Lara is originally from South Africa and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand, where she specialized in perceptual disorders and pediatrics. She has worked across a variety of clinical and educational settings, including public healthcare, hospital-based pediatric and neurological care, remedial schools, mainstream education environments, and special needs schools. This broad experience has equipped her to support children from early childhood through adolescence, addressing a wide range of developmental and learning needs.

Her therapeutic approach draws on multiple frameworks including Ayres Sensory Integration, DIR Floortime, neurodevelopmental techniques, motor learning, and biomechanical principles. Lara has experience working with children with sensory processing difficulties, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, developmental delays, anxiety, and barriers to learning associated with genetic syndromes and neurological conditions. She has completed further training in administration and interpretation of standardized assessments such as the Evaluation of Ayres Sensory Integration, Test of Dyslexia, Test of Written Language, and Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting, enhancing her ability to provide accurate and targeted intervention planning.

Collaboration is central to Lara’s practice. She values the opportunity to work within a multi-disciplinary team and has partnered with educators, psychologists, remedial therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, optometrists, and medical specialists to ensure holistic care for each child. Her work has included both direct therapy and the implementation of school-based programmes such as Interactive Metronome, Executive Functioning Skills development, and interventions within Multi-sensory/Snoezelen therapeutic environments. She also enjoys sharing her knowledge with others and has facilitated workshops for teachers, parents, and caregivers to help strengthen children’s support networks at home and in the classroom.

Beyond her clinical work, Lara has volunteered at community initiatives including the Special Olympics Paediatric Screening in Johannesburg and has contributed to research projects focused on gross motor development in children undergoing cancer treatment. Her dedication to children’s growth and well-being shines through in her therapeutic style, which blends clinical expertise with empathy and creativity. Lara’s ultimate goal is to empower each child to participate fully in play, learning, and daily life, ensuring that they experience both success and joy in their developmental journey.

*Master’s research on outdoor play spaces and impact on early childhood development

Specialty Areas Include:

• Sensory Integration

• Autism

• ADHD

• Emotional Regulation

• Handwriting

• Executive Functioning

• Developmental Delay

Additional Training Includes:

• Ayres Sensory Integration: SASIC 1, SASIC 2, and SASIC 3

• Neurodevelopmental Techniques (NDT)

• DIR Floortime

• NeuroTactile Training

• Handwriting Function Assessment

• Sensory Regulation and Dyspraxia

• Praxis

• Reflex Integration

• Gross Motor Development

• Vision and Visual Perception

• Standardized Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Dysgraphia Assessment