Our services | Our Mindful Youth | Mental Health Occupational Therapy

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Mental Health Occupational Therapy is about more than managing symptoms; it’s about supporting people to live the kind of life that feels meaningful to them. We recognise that mental health challenges can affect daily routines, relationships, confidence, and the ability to take part in activities that bring joy or purpose. Our role is to walk alongside you as you build the skills, strategies, and self-understanding needed to move towards the life you want.

This might mean learning practical tools to manage stress or anxiety, finding ways to feel calmer and more regulated throughout the day, or rebuilding confidence to try new things. It could involve strengthening executive functioning skills; like organisation, planning, or problem-solving; so daily tasks feel more manageable. For some, therapy provides a safe space to process difficult experiences or emotions and to discover creative or mindfulness-based ways to express themselves.

Together, we identify your goals; whether that’s feeling more connected to friends and family, managing school or work demands, building independence, or simply feeling more comfortable in your own skin. Therapy is always tailored to your unique needs, interests, and strengths.

At its core, Mental Health Occupational Therapy is about creating opportunities for you to understand yourself, value your strengths, and develop practical strategies that help you participate fully in the activities and relationships that matter most to you. It’s about moving from “just coping” towards living a life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and truly yours.

Our approach is informed by a range of evidence-based models and therapeutic techniques, which allow us to tailor support to each person’s needs:

Model of Human Occupation (MOHO): Emphasises motivation, habits, and roles. This helps us understand what drives a young person, what routines support them, and how they see themselves in relation to their world.

Trauma-Informed Approaches: Ensures therapy is delivered with sensitivity to past experiences of trauma. We prioritise safety, choice, trust, and empowerment in every session.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Uses mindfulness and values-based strategies to help young people accept difficult thoughts or feelings, while committing to actions that align with what matters most to them.

Strengths-Based Therapy: Focuses on identifying and building on a person’s existing strengths and abilities, rather than only addressing problems or deficits.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Skills: Provides practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness; supporting young people to manage intense emotions and relationships more effectively.

Psychoeducation: Involves teaching young people and their families about mental health, emotions, and coping strategies so they can better understand themselves and their needs.

Skills Training: Supports the development of practical life skills such as planning, organisation, problem-solving, and social communication.

Sensory Modulation: Helps young people explore how sensory input (sound, movement, touch, etc.) can influence their emotions and behaviour, and teaches strategies to regulate their nervous system.