Fern and Flow therapy
Nature-based, sensory, and play-focused support for children and young people — grounded in specialist Occupational Therapy, trauma-informed care and the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, seen and supported to thrive.
Beyond talking therapy
Fern & Flow Therapy is a relational, sensory and nature-based approach — working directly with the body, the nervous system, and the natural world to support children and young people to feel safe, regulated, and ready to thrive.
As a specialist Occupational Therapist and Play & Creative Arts Therapist, I bring a uniquely holistic lens to therapeutic work with children — one that understands how sensory experience, movement, play and the environment all shape a child's capacity to regulate, connect, and heal.
Sensory attachment & regulation
Many children — particularly those who have experienced trauma, or who have diagnoses such as ADHD and or ASD have nervous systems that are working really hard.
They may be oversensitive or under-sensitive to sensory input, seek out intense experiences or avoid them entirely, and struggle to regulate their emotions and body, not because they won't, but because their nervous system can't, without the right support.
Sensory exploration work helps children build a more regulated, organised nervous system — through carefully chosen sensory experiences, movement, and activities that help the brain and body work together more effectively. Always within the context of a warm, trusting therapeutic relationship — because the relationship is the therapy.
And fundamentally — children regulate best in relationship. The presence of a safe, attuned adult is not just helpful, it is the foundation of everything. Co-regulation, the process of a calm, connected nervous system helping to settle another, is how children learn to regulate themselves over time. It is relational, embodied, and deeply human.
Aroma Alchemy is woven throughout this work — using therapeutic dōTERRA essential oils as a powerful sensory and regulatory tool. Scent has a direct pathway to the limbic system, making it one of the most immediate and accessible ways to support a child's nervous system. Whether it's a calming roller applied before school, a grounding blend diffused during sessions, or a personalised potion created by the child themselves — the oils bring an extra layer of sensory magic to the work.
This extends to parents and carers too — supporting them to use oils confidently at home, creating simple rituals and tools that continue the regulatory support between sessions. A shared bedtime blend or grounding roller can become a moment of connection and co-regulation that belongs to the whole family.
A note on quality
When using essential oils with children, purity matters enormously. I only use and recommend dōTERRA — due to the purity and testing. I always encourage you to do your own research and make an informed choice.
Occupational Therapy is about enabling people to do the things that matter — to participate fully in daily life, relationships, and the activities that bring meaning and joy. For children and young people, that means school, friendships, family life, play and simply being able to feel okay in their own body.
I bring a specialist OT lens to everything I do — looking at the whole child, their sensory profile, their environment, and the daily activities and routines that either support or challenge their nervous system.
Sessions are always always tailored and rooted in what actually helps that particular child in their particular life.
Where and how
In person in Exeter, online, and in school settings. Primarily through Devon County Council referrals, with occasional private spaces available. Please get in touch to find out about current availability.
Download a referral form and send