Eunice Dugdale

Looking at the whole child

I've always loved that occupational therapy gives us the chance to look at the whole child. Not just what they find difficult, but who they are, what they love, what matters to them and what helps them feel successful.

I love seeing the little moments that might seem ordinary to someone else but mean so much to a child or their family. A child joining in with something they once found difficult, becoming more confident, finding a way to communicate what they need, or simply enjoying something they love.

For me, it's about helping children build the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to have a life that feels meaningful to them. And just as importantly, it's about supporting the people around them so they don't feel like they have to figure it all out alone.

What are they trying to tell us?

I've always believed that children are communicating something through the way they play, behave, connect and respond to the world around them. So rather than asking "what's wrong with this child?", I find myself asking "what are they trying to tell us?" and "what might be making this harder for them right now?"

I think about the child, but I also think about everything around them: their relationships, their environment, their routines, how their day has been, and what might be making things easier or harder for them.

Becoming a mum to my own son has made me see this in an even more personal way. I now understand even more deeply that there is no perfect way to parent, and that we're all learning our children as they grow. Sometimes we just need someone alongside us to help make sense of what we're seeing.

I want families to feel that I'm beside them, never judging them, and that we're figuring things out together.

I truly believe children are our future. When we support the people who nurture, love and guide them, we're not only supporting that child today. We're helping shape the people and communities of tomorrow.

You'll probably find me on the floor

You'll probably find me on the floor, following your child's lead. I love watching what catches their attention, joining in with their play and seeing the world from their perspective. When we give children the space to show us who they are, rather than immediately asking them to do what we want, we learn so much more about them.

I also really love having parents involved. I don't want therapy to feel like something that only happens when I'm there. I'll often demonstrate things, talk through what I'm noticing and share simple ideas that can be naturally woven into your everyday routines.

Parents know their children better than anyone, so I see us as a team. My role is to bring my OT knowledge, but your knowledge of your child is just as important. When we bring those two things together, we can find what works for your family.

I love a good system

I'm definitely someone who loves a good system. I like knowing where things are, having my resources organised and planning my day so I can make the most of my time. A bit of structure makes life a little easier, especially now that I'm balancing work with being a mum to a young child.

But I also know that life, and especially life with children, rarely goes exactly to plan. So while I love having a plan, I'm equally happy to change it when something else feels more important in the moment.

Sometimes the best moments are the ones you didn't plan for.

Everyday activities that mean something

I bring more than six years of clinical experience to a collaborative, strengths-based way of working that is child-focused and family-centred. A few areas I have a particular interest in:

Children who experience the world differently

Lately I've been thinking more about how we can better understand children who experience, process and express themselves differently. I'm curious about what the world feels like from their perspective: what they might be noticing, communicating or experiencing that we might not immediately see.

I want to keep learning how I can be a better listener and advocate for children, while respecting that there isn't one "right" way to communicate, play, learn or experience the world. I hope to create spaces where children feel safe to be themselves, feel understood for who they are, and are supported to thrive in ways that are meaningful to them.

My family keeps me grounded