Alison has been working with Thrive OT Services as an associate since 2017, and joined the team as an employee in February 2020. She qualified as an Occupational Therapist with a BSc (HONS) OT from Coventry University in 2003. Alison has worked in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire in various adult physical and mental health services, then moved to working with children in 2017. She has worked with individuals and in specialist schools in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Alison is HCPC registered and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Alison has experience working with children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD, DCD/Dyspraxia, attachment difficulties, trauma histories and behaviours that challenge.
She explores how an individual’s sensory integration, motor skills, functional capabilities and emotional regulation impacts on their ability to access and engage in their learning and participate in their meaningful occupations. She provides advice, support, and consultation to school staff and parents, and direct intervention to children and young people to work on identified areas of difficulty.
She has delivered training within schools, to multi-disciplinary teams, and at carers groups about sensory approaches, sensory circuits and emotional regulation.
Alison completed an MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy with the University of Northampton in 2011. She completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration in 2016 and completed further study to gain Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner status in 2019 from the sensory integration network and Ulster University. She also has training in the Interoception Curriculum and DIR floortime (101).
Alison enjoys keeping up to date with research and best practice and developing her skills as a therapist. She has been developing and delivering sensory sessions in a hydrotherapy pool and has seen the positive impact of this approach. Having worked in mental health services for years, Alison is interested in the impact of sensory difficulties on mental health and believes that sensory strategies can impact positively on everyone’s mental wellbeing and occupational participation.
Alison is a mum to two children and spends time outside of work supporting and encouraging their varied interests, taking part in quizzes or venturing out to find the best coffee and cake in town!
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