Liz Hurlow
Occupational Therapist
"I love being on the journey with children and their families, helping to optimise engagement in what brings meaning, hope and joy for them! My favourite moments are when I notice a child growing in confidence and they realise the value of their own contribution!"
Qualifications and Experience
Liz graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She has worked in South Africa and New Zealand as a paediatric Occupational Therapist within child development and mental health, across hospital and community-based settings.
Liz furthered her studies by completing a Master of Counselling to deepen her understanding of the human experience. She worked across various settings which included youth centres, schools and community-based services.
Liz has completed other professional courses which include:
- The Art of Paediatrics
- Thriving in the OT Paediatric Practice
- Understanding Trauma in Children
- Cool Kids Anxiety Program
- Tuning into Kids, Parenting Program
- Getting to the Bottom of Challenging Behaviours (Part 1 & 2)
- Sensory Processing: Successfully Preparing Bodies and Brains for Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Motivation & Behaviour Change in Occupational Therapy
- Interactive Drawing Therapy
Professional Interests
Liz has a keen interest in co-regulation principles and supporting children to engage in creative and expressive play which are grounding and nurturing activities. Liz is passionate about supporting mental health and leverages her counselling understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment and system’s theory to enrich her OT practice.
Liz is passionate about working with caregivers, support workers and educators to ensure a team approach is established, providing the best outcomes for a child. Liz is driven and focused on her client’s needs and what is meaningful to them and their family.
Creative Skills
Liz loves using a multi-sensory approach to therapy such as movement, crafts, action songs or storytelling. She has had training in various expressive therapy modalities such as sand tray work, role playing and interactive drawing therapy. Liz loves engaging kids in play because this is where they naturally express themselves and are motivated to learn new skills.
Liz has run various kids holiday camps which have included stories, music, amazing races, services projects and many more creative elements. She has also run groups for caregivers on creative play and how to make recycled toys.