About Me

I am an occupational therapist based in Midlothian, just south of Edinburgh.

I have previously always worked in the public sector. I qualified as a primary teacher in 1993, worked in Newham in London until I moved to Scotland in 2000, where I was the senior teacher of a cluster support base for 3 years, until the local education authority (LEA) closed most of its support bases.

I was redeployed as an autism outreach teacher, which I did for 9 years, until the LEA closed almost all of its outreach services. I was redeployed back into mainstream teaching, which was not for me, leading to me retraining as an occupational therapist in 2015.

Burnout in my NHS adult mental health services role and the frustration of being unable to put my values into practice in that role led to me taking the drastic decision in 2024 to leave the NHS and to set up my own independent occupational therapy practice.

So why choose me?

I bring a unique blend of lived experience, clinical expertise, professional experience and personal passion to my work.

I ‘get it’ – I have been there (still am!)

I have lived experience of ADHD. I received my diagnosis in 2023 at the grand old age of 55, so have decades of undiagnosed struggles: at school, at work, in my personal life: with everything that goes along with having unmedicated ADHD.

I am a qualified, registered and regulated occupational therapist

I am a qualified, registered and regulated occupational therapist with a set of clinical and professional standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists I adhere to in order to be able to practise – you are safe in my hands!

I have 7 years’ NHS experience

I have 7 years’ NHS experience of delivering occupational therapy in a variety of mental health settings. I have supported people with problems with anxiety, panic, stress, sleep, work and study and with ADHD-related difficulties. I have worked with people with severe and enduring mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar (affective) disorder and severe depression). Basically, I know what I’m talking about!

I have over 20 years teaching experience, 12 as a neurodivergence specialist

This has given me the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to support parents and carers of neurodivergent children.

I am a certified and registered ADHD Rehabilitation Services Provider

I successfully completed an Evergreen Certifications 32-hour course, enabling me to deliver ‘Strength-based Interventions to Thrive with ADHD from Childhood to Adulthood’.

Well-honed interpersonal skills

Well-honed interpersonal skills, strengthened by decades of life and professional experience including empathy, warmth, excellent communication and a collaborative approach.

Passion for what I do

I bring energy and enthusiasm – you can be confident in feeling supported, heard and understood as I genuinely do care.

Book a free 20‑minute consultation to see whether working together feels right for you. It gives you the opportunity to meet me, ask questions and explore what support might be helpful.