions on:

-Sensory processing in the Early Years

-Practical sensory strategies and sensory inclusive EY settings and reception classes

-Play to ignite development - for children with more complex needs

So happy!

please get in touch to book on
bravo.childrens.therapy@gmail.com
sessions will be across Gloucestershire

18/02/2025

MASKING and human rights
I recently had a most shocking online meeting with a mainstream school. The senco and teacher stated that they had filmed a child in order to show me and ask me whether I thought the child was masking.

I took a moment to message the Mum to see if she had consented to this. She had not.

I managed to keep calm (my watch heart rate monitor recorded my heart rate rocketed to 120!) I was able to ask what they understood by masking. I continued the call to attempt maximum understanding of the child. At the end I was clear about how wrong they had been.

This should be basic knowledge in all schools. Do contact me if you are concerned about your schools understanding of children who mask. This is one of my specialist areas as a SEN educational consultant.

Let's DO BETTER 🧡

16/02/2025

Dyspraxia is a complex condition that really benefits from OT support! It is a complex sensori-motor condition where a child may really struggle with their fine and gross motor skills/co-ordination, and play

In my assessments I look at:

- The influence of the Visual System on Dyspraxia
- The influence of the Auditory System on Dyspraxia
- Bilateral Integration, Sequencing and Timing Dyspraxia
- How you can support children with dyspraxia in different affected areas of their lives, including with reading, spelling, handwriting, speech and language.
- Provide practical support for handwriting and fine motor skills
- Identify the impact of dyspraxia on social skills
- Support parents with strategies for use at home
- Understand the importance of working with a multidisciplinary team

Do contact me to discuss
bravo.childrens.therapy@gmail.com
https://www.bravochildrenstherapy.com/

16/02/2025

Spread the word

Early years assessment. I work for Gloucestershire’s Early Years service providing training to practitioners.
Assessments are available for children through their DAF funding. Children are eligible if they are in receipt of DLA.
Early years settings can reach out to me direct to book assessments as well as families 💜
I have been privileged to meet some wonderful children through this fund (often non speaking children who are awaiting assessment/identification as being Autistic). Do reach out if you have a complex child! Spread the word!

This can support early help towards EHCP applications

bravo.childrens.therapy@gmail.com
https://www.bravochildrenstherapy.com/

16/02/2025

Early years assessment. I work for Gloucestershire’s Early Years service providing training to practitioners.
Assessments are available for children through their DAF funding. Children are eligible if they are in receipt of DLA.
Early years settings can reach out to me direct to book assessments as well as families 💜
I have been privileged to meet some wonderful children through this fund (often non speaking children who are awaiting assessment/identification as being Autistic). Do reach out if you have a complex child! Spread the word!

This can support early help towards EHCP applications

bravo.childrens.therapy@gmail.com
https://www.bravochildrenstherapy.com/

14/02/2025

Sending love and good wishes to families this morning 🧡

I have started my day emailing a school to advocate for a child permanently excluded for 'behaviours related to their disability'

Dear families I know how hard your are fighting for your children and I want you to know I see you! Here for anyone who needs support today
bravo.childrens.therapy@gmail.com