Professional qualifications, accreditations and memberships

  • MSc Occupational Therapy with Distinction: University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
  • BA in Psychology and Human Kinetics & Ergonomics: Rhodes University, South Africa
  • BA(Hons) Psychology with Distinction: Rhodes University, South Africa
  • Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Occupational Therapist – UK
  • Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT)

Professional statement

Claire graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Kinetics & Ergonomics from Rhodes University, South Africa. She continued to study an Honours degree in Psychology at the same university and graduated with distinction in 2017. She started her career in a community substance abuse and family support centre in Dublin, Ireland.

In 2019, she returned to South Africa to work in a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurological learning disabilities.

In 2020, Claire moved to the United Kingdom to pursue her Masters at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk. She completed her final clinical placement in 2022 in the eating disorder unit at Nightingale Hospital. Following graduation, she continued to work as a locum mental health occupational therapist in the same team, until accepting a full-time position in the general psychiatric unit at Nightingale Hospital.

Claire has worked with a variety of diagnoses that impact an individual’s functionality and well-being. Her student experience allowed her to gain clinical hours in the community, rehabilitation and acute care settings.

Claire has had a long-standing interest in working with individuals who suffer from mood disorders which can impact an individual’s motivation and volition to engage in meaningful activity and achieve a desirable, fulfilling quality of life. She recognises the barriers that mental illness can have on an individual’s ability to participate purposefully and meaningfully in their daily occupations.

Personal statement

Claire takes a compassion-based approach to meet the holistic needs of the patient. She works with patience, understanding and integrity to support patients in understanding and identifying their needs and applying the relevant skills in their day-to-day endeavours. Claire provides therapeutic input with the use of occupation as both a means and an end and strives to continuously incorporate her creative and artistic side into the preparation and facilitation of unique and dynamic group therapy and individual intervention. Her background and experience in psychology help guide her comprehensive, client-centred approach to patient care.

She is committed to providing evidence-based assessment and care to address patients’ needs and to promote independence and optimal functionality in occupations that are important and meaningful to the individual. She aims to support individuals in returning to balanced lives that consist of a valuable engagement in a range of activities and occupations.

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