Linda Plowden
Lead Occupational Therapist and ADI manager
Dip COT MRCOT (BT0031960) HCPC (OT15831)
Linda qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1987 and worked in the NHS for 19 years in a variety of Community, Hospital and school based Paediatric positions, ending up managing the UBHT service. Linda subsequently created Therapy Space Bristol in 2004. Over time, Therapy Space Bristol has expanded to meet an ever evolving demand for an increased range of paediatric services.
Linda has 35+ year’s experience and specialises in:
- Paediatric / child development
- Sensory Integration (Post Grad)
- Sensory Processing
- Motor Coordination
- Emotional Regulation
- Neurodevelopmental conditions
- Sensory Attachment Intervention Levels 1 and 2
- Children’s Just Right State Programme & Parents Just Right State Programme
Kim O'Byrne
Inclusion Practitioner and ADI Supervisor
BA (Hons.), Associate MRCOT (BT 0255988), Member of NASEN, NAS, IPSEA, National Governance Association
Kim is a highly experienced Inclusion practitioner, having supported children and young people at various educational Inclusion settings for over 18 years. This has included 13 years in a Special Education School (Primary and Secondary) setting and 5 years in the Inclusion/SEND Department of a multi-campus Further Education (FE) College. Additionally, Kim gained valuable experience of supporting children with SEND as a paediatric OTA under the supervision of the Lead OT. Since 2021 Kim has worked for our Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) team.
She has experience of collaborating with education and healthcare professionals (including SENCOs, Inclusion Leads, Social Workers, and Mental Health practitioners) and with Senior Leadership Teams in her role as the LA-appointed SEN and Attendance governor at a Primary School. She has a well-informed understanding of Annual Reviews, the EHCP process and protocol with regards to Individual Behaviour Plans (IBP), Individual Support Plans (ISP) and Personalised Learning Plans (PLP).
Ruth Louise Jones
ADI Practitioner
MSc Autism & Related Conditions, PGCE PcET. Member of NAS
Ruth Louise is our ADI Practitioner and for many years she studied and worked within the autism field, her own inspiration being her 18-year-old son who was diagnosed autistic with significant learning disabilities at the age of three. Ruth Louise was also a Parent Governor at her son’s Special School, ‘Ysgol Ty Coch’, Tonteg, South Wales.
Ruth Louise has delivered various NAS Professional Training Courses: Understanding Autism, The SPELL Framework, Autism in Higher Education, Autism in the workplace, Sensory Considerations; Delivered training to sport & fitness professionals throughout the UK, focusing on supporting autistic people within different sport/fitness environments. Consulted on various autism support documents, invited to speak at conferences and attended the annual Autism Professional Conferences.
Between April 2014 and January 2017 –
Susanne Pictor
Occupational Therapist
Dip COT, HCPC (OT16355), BAOT (BT0235522)
Susanne has been an associate at Therapy Space Bristol since 2018 with 35+ years experience in Occupational Therapy and specialises in neurodiversity:
- Sensory Processing / Integration
- Sensory Attachment Intervention
- Paediatric / child development
- Trauma informed therapeutic practice
- Motor Coordination
- Emotional Regulation
- Neurodevelopmental conditions
- The Listening Programme© provider
Lauren Barrett
Specialist Therapeutic Practitioner
BA (Hons.) Education and Professional Practice, Dip HE
Lauren is our Specialist Therapeutic Practitioner who works closely with children and caregivers, utilising the Thrive Approach and a range of strategies and resources to build on sensory regulation and social, emotional, and well-being development, removing barriers and increasing engagement with everyday life and learning.
Lauren has 18 years’ experience working in education from early years to post 16, as a qualified Teacher with a degree in Education and professional practice. Lauren’s roles have been in Teaching, as a Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator, certified Thrive practitioner, SEN/Educational outreach, and a previously designated Specialist Leader of Education for Inclusion in Bristol.
Over the years Lauren has worked in a variety of settings including specialist and mainstream schools, nurseries, specialist provisions, resource bases, and as a support worker for young adults with SEND. Lauren has been employed at Therapy Space Bristol Since January 2024.
Lauren has a range of training and strategies that she utilises to support her knowledge and understanding, and the work Lauren carries out with children and young adults. Some of this includes:
Eleanor Dolan
Occupational Therapist
BSc. Biology. MSc. Neuroscience, Language & Communication. PG.Dip. OT, HCPC (OT89881)
Eleanor qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2023, gaining extensive experience and knowledge in mental health conditions and trauma-informed approaches. She has a strong scientific background in sensory processing from her BSc and MSc, with both dissertations focused on this area. Eleanor’s MSc thesis specifically examined sensory processing differences in children with autism. Eleanor has also contributed to delivering evidence-based Sensory Processing and Emotional Regulation workshops for parents at Hackney Ark.
Eleanor’s previous roles in the NHS, Special Educational settings, and freelance work have provided her with practical experience and a broad perspective in working with children and families with complex needs.
Eleanor is dedicated to empowering children by emphasising their strengths and has considerable experience in managing challenging behaviour. At The Garden School, she led individual and group therapy sessions that incorporated sensory elements, promoted independent life skills, and met Individual Educational Plan (IEP) targets. Eleanor specialises in:
Aisling McDonagh
Occupational Therapist
BSc. OT, HCPC (OT82081)
Aisling qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2020 and has worked in as a Lead OT in a Special Education Needs School, then an inpatient setting for adults and children with mental illness and learning disabilities before coming to Therapy Space Bristol in 2023. Therefore, has a proven track record of successful sensory integration, emotional literacy intervention and functional skills, from basic movement up to life skills, among 4–18-year old’s. Aisling also has ample experience in overcoming barriers to engagement and going above and beyond to obtain the desired outcome for the child.
Aisling specialises in:
- Sensory Processing / Integration
- Sensory Attachment Intervention