Profile

Some extra details about me: My favourite thing is being with my family.  I live with my husband and we have got twins (a boy and a girl) who are in year four.  My husband’s family are from Trinidad – he lived there when he was little – but we have never been, so I hope that we can go to visit them one day.  There are LOTS of cousins to meet!

In my spare time I like running and playing music. I started running a few years ago doing couch to 5k.  I don’t go very fast but I love being outside in the fresh air and listening to podcasts (I like true crime podcasts – as long as its not too scary!)  I usually run around Durham city (where I live) or at the coast because I love the beach and the sea – and also there aren’t as many hills!  I have run lots of half marathons but not a marathon……yet.

I like listening to music and had always wanted to learn a musical instrument at school, but unfortunately it wasn’t something that my school did, so instead, when I was a grown-up I decided to learn the cello. I think that it is never too late to try something new!  I chose the cello because I like how it sounds, but it’s quite big to carry around, so maybe I should have picked something smaller!  I passed grade 6 and I’d like to do grade 7, but I don’t practice nearly enough.  The best bit about playing music is being in groups or orchestras which are lots of fun, and no-one really hears if you make a mistake.

I LOVE reading and always have lots of books around me.  I like fiction novels, fact-books and even (sometimes boring) academic essays written by other scientists!

Other things I like to do are crafts (I am working on a cross-stitch but it is taking ages), and being in the garden.  We have just moved house and got our own garden for the first time so I want to grow some plants and some vegetables.  Because we have a garden I’m also hoping that we can get a dog soon.  My husband isn’t so sure, but I’m sure if I keep showing him pictures of cute puppies we’ll win him over eventually!

I am an occupational therapist. I work at Sunderland University teaching students and in a sensory clinic with children.

Occupational scientists and occupational therapists use the word ‘occupations‘ to describe all the things that people ‘do’ in their lives.

Occupational therapists and occupational scientists believe that human beings are ‘occupational beings‘.  We think that doing the things that we like  makes us happy and feel well.

Occupational scientists use information from all sorts of different professions (eg from engineering; art & design, education; maths; biology; medicine; anthropology; materials science; even robotics and many more) to understand more about human occupations.

We all do hundreds and hundreds of different occupations every day, eg: getting out of bed in the morning; eating breakfast; cleaning our teeth; getting the bus to school; eating lunch; playing sports; spending time with friends etc etc.  How many occupations can you think of that you have done already today? Sometimes our occupations are our hobbies or sometimes they are the things that we need to do to get on with everyday life.

Sometimes though, people can’t do the occupations that they want or need to do.

They might be unwell physically, or have a mental illness.  They might have disability, or be getting older and more frail.  They might live in an area where there aren’t many jobs or opportunities, or they might not have much money.   Occupational therapists help people find solutions to help them do the things (the occupations) that they want to do and which make them feel well and happy.

Being an occupational therapist is a very creative job.  Every person is different, so the job is different every day too!

My main job is at the University and involves teaching people who want to learn how to become occupational therapists.  I teach lessons (called lectures) about lots of different science topics like anatomy, physiology, biology or psychology.  We also do lots of practical activities like art, crafts, cooking, gardening or sports.  This helps the students to learn about lots of different occupations, how people take part in activities and how they might eventually help people when they become occupational therapists.

On Mondays I work in a sensory clinic for children.  The clinic is like a big fun soft play centre with lots of swings, mats, balls and a trampoline.   Children come to the clinic if they are finding things tricky at home or school.  We do lots of playing together and this helps them to feel better in their bodies and minds, so that activities get easier and are more fun.