We are offer a range of pet therapy services in North London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. By combining occupational therapy with pet therapy, we are able to meet your recovery and rehabilitation goals. There are a number of benefits of using pet therapy: ​ •Facilitates communication and social interactions •To brighten mood and lessen anxiety •To increase the ability to trust •To help learn appropriate forms of touch •To help to improve self-esteem and self worth •To lear

Understanding relaxation techniques are ideal when working with children, people with a learning disabilities, autism, ADHD and dementia. Relaxation can be used in the classroom after break to re-focus pupils, as part of day centre programme or as part of a sensory diet. Relaxation helps us to calm down. When we are calm, we are alert and able to engage in meaningful activities. Top Tips: Allow about 15 minutes to complete relaxation. Find somewhere for you or the person you

I have recently noticed a trend of people discussing the use of multi-sensory stimulation for people with dementia, but no-one has discussed the importance to why we must take a sensory approach. As explained in my previous blogs, professionals have recognised seven sensory systems; Smell (Olfactory), Taste (Gustatory), Touch (Tactile), Hearing (Auditory), Vision (Visual), Movement (Vestibular) and Body Awareness (Proprioception). When our sensory systems work well together

There are a number of children who are unable to sit; rocking and fidgeting in their chairs and touching and tapping inappropriate items. This can be quite irritating for teachers, teachers assistants and parents, especially when children fall off chairs, or leave their seats when they are expected to remain seated and are generally disruptive to the class. Why do children fiddle and fidget? Some children have trouble regulating their sensory input making them easily distract

This system is activated by muscles activity that tells us where our body is in space and how they are moving. It helps to understand body awareness. Without this system we find it hard to engage in basic task. This is because the proprioception system provides foundations for higher level skills achievement. Ask yourself, can you stand with one foot on a pillow; eyes closed and say the alphabet backwards? Or recite a quote while riding a rollercoaster? This is because our bo