Joanna Caton

The "Kindred OT" telehealth programme is especially designed for parents and caregivers of Neurodivergent Children to help them reach their goals.

(Private/NDIS Self Managed/NDIS Plan Managed children and teens). This programme is connected with bidgeekidsot.com.au

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Why Choose Kindred Online OT For Parents? ​

 

• Professional ​Experience: access a highly experienced OT with almost thirty years clinical experience.

• Lived Experience: we get it. Our OT has lived parenting experience within a neurodivergent family.

• Family Centred: realistic strategies that consider your family dynamics and parenting situation.

• Access Australia-wide: telehealth sessions defy the barrier or geography.​

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This Programme Suits Parents Who Are:

 

• Ready to explore parent based therapy approaches with their child,

• Able to support their child with a home programme,

• Wanting to learn more about their child's neurotype and how this impacts on daily occupations.

• Needing confidence to "parent" differently from others to support their child's needs.

• Waiting for in- person Occupational Therapy but would like to get learning about how to help their child, and/or

• Burnt out/taking a planned break from face to face clinic appointments and are looking for alternatives.

 

The Kindred OT approach supports parents to navigate their child's:

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• Toileting,

• Sleep,

• Self Care,

• Participation in play and other daily routines,

• Fine Motor skills,

• Regulation needs ("regulation" refers to the way a person is able to respond to and cope with stress in a way that suits the situation). 

• Sensory needs (sensory patterns, preferences and challenges related to everyday participation),

• Body Awareness (i.e. How the child notices their own internal body signals and links these to labels of emotions/feelings/energy states). 

• Executive functioning needs related to everyday participation  (e.g. planning, problem solving, attention, sequencing, impulse control).

 

 

How It works

 

1. Contact Bidgee Kids Occupational Therapy and request an appointment. You can fill in the online form or email hello@bidgeekidsot.com.au

2. Complete the online Caregiver Questionnaire and Service Agreement that will be emailed to you by our support team.

3. Once the forms are completed you will then be offered appointment times that you can book.

4. Meet with Jo online for your first parent consultation! This is a time to discuss your thoughts on how your child is participating in daily life and activities. We can get clear on your priorities and we can set some goals. Jo may also book some additional assessment with you such as a Sensory Profile.

5. Get started with parent focussed Occupational Therapy sessions! Sessions on zoom are interesting and practical. They may include discussions about strategies, review of videos of your child during tasks, practise of parent focussed skills and activities, linking you with tools and resources, and co-creating visual supports. They are as frequent and numerous as you need.

6. Complete your fun and practical home practice activities/tasks in-between sessions.

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FAQs

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1. What are your fees and session lengths?:
Occasions of service are 75 minutes ($245)  (includes telehealth session plus between-session communication and home practice tasks)

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2. Will you do online sessions with my child ? 

No- the Kindred programme is specifically developed to help build confidence for parents to support their child's goals. ​

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3. Do I need to live in Wagga, New South Wales?

No. This is an online service and is available to people around Australia. Check that you are mindful of time zone differences when booking. 

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4. Is parent focussed Occupational Therapy evidence-based and effective?

Yes- there is solid evidence that empowering parents to support their child's needs assists children to progress towards their goals. Joanna uses a range of therapy coaching approaches such as Motivational Interviewing and Occupational Performance Coaching which have research to support their use. 

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5. My child is already seeing an OT face to face. Can I also book appointments for the Kindred OT service for me?

Yes- contact us for more information and to check this is appropriate in your situation. Often parent coaching plus face to face therapy can be very effective- provided the Occupational Therapy philosophies of each therapist align.

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6. Can I just do a "one off" session or do I need to book in multiple sessions?

Our minimum initial booking is two appointments to ensure we can assess your needs, develop your goals and offer some initial strategies. However, you are able to have appointments with Joanna weekly, fortnightly or casually there-after depending on your needs. 

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7. How old does my child need to be?
Kindred OT is suitable for children aged 3-16 years of age, provided their goals suit a parent focussed approach.

8. Can I use my child's NDIS funding?
Yes if you are self or plan managed and your child has relevant goals.