Candia is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in working with children and young people. She has focused her work with clients from extremely challenging backgrounds, who have experienced trauma or neglect, often coupled with additional needs, neurological differences, sensory processing difficulties or learning disabilities. Her prior experience is in the charitable sector; offering therapy in mainstream schools, alternative education units and dedicated centres for vulnerable children and young people.

Candia supports children and young people to achieve their daily and life goals through achievable steps and thought through goals. She works with clients to understand their self-care, leisure and education/work/play strengths and needs, aiming to increase their self-esteem, self-efficacy and simply their enjoyment of the world. She does this work with a deep understanding of the effects of trauma and attachment issues on the everyday life of children and young people.

She also focuses on her clients sensory processing needs. Often the children and young people who has experience trauma are stuck in the freeze, or ‘fight or flight’ mode with adrenalin coursing through them, Candia has experience of addressing their sensory needs to offer regulation and increased stability. She is currently studying Sensory Attachment Intervention, an integrative approach focusing on modulating the body senses that have been aroused through trauma and neglect.

Candia’s other area of experience is working with children and young adults on the Autistic Spectrum. She has recently trained in LEGO®-based therapy, a specialist training for health professionals to support those on the Autistic Spectrum.

Member of:

  • Registered and regulated by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) and College of Occupational Therapists (COT)
  • Member of College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Independent Practise (COTSS-IP)
  • SAI level 1 – Certified therapist
    É Bhreathnach M.Sc – Sensory Attachment Intervention Consultancy, July 2021
  • BA (Hons) Communication Studies with Sociology
    Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge 1997-2000
  • PGdip Occupational Therapy
    University of Brighton 2007-2009
  • MSc Health through Occupation
    University of Brighton 2008-2009