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At the Beach

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy
Family Picnic

Beside the Sea is a child-focused and family-centred occupational therapy service that supports you and your child. Karena walks beside you, your child, and your family to encourage you towards what you and your child need and want to do. Alongside traditional occupational therapy, Karena utilises the The Five Pathways to Nature Connection framework for individual and family nature connection to increase wellbeing. Beside the Sea Occupational Therapy is for children, young people, adults, and families. Occupational Therapy supports individual growth, increased awareness of personal strengths and supports development of skills, within the context of your family values and situation. Karena supports you with aware parenting skills to guide you in your role of caring for your child's health and development. Karena will listen to your concerns and guide you to create a family biome that enhances your ability for living a shared, meaningful, peaceful and thriving life together.
 

 

Do you or your child: 

  • struggle in social situations?

  • come away from social situations feeling overwhelmed?

  • experience difficulty in communicating their needs?

  • experience difficulty in understanding others' needs?

  • struggle to express their own feelings, sensations, or emotions?

  • struggle with paying attention, memory, focus and planning?

  • have difficulty following instructions and caring for themselves?

  • struggle with balance, co-ordination and using their body for daily activities?

  • often play alone or struggle with turn-taking or losing when playing with others? 

  • seem frustrated, irritable, bored and have difficulty finding things to do?

  • have difficulty seeing other options, ways, perspectives?

  • seem like problem solving is elusive for them and experiences meltdowns?

Collecting Pine Cones
Tire Swing

Do you: 

  • ​have difficulty following routines or carrying out task?

  • have difficulty understanding your child or their needs?

  • feel overwhelmed to meet your own and your child's needs? 

  • have difficulty with giving your child meaningful instructions?

  • have difficulty breaking down a task your child can action?

  • dostruggle to maintain family meals, games or everyday routines?

 

When occupational therapy engages children within their natural setting of home, community and nature, they can begin to understand themselves within their wider world and can be supported to grow, play, learn and to take care of themselves and others.have 

Tree Hugger
Aboriginal Culture Show
Twins with Down Syndrome in Wheelbarrow
Eating Watermelon
The Five Pathways  to Nature Connection 
(University of Derby, 2017).  

Senses

The senses pathway involves actively engaging with nature through all the senses, and noticing what is seen, heard, smelt, felt, or tasted, helps us to become more aware.

Meaning

Sharing nature experiences,  myths, folklore and exploring our personal and cultural stories and natural events creates connections.

Emotion

Nature offers moments to experience feelings of awe, wonder, joy, calm, fear and delight. By engaging with these moments,  we become more aware of our positive emotions. 

Compassion

Caring for nature and actions that are good for nature, help to look after, protect and support the wellbeing of the natural world.

Beauty

Noticing and appreciating the beauty of nature, seeking opportunities to experience and celebrate beauty in nature, gives us meaningful awareness. 


Nature Connection

Growing closer to nature Nature enhances our wellbeing. Nature is a place to be. Nature connection helps us to live our best lives.  

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