Senior Occupational Therapist

Working with infants, children, and adolescents here at Parks Clinic since 1990.

services

About

Meet Mari-Carmen

Mari Carmen has degrees in both occupational therapy and psychology and 38 years of experience working in mental health, community centres, and schools. In the last 25 years, Mari Carmen has integrated these experiences in her private practice working with children, young people and their carers. She has extensive knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of disorders such as:

  • Developmental Co-ordination Disorder/Dyspraxia
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Visual-motor Integration difficulties
  • Joint hypermobility
  • Handwriting difficulties
  • Learning difficulties
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Sensory sensitivities

Mari-Carmen's Handwriting Approach

Specific handwriting training employing the Cognitive Orientation for Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is the only ‘green light’ evidence-based treatment for learning motor skills, such as handwriting. This method ensures an individualised focus on each student’s needs and goals which maximises their engagement with the work. It has been found to significantly improve writing legibility, speed, and task organisation.

"Come the end of Year 11, I often get calls from concerned parents of students who have been told by their school that their handwriting is illegible.

These students have just written their first set of three hour exams, and have been called back to read aloud their exams to their teachers, or lost marks due to illegible handwriting, or lost marks through slow handwriting leading to incomplete responses.

The loss of marks is not due to lack of preparation or knowledge: just simply poor handwriting and lack of practice in writing for extended periods of time."

When should we be concerned?

  • Restricted movement: small letters, cramped words
  • Easily fatigued during writing tasks
  • Floppy or tight muscles
  • Consistent frustration or anxiety related to writing
  • Difficulty completing assessments/exams legibly
  • Difficulty completing assessments/exams in the allocated time
contact

Did you know?

Research shows the clear link between handwriting and:

  • the development of brain structures connected with visual and language skills
  • the development of foundation skills in reading, writing, memory, and critical thinking

Areas of Focus

Helping Children Thrive in Key Developmental Areas

Initial Consultation

An initial consultation explores a child or young person’s strengths and challenges across motor skills, attention, emotional regulation, social skills, handwriting and exam performance. Sessions last one to two hours, with reports available on request.

Handwriting Mastery

Develop your own fluid, fully automatic personal style. Positive changes are often seen after three review sessions, although I usually recommend 10 sessions to make sure that the changes are “locked in” and likely to be robust under exam pressure.

Parent & Carer Coaching

Mari Carmen will explore areas of difficulties in conjunction with the parents (and carers) and develop strategies to enhance parenting skills and address challenges in areas of concern. These will be reviewed periodically to ensure identified goals are being met.

Online Coaching

Online sessions following the initial consultation can be organised if convenient. These sessions will focus on agreed goals to further develop practical strategies, strengthen coping skills, and support ongoing progress in everyday environments.

Educational Presentations

Get in touch if any of Mari-Carmen's specialties are something you would like to hear about in a short and fact-filled presentation for your class, school, or group of parents. She is happy to tailor each talk to the specific needs, age group, and goals.

Funding Options

Able to work flexibly with any of the available funding models

I am registered to deliver services via BAMH, Enhanced Primary Care, and Private Health funds.

I am also able to see self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants, and am experienced in writing progress reports and letters of recommendation in line with the goals of the participant.

Provider No: 2599191W, AHPRA No: OCC0001721599

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