Butterfly OT began with two little girls

I began my NHS career in 2005, and the NHS will always be part of my heart. But after years of meeting families who needed a different type of support — more time, more flexibility, more collaboration — I felt the gentle push to spread my wings.

Butterfly OT wasn’t just created — it grew from the love, courage, and resilience of two little girls who changed the entire direction of my life.

The first was E

My very first independent patient. A child who had been told, far too many times, what she wouldn’t be able to do. But in our tiny sessions filled with play, trust, and laughter, she showed me exactly who she was. She taught me what happens when a child and her family is finally seen, heard, and believed in.

Every smile, every new connection, every moment she chose to share her world with me reminded me that progress isn’t measured on charts — it’s measured in joy.

E is still in touch today, still making people laugh, still proving everyone wrong. She grew into herself… and she helped me grow, too. I will always have a butterfly handprint from her and her sister, framed in my office. 

The second little girl was my own daughter.

Becoming a mum to a child with special educational needs changed everything I thought I knew about occupational therapy. Suddenly I wasn’t just a clinician — I was a parent learning a new language of sensory needs, advocacy, fear, pride, and unconditional love. From a premature start at 27 weeks and just 650 grams I felt the overwhelm. The waiting lists. The uncertainty. The “am I doing enough?” the "was it my fault?"
And I felt the fierce determination to help her flourish in a world not designed with children like her in mind.

Between these two girls — one who chose me professionally and one who chose me as her mum — I found my purpose.

They showed me the extraordinary power of patience, connection, attunement, and hope. They showed me that every child deserves someone fighting in their corner, and they showed me that families need more than appointments — they need understanding.

So in 2021, Butterfly OT hatched.
It is their legacy, their wings, their story.

And I carry both of them with me into every assessment, every session, every family I meet.

As the reach of Butterfly OT has grown,  I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible associates, each one bringing their own passion, creativity, and expertise to our shared mission. Why not Click to meet the team…