Kirsty Johnson
Occupational Therapist
BIOGRAPHY
Kirsty was born in Perth, however her second home has always been at her dance theatre in Midvale. From training and performing since a young age, Kirsty has always loved the bright lights and challenge that comes with being part of a competitive dance/sport team. Kirsty has always loved working with children and the chance to become a class assistant and eventually move into a coaching role only ignited her passion for working with children more.
Kirsty’s journey with Occupational Therapy began during a high-school “careers” class when ‘occupational therapist’ appeared as a job role that could combine her love for people, talking and making a difference in someone’s life. Whilst studying her OT degree, Kirsty undertook a Therapy Assistant role at Calm and Connected after volunteering at Camp Confidence. It was during her first camp experience that Kirsty fell in love with all thing’s kids, camps and Calm and Connected. Kirsty completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) Degree in 2020 at Curtin University and transitioned into an OT role at Calm and Connected following this.
APPROACH
Compassion, enthusiasm, and delight are Kirsty’s core practice principles whilst she works holistically with the client to promote their self-regulation. Kirsty knows that when the child feels safe and supported, their capacity to reach their long-term goals are greatly increased. Kirsty loves to see children blossom and grow in their own way and style.
Kirsty is always driven to work with an emotionally intelligent approach to support her to build strong, trusting and meaningful relationships with all her clients and families. Kirsty wants to enable every child she interacts with to build their own emotional intelligence skills to improve their self-esteem and regulation and knows that working in conjunction with the child and those in their environments is key to fostering this.
Kirsty knows the benefit of movement and how this can allow clients to foster greater connection between their mind and body. Within sessions Kirsty wants to empower clients to feel comfortable to move their bodies (and mind!) in a way that feels safe and unique to them. When this is achieved, Kirsty knows that the client will have a greater ability to process their emotions, self-regulate and increase their resilience to navigate through life’s ups and downs!
Her passion for occupational therapy, self-regulation, emotional intelligence and movement in therapy means she is also never shy of teaching and educating those around her.
CERTIFIED IN
- Currently completing, Graduate Diploma of Somatics and Dance Movement Therapy
- Vestibular-Visual Matters, Kim Barthel 2022
- SpIRiT Clinical Reasoning Tool Training, 2022
- Emotional Intelligence for Occupational Therapists Workshop, Nigel Gribble, 2021
- Level 1 & 2 Online Rhythmic Movement Training International, 2021
- Level 1 & 2 Practicum Rhythmic Movement Training International, 2021
- Team Teach, 2021
- Quickshifts: Revolutionizing the Use of Sound in Sensory Integrative Treatment, Vital Links, 2021
- Trauma informed approach to sensory processing disorder and arousal regulation, Vital Links, 2021
- Kirsty is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and the Emotional Intelligence Society of Australia
- Bachelor Science (Occupational Therapy) Honours, 2020
Thesis Title: The importance and use of emotional intelligence in occupational therapists.