Abi – Lead Occupational Therapist
Abi graduated in 1999 with a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy from Brunel University, London. Post-graduate NHS work experience includes working with adults in a variety of mental health settings and orthopaedics. She started working with children in the NHS in 2001 and after a second maternity break in 2009 established Occupational Therapy Essex. Abi has Level 1 Sensory Integration training and is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist with a passion for supporting parents and babies with additional needs.
Areas of particular interest include working with children with coordination disorders, hypermobility, handwriting difficulties and anxiety.
Natasha – Occupational Therapist
Natasha graduated in 2013 with a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy from the University of East Anglia. After graduation she worked part-time with Occupational Therapy Essex alongside jobs in the NHS children’s services in Kent and then at a local special school for children with communication difficulties. She now works solely with Occupational Therapy Essex. Natasha’s interests include coordination disorders, handwriting difficulties and Autism. She is a Sensory Integration Advanced Practitioner and recently updated her training to carry out the EASI. Natasha is an SOS Feeding Therapist and studied the Sensory Attachment Intervention Foundation Modules.
Machel – Occupational Therapist
Machel graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She qualified as an Ayres Sensory Integration Therapist in South Africa in 2002. Machel has worked in The NHS and in a variety of independent occupational therapy roles in the UK and in South Africa. She has a special interest in Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy and how sensory processing difficulties impact on occupation in every day life. Machel recently updated her training to carry out the EASI
Holly- Senior Occupational Therapy Assistant
Holly joined the team in 2022 as an occupational therapy assistant. Her experience working in nursery settings gives her a firm foundation in child development and a good understanding of typical development throughout childhood. In a previous role Holly was a nursery SENCo and has excellent knowledge about autism and other diagnoses.
Holly has a degree in Childhood Studies (Special Educational Needs) and is an SOS trained feeding therapist. Since joining the team she takes every opportunity to develop her knowledge of sensory processing and has taken many CPD opportunities in this area.
Natalie- Occupational Therapy Assistant
Natalie joined the team in February 2024 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has a degree in Primary Education Studies. Natalie works in schools and in our clinic providing intervention to children with a variety of needs.
Natalie takes the lead organising training for schools and parents.
Elena- Occupational Therapy Assistant
Elena joined the team in February 2024 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has a degree in Psychology and experience working in schools supporting children with additional needs.
Elena takes the lead organising and running our Get Ready for School group programmes.
Sophie- Office Manager
Sophie joined the team in 2022 and works in the office to organise and assist the therapy team. Sophie joined the team with a varied background and as a parent of a child with special needs plays a valuable role in supporting families who use our services.
All therapists in the team are DBS Checked, insured and members of the British Association of Occupational Therapists/Royal College of Occupational Therapists. Occupational Therapists are Health and Care Professions Council registered.