Occupational Therapy - Emma Welsby

Hello, I am an AuDHDer Occupational Therapist working with children, young people and adults. My approach is neuroaffirming, collaborative and practical. I aim to understand each person in the context of their own life, recognising both their strengths and the areas where environments, expectations or everyday demands may be creating barriers.

I can support you with:
• Sensory differences: exploring individual sensory experiences, preferences and needs, and identifying practical adjustments that may support comfort, regulation and participation at home, in education, at work and in the community.

• Everyday activities and independence: exploring how a person manages day-to-day activities such as dressing, washing, eating, routines, household tasks, organisation and self-care, and identifying supports that may make these activities easier or more accessible.

• Sleep and rest: exploring patterns around sleep, rest and regulation, and identifying practical strategies and environmental changes that may support wellbeing.

• Handwriting and written work: exploring the motor, sensory, perceptual and environmental factors that may influence handwriting and written work, with recommendations for supportive strategies, adaptations or alternative ways of completing written tasks.

• Visual and perceptual processing: exploring perceptual differences that may influence learning, movement, navigation or everyday activities.

• Coordination and possible Dyspraxia (DCD): exploring coordination, motor planning and functional differences, and advising whether further assessment for this may be helpful.

• Exploring Autistic and ADHD characteristics: supporting children, young people and adults who are wondering whether they may be Autistic and/or ADHD to better understand their experiences, identify patterns in their lives and consider whether formal assessment may be helpful.

• Formal Autism and ADHD identification: I also carry out Autism, ADHD and combined Autism/ADHD assessments as part of the multidisciplinary team at Divergent Minds.

• Support following identification: helping people understand what being Autistic and/or ADHD means for them personally, including their strengths, sensory needs, executive functioning, energy, communication preferences and support needs.

• Education support: identifying adjustments, approaches and environmental changes that may help a child or young person feel safer, more comfortable and better able to participate in school, college or other learning environments.

• Workplace support: exploring workplace barriers and identifying reasonable adjustments, practical strategies and changes that may support wellbeing and sustainable participation at work.

• UK disability benefits: I have experience completing functional assessments with adults applying for UK disability-related benefits, including PIP and DLA, and can provide Occupational Therapy input relating to everyday functioning, access needs and the support a person may require.

I work with children and young people from approximately 1 to 19 years old, as well as adults.

Appointments are primarily available online, although other arrangements may sometimes be possible depending on accessibility and location.

If you are unsure whether what you are looking for falls within my area of practice, you are very welcome to get in touch. I am happy to let you know whether I may be able to support you or whether another type of professional or service may be a better fit.