Sensory Wellbeing OT

18/11/2025

This week's workshop with the Swansea Parent Carer Forum is on Personal Care & Grooming. I know this is a huge challenge for many parent carers, especially those whose children have tactile defensiveness. See some of you there on Wednesday!

17/11/2025

✨ Training Day Highlight! ✨

On Friday, I delivered my Sensory Processing Training Day to the fantastic team at Maes Derw thanks to Swansea Local Education Authority.

Children in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) or those who have been excluded from school in the UK often experience significant sensory processing difficulties—far more than is widely recognised.

Many of these pupils struggle to filter noise, cope with unpredictable environments, tolerate certain textures, or manage the overwhelming sensory demands of a busy school day. When the world feels too loud, too bright, too fast, or too confusing, behaviour can quickly become a communication of distress rather than defiance.

The staff at Maes Derw were absolutely brilliant—fully engaged, curious, reflective, and ready to jump straight into activities. It was such a fun day filled with practical, creative sensory strategies they can use immediately to support pupils’ regulation, comfort, and confidence.

I left feeling inspired by their passion and dedication. Supporting sensory needs isn’t just helpful—it’s transformational. 🧠💛

13/11/2025

🌿 Smelling and Tasting Differently

Have you ever noticed how the smell of perfume, coffee, or cleaning products can make or break your day?

Or how certain tastes are comforting for some but completely overwhelming for others?

For many people, differences in smell and taste processing play a huge role in how we experience and cope with the world around us.

These senses are closely tied to emotion, memory, and wellbeing — so when they’re intense, muted, or unpredictable, it can deeply affect daily life.

👃 Smell sensitivity might mean:

Feeling sick or anxious around strong scents
Finding environments like supermarkets or public transport overwhelming
Avoiding certain spaces or people due to fragrance or cleaning product use

👅 Taste sensitivity might mean:

Needing very specific textures or flavours
Avoiding strong or mixed tastes
Feeling comforted by familiar foods

These differences aren’t “picky” or “fussy” — they’re neurological responses that influence how safe, calm, and connected we feel.

We had lots of fun in this weeks session at Swansea University looking at our Olfactory (smell) and Gustatory (taste) Processing

🌸 If you experience the world a little differently — that’s not wrong, it’s human.
Understanding our senses is the first step to creating environments where everyone can thrive.

13/11/2025

🌿 Excited to get started today!

I’m really looking forward to welcoming participants onto my sensory wellbeing course starting today. ✨

A big thank you to The Swansea Wellbeing Centre for hosting and to the Bay Health Board for funding this course.

I can’t wait to take a deep dive into your own sensory processing with you — it’s going to be a fascinating journey!

🖊️ Don’t forget your pens and notepads!

The Swansea Wellbeing Centre

29/10/2025

Fine Motor Skills Workshop
5th November 2025 10 - 12

Swansea PCF

25/10/2025

A big thank you to Swansea PCF again for having me in this week to deliver my Emotional Regulation workshop. It was great to meet some new faces and see the regulars too!

Thanks for all your positive feedback. See you after half term for the Fine Motor Skills workshop. Have a good weekend and good luck implementing some of the strategies!

Swansea PCF

24/10/2025

A big thank you to Swansea PCF again for having me in this week to deliver my Emotional Regulation workshop. It was great to meet some new faces and see the regulars too!

Thanks for all your positive feedback. See you after half term for the Fine Motor Skills session. Have a good weekend and good luck implementing some of the strategies!

Happy Friday all 😃

Swansea PCF

23/10/2025

Student feedback from week one of the Sensory Strategies course :-)


Swansea University

20/10/2025

6 week student course commencing tomorrow at Swansea University. I look forward to seeing some of you there 😃

20/10/2025

My next course in The Swansea Wellbeing Centre is now open for bookings, directly with The Swansea Wellbeing Centre. This is free for over 18s registered with Bay Cluster GP practices (see list of GPs below).

Sensory Wellbeing Course – Strategies to Manage Stress

Struggling with stress, anxiety, or overwhelm? Join us for a free 5-week course designed to support your mental health through simple, practical sensory strategies.

Thursdays, 7–8.30pm | 13th November – 11th December

Free for all over 18s registered with a Bay Cluster GP

Led by Hannah Childs (Sensory Wellbeing OT), this course is rooted in the principles of sensory integration therapy. It’s ideal for anyone looking to understand and manage their sensory responses, especially those experiencing anxiety, depression, or neurodivergent challenges such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, or Dyspraxia.

Learn how to:

Calm and regulate your nervous system

Understand how sensory processing affects daily life

Cope more effectively in overwhelming environments

Rest, restore, and reset using personalised strategies

Let’s learn together in a safe, supportive space.

Contact: centre@wellbeingswansea.co.uk

Bay cluster GP:

Gower Medical Centre and Pennard Surgery, Grove Medical Centre and Marina Medical Centre, Kings Road Surgery, Mumbles Medical Practice and Murton Surgery, Sketty and Killay Surgery, Uplands Surgery and Queens Road Surgery, University Health Centre and St Thomas and West Cross Surgery.

17/10/2025

Brilliant day delivering training on sensory processing with an amazing group of teaching professionals 🙂

Understanding how our children process sensory information is key to creating supportive school environments where they can flourish. 👍

Huge thanks to Swansea LEA for championing this important learning.🙏

Swansea Council Sensory Wellbeing OT

16/10/2025

Thanks again to Swansea Parent Carer Forum for hosting me to deliver my workshop yesterday on Food & Eating, where we explored sensory strategies and so much more! It was wonderful to see so many of you again!

I look forward to seeing you next week for the Emotional Regulation workshop. 🙌

Swansea Parent Carer Forum