The Different OT

20/07/2025

A wonderful, inclusive morning with likeminded people 🥰

16/07/2025

A great initiative. Hopefully some whanau reading this will be able to make use of it. It even appeals to me!

Sensory friendly screenings at EVENT Cinemas are running in term 3 July-September.

The locations are EVENT Cinemas Albany, Manukau, St Lukes, Westcity, Chartwell, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queensgate, Tauranga Crossing.

The films include Elio (20th July), Lilo and Stitch (3rd August), How to Train your Dragon (24th August), and Smurfs (14th September). All tickets are $12.

Sensory Screenings allow people to enjoy their favourite films in a safe and accepting environment where kids are free to get up, move around, shout or sing. The cinema lights are dimmed and the movie volume lowered for sensitive ears.

You can book tickets and find all the information here: https://www.eventcinemas.co.nz/Promotions/SensoryScreenings =504,518,508,516,512,507,510,520,517,502,511,509,513,519,506,505,503

13/07/2025

🌟 and ONE bubble wand…. 🌟 see you tomorrow for the BIG reveal

12/07/2025

🌟 TWO time timers 🌟

11/07/2025

🌟 THREE chewy necklaces 🌟

10/07/2025

🌟 FOUR pencil grips 🌟

09/07/2025

🌟FIVE squiggly tubes 🌟

08/07/2025

🌟 The countdown is on! 🌟

On Monday the caravan will be fully revealed.

It’s also the day that The Different OT will be available FULL TIME in Tauranga and surrounding areas.

In true neurodivergent planning style, let’s get crossing those days off!….

Starting with 6 squishy fidget tools

04/07/2025

I was sitting in the caravan yesterday with an awesome 11 year old getting lost in the simpleness of slime. We played with this for about 10minutes, exploring its texture, temperature, sound and overall goodness. I know slime isn’t for everyone but I encourage you to explore some messy play this weekend. Yes, even adults! We are constantly “cleaning up the messes” but why not intentionally make some and see how your mind and body react. Play brings so much joy to us all…. We just have to lean in and remember our inner child.

01/04/2025

A summary of the event last month 😊 well done Bay Paediatrics

09/03/2025

🌟 Super Sunday 🌟

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at the first Epic Families event in Tauranga hosted by Bay Paediatrics. Eight speakers came together to share their knowledge with local whanau about ADHD and create connections with people who are walking a similar path. It was an awesome event with lots of interesting reflection for me as a parent and clinician.

I also launched my huge dream of having a sensory caravan! It was very well received by children and adults alike.

I cannot wait to share more with my current clients and the wider community! It’s going to be such a fun way to do my mahi and give hands on experience with a whole heap of sensory tools.

Here are a couple of pictures.

I’ll share its name with you all very soon … watch this space!

21/02/2025

🌟 Feel Good Friday 🌟

This has been an amazing two days!

I’ve had the privilege of connecting with new families, seeing amazing current clients and working on my beloved sensory project that is in its final two weeks before the big reveal!

Here are some photos of one visit:

Context: It’s common for me to let clients borrow a sensory hut between visits. The purpose of these is to offer a space that has sensory reduction. It’s pitch black, cosy and portable. In the last week, this awesome dude had filled it with so many of his favourite things. Look how comfy he’d made it!

And then… once everything was evacuated… he asked mum and I to cover him in all the toys… can you spot his hands?

And then…. The finishing touch… a super soft blanket to cover everything.

To some, this may seem awful… but he LOVED it! Isn’t it awesome that we are all unique in our sensory preferences 😊

Who thinks it kind of looks lile Mauao?