Occupational Therapy

At Nurture Allied Health SA, our Occupational Therapists are dedicated to empowering neurodivergent children and young adults to engage meaningfully in everyday activities. Through a neurodiversity-affirming approach, we focus on building practical skills, fostering independence, and enhancing overall well-being. Each client’s therapy plan is tailored to their unique strengths, challenges, and goals, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive.

Paediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children with various physical, emotional, and developmental needs to participate in the activities of daily life. This can include activities such as self-care (such as dressing and feeding), play, and school work. Occupational therapists work with children to develop the skills they need to succeed in these areas.

Our Approach

At Nurture Allied Health SA, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where clients feel valued and understood. Our approach involves:

Strengths-based interventions: Leveraging individual strengths to achieve meaningful goal
Family collaboration: Engaging families and caregivers as partners in the therapeutic process
Holistic care: Working closely with Speech Pathologists and other professionals to ensure well-rounded support
Play-based therapy: Making therapy fun and engaging to encourage active participation
Neurodiversity Affirming: Celebrating diverse ways of thinking, feeling, and doing, prioritizing individual strengths, preferences, and goals to create supportive strategies that enhance participation and well-being without enforcing neurotypical standards.
Trauma Informed: Fostering a safe and supportive environment, acknowledging the impact of trauma on sensory, emotional, and functional abilities while empowering individuals with choice, collaboration, and strategies that promote healing and resilience.

Areas of scope

Fine and Gross Motor Skills

We help clients develop the coordination and strength needed for tasks such as:

Writing, drawing, and cutting
Managing buttons, zippers, and shoelaces
Running, jumping, climbing, and ball skills

Sensory Processing and Integration

For individuals with sensory processing differences, we provide strategies to:

Manage sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviors
Improve self-regulation and emotional regulation
Create sensory diets tailored to individual needs

Emotional Regulation and Coping Skills

We support clients in understanding and managing their emotions by:

Developing self-soothing techniques
Building resilience and problem-solving abilities
Enhancing self-awareness and emotional expression

Daily Living Skills (Self-Care)

We assist with mastering essential life skills, including:

Dressing and grooming
Toileting and hygiene routines
Meal preparation and eating habits

Play and Leisure

Play is critical for development, and we support clients to:

Engage in imaginative and structured play
Build turn-taking and cooperative play skills
Explore hobbies and recreational activities

School and Learning Skills

We collaborate with families and educators to support academic participation by addressing:

Handwriting and organization skills
Attention and focus in the classroom
Adaptations for learning environments

Social Skills Development

Our Occupational Therapists help clients build meaningful relationships by:

Practicing social interactions in structured settings
Improving non-verbal communication and perspective-taking
Navigating group dynamics and shared activities