Shannen Valdes

Occupational Therapist

Shannen is an Occupational Therapist at the London Children’s Practice. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Occupational Therapy at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Currently, she works primarily with children ages 4-18 years in both mainstream and SEN schools.  

Shannen has experience providing therapy for children within clinic and school settings.  She has completed a variety of school-based assessments, EHCP assessments and EHCP reviews, as well as standardised assessment in the clinical environment. In Australia, she worked within the National Disability Insurance Scheme as an Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator, supporting families to access disability funding. During her university placements, she gained experience working in a private hand therapy clinic and developed skills within the acute and sub-acute hospital settings working with orthopaedic and stroke patients.  

Shannen has provided training on mindfulness, sensory processing and the benefits of sensory circuits and how to effectively implement them within the school environment. 

Shannen is currently undertaking Module 1 of her Sensory Integration training through Sheffield Hallam University and a mindfulness in Occupational Therapy Practice course. She has a special interest in emotional regulation, building attention/concentration skills, using nature in therapy and nutrition and feeding. She wishes to further develop her expertise in providing support for infants and toddlers, become specialised in paediatric feeding difficulties and becoming a certified yoga instructor for children with special needs. 

Shannen is a registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. 

Outside of work, Shannen enjoys going on nature walks, singing and playing her guitar, cooking and reading