Support your young child’s big feelings with confidence and clarity
Mobile, short term Occupational Therapy on the Northern Beaches for toddlers and preschoolers - OT that fits real family life
Are you overwhelmed by your toddler or preschooler’s behaviour?
Mealtimes are a daily struggle?
Getting out the door in the morning is a nightmare?
Their emotional regulation and resilience are not what you’d hope?
They’re having difficulty connecting and playing with others?
You’re not sure if they are on track for school readiness?
I provide weekend in-home Occupational Therapy sessions around the Balgowlah area and evening parent consults on zoom after your child’s gone to bed.
This is not about fixing your child. It’s about helping you connect with them so life can run more smoothly and they can build life skills.
You are in the driver’s seat. You won’t be locked into appointments you don’t need or understand.
1. The Brain
Understand Your Child’s Brain
When you know what’s happening with their wiring, behaviour makes sense. You’ll feel calmer and more confident as a parent.
2. Connection
Strong Relationships Matter
When children feel safe and connected, they thrive. Together we’ll take a relational approach to build trust, joy and co-regulation at home.
3. Home Routines
Bring Calm Into Everyday Life
I teach parents how sensory input, the home environment and play shape behaviour. You’ll have practical strategies that fit naturally into your family’s day.
Meet Anna. With over 30 years as a paediatric Occupational Therapist, I provide parent coaching for families of toddlers and preschoolers, helping them navigate behavioural challenges, meltdowns and emotion regulation.
My approach combines neuroscience, attachment-based strategies and practical tools that work in real life.
How it works
1. Book a call → We talk about your child and your goals
2. Get a tailored plan → I share strategies that fit your family
3. See change at home → Feel calmer, more confident and connected with your child
I look forward to hearing from you to provide a realistic plan that suits your values and priorities. I’ll meet you where you’re at with no judgement. We’ll make small changes that are not overwhelming.
It doesn’t need to be this hard. I can guide you on how you can support your child so you can build their skills in their precious early years and prepare them for school life ahead.
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My focus on the crucial early years for toddlers and preschoolers before they start school.
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I support families of toddlers and preschoolers who are anxious, sensitive, shy, or have really high energy - and who need help with things like:
Toilet training
Picky eating
Meltdowns and emotional regulation
Attention and executive functioning
Strong sensory preferences
Motor skills and developmental milestones
Playing - on their own and with other people
School readiness - fine motor/pencil grip, independence
Understanding if there may be signs of ADHD, autism or anxiety and what to do next
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Yes. Occupational Therapists understand how a child’s brain and body process emotions. With the right support, your child learns to manage big feelings and family life becomes calmer.
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I mainly focus on supporting you as the parent. Sometimes I do sessions with the child and you to observe their skills and your interactions. Other times I guide you without them present so they don’t have to hear themselves being spoken about. I can be flexible about parent sessions being after work and online for your convenience. We talk together as a team about play and routines at home as well as strategies for building skills for everyday living. We speak openly about what is working and what is not to ensure you are making progress. This approach has you in the driver’s seat. It is practical and fits into your life.
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Both. I see families in person in the Balgowlah area and can work online with these families too.
I can also work with parents online across Australia.
Online sessions provide one on one guidance at a time that suits you and allow you to apply OT strategies in your own home environment.
In person sessions can be in your home, at the park or on a walk. I come to you.
I really enjoy and welcome working with both parents or other family members where relevant so everyone is on the same page.
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You know your child best and the research is clear that looking at ways to build skills across your child’s whole week is where most gains are made - instead of in a therapy session once a week or fortnight. My goal is to build your confidence with your child that lasts long after we stop working together.
I am never alone with your child.
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No. You can go ahead and contact directly.
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No. Many people see an Occupational Therapist for short term areas of need or to have an opinion eg on their child’s school readiness. You may be looking at ways you can support your child to make yours and their life easier - in order to do the things they want and need to do.
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The therapy support is individualised according to your priorities and goals to assist your child to participate in daily activities they want or need to do. Therapy may include ways to build a more positive relationship with your child, creating calmer home routines (sleep, mealtimes, transition times of day), or nurturing their social skills through specific play techniques. We may delve into how you can set up your home environment and daily schedule or routines to make your family life easier.
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For in person sessions, I talk with you about what you are noticing about your child and reflect with you on your concerns and priorities. I take a holistic approach to consider the rest of the family.
Based on the background and information we discuss I will interact with your child doing everyday activities and observe their play skills. We will discuss and agree on goals and ideas (no “homework”) to incorporate into everyday activities you are already doing between sessions. We then review what you noticed at the next session, what worked, what didn’t and agree on what to try next time.
I use the set up you already have at home but can recommend particular resources or toys that may be relevant if needed.
For online parent sessions, we can do all of this using zoom with the advantage of it being easier to speak about your concerns more freely without your child hearing the discussion about their challenges.
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My hourly fee is $230.
I structure my sessions in up to six session blocks then a review to give time to gather momentum but also keep therapy focused.
As well as one hour sessions I can provide longer sessions over a shorter period of time if that would better meet your needs.
I am listed with private health insurance providers and Medicare GP Plan for a rebate on up to five sessions. You can ask your GP if your situations suits a Medicare plan for a 5 session rebate.
Some private health providers include rebates for a certain number of Occupational Therapy sessions in their policies. Contact your insurer for details.
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Occupational Therapy, or “OT”, is an allied health profession.
See more information at Raising Children Network: