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Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist working in Durban in the field of Paediatrics

About Us

We are an Occupational Therapy practice primarily based in Durban North with a couple of small satellite branches. We are paediatric Occupational Therapists who work only with children.

Our passion lies in the fields of early intervention, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorders and Developmental delays. We have experience and training in Sensory Integration, DIR Floortime and the SOS Approach to Feeding.

We are passionate about helping children reach their full potential! We also enjoy coaching parents and providing training for other therapists and teachers. We provide Occupational Therapy services to a few schools and we love working as part of a team.

Services

ASSESSMENTS

TEACHER CONSULTATIONS

TRAINING OF CAREGIVERS

TREATMENTS

PARENT WORKSHOPS

HOME PROGRAMMES

PARENT CONSULTATIONS

TEACHER WORKSHOPS

SENSORY DIETS

Team

Tamaryn Hunter

Tamaryn Hunter

Tamaryn Hunter is an Occupational Therapist. She graduated with an honours degree in Occupational Therapy from WITS university in 2005. She has been working with children for 14 years now…

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Kiara Hansraj

I am Kiara Hansraj, an Occupational Therapist who graduated with an honours degree in Occupational Therapy from UKZN in 2019. I completed my community service between the Phoenix Assessment &…

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Cayleigh Rice

Cayleigh is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with an honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University in 2020. She went on to complete her community service year at Mseleni…

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Janet

Janet Jonker

Janet Jonker is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with an honours degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pretoria in 2018. She has been working in the field of…

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Charlize Benade

Charlize Benade

Charlize is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with an honours degree at UKZN in 2020. She completed her community service in Appelsbosch Hospital. Here she discovered her love of paediatrics…

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Tasneem Hoosen profile

Tasneem Hoosen

I am Tasneem Hoosen, an Occupational Therapist who graduated from UKZN in 2022 with an honours degree in Occupational Therapy. My community service was completed at GJ Crookes Hospital where…

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Preyasha Bajinbali

Preyasha Bajinbali, also known as Priya, is our new Practice Manager. She has a vibrant personality, is always willing to go the extra mile and is here to ensure that…

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Diane Hunter

Diane Hunter is the accounts officer for Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy. She will be helping with the invoices and accounts, taking calls, answering emails and arranging appointments for the practice…

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Testimonials

We just came back from meeting Dr M L P, a developmental Dr in the UK. She said your report was the best she has ever seen and she was very impressed with your level of understanding of autism and how you were seeking out diagnosis even through the OT. She said we were so lucky to have met with you. So thank-you. The school has also commented on the wonderful depth of the report.

As nervous, 1st time parents – Tammy’s sincerity and warmth put us at ease, from the very 1st appointment.
Our little boy has grown, learnt, progressed and developed exponentially under the care of Tammy, Jess and Cayleigh.

They genuinely place the needs, wants and wellbeing of your child as their highest priority – often going above and beyond the call of duty to assist in many other facets of your child’s life.

I am so grateful to be working with such a professional, sincere and gentle team through this journey!

– Shay’s Parents

Tamaryn
I just need to say, from Nic, Lila, Jackson and myself..
Thank you soooooooo so so much for what you are doing for our family and Jackson!!! You are truly an angel and an amazing woman and therapist! We couldn’t have asked for anyone better to handle Jackson and me! We are so grateful and thankful for you! You are incredible! What you have done for our baby so far, is remarkable and I am so proud of him and happy to have you in our lives and on this journey with us. You are going to be truly blessed in ways you couldn’t have ever imagined!!! From the bottom of our hearts, we have no words! But want you to know we do appreciate you and all that you do for Jackson!

FAQ's

What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate as fully as is possible in the activities of everyday life. OT’s incorporate meaningful and purposeful activity or ‘occupation’ to enable those with limitations or impairments to achieve their full potential.

Occupational Therapists address the question: – “Why does this person have difficulties managing his or her daily activities (or occupations), and what can we adapt to make it possible for him or her to manage better and how will this then impact on his or her health and well-being?

Paediatric Occupational Therapists help children develop skills in the areas of self-care, school, and play. These are seen as a child’s main areas of occupation. By supporting children and enabling them to achieve their maximum potential, Paediatric Occupational Therapists indirectly work on developing confidence, self-esteem, social skills and general well-being.

As Occupational Therapists with a special interest in Paediatrics, we work closely with children and their families in their homes, schools and other environments. We work with education staff and health care providers to identify areas of need in order to help with specific difficulties.

This work comprises:

  • A detailed assessment of the child’s needs.
  • Provision of a comprehensive verbal and written report.
  • Treatment plans and programmes based on the needs identified during assessment.
  • Individual therapy treatment sessions as required.

Why was my child referred for Occupational Therapy?

A concerned Dr, teacher or health professional might have spotted ‘red flags’ signaling that your child may not be developing or functioning age appropriately or your child might be displaying behaviors which are not typical for their age or developmental stage.

Something I tell all my parents which I feel VERY strongly about is that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with your child. Your child is beautiful and unique with his own set of individual differences and preferences.

Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy celebrates each and every child’s unique differences, personality, and quirks. We work on their strengths and work closely with our parents to help our children climb the developmental ladder.

It’s been a term and we don’t see progress?

Occupational Therapy is a journey which takes commitment, consistency and patience. Sometimes it can take almost a year until we see measurable progress or it can take one month. Here at Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy, we focus on building their foundations up and building them strong and steadfast.

We use a developmental bottom-up approach where the child’s basic sensory systems are our main area of focus and from there we work up into the executive functioning areas which are necessary for school. Have a look at “The learning tree” from Stanley Greenspan, MD.

We do not encourage or teach splinter skills which see our children learning a specific set of skills in an isolated area resulting in the inability to generalize these skills in different environments. Getting the child’s ‘roots’ to grow thick and deep is most important as these will bear healthy leafy branches.

My child is sick, does OT continue?

We love our little humans dearly so we would prefer it if they channelled their energy into getting better. We will re-schedule to make up that session in a time slot that is most convenient for you. A Dr’s note is not needed.

Why does OT need to continue during the school holidays?

On the initial assessment, and as we have been seeing your children for therapy, we have tailor made a specific programme unique to your child’s strengths and areas needing work. This programme is broken down into individual sessions each with activities and mini goals we would have liked to achieve in that session, for that week, in that term.

Therefore, with the above in mind, it’s important that we sick to the programme of weekly OT as consistently as possible.

*Positive therapy outcomes rely on frequency and consistency*

However, we are huge advocates for family time! So, a week off from therapy due to valuable family time is the best kind of excuse not to have therapy. Kindly let us know a week in advance if you will be going away so we can re-schedule to make up those sessions in a time slot that is most convenient for you.

Why doesn’t Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy give homework or home programmes?

We do! However, our home programmes look a little different.

Here it is.

  1. Play with your child for at least 30 minutes a day. Get onto the floor with them and let them lead the play. Follow their lead; take yourselves into their world.
  2. During this time you are not there to advise, criticize or correct. You are their play partner. So if Harvey says you are a pirate with one leg called Duke, then you wholeheartedly become Pirate Duke!
  3. Use your affect to keep the enthusiasm and intrigue going. Playing, connecting and building a relationship with your child is more important to us than a visual perceptual table top worksheet which could ultimately result in tears. Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy regularly sends Occupational Therapy resources to our parents which we encourage them to use. If we feel that your child needs extra work at home we will discuss that with you.

Contact Us

ADDRESS DETAILS

Core Medical Centre
20 Gainsborough Drive, Durban North

LOCATION