Samantha Stanton

Occupational Therapist

I am from sunny South Africa.  I grew up in a city called Bloemfontein, where I went to school and completed my occupational therapy degree at the University of the Free State. One of my favourite memories growing up there is spending many hot summer nights outside in the garden having braais with my family. A braai is the South African equivalent of a British BBQ (but just think a lot more meat!).

I first came to know about occupational therapy as a child when I was in awe of the incredibly fun looking OT room (which had swings in it!) and remember feeling jealous that I could not play there.  Well, now I get to play there every day and love it!

My career started with a humbling opportunity of working in a rural township in a coastal city called Gqeberha in South Africa, where I completed my community service year.  I thereafter worked in a special needs school where I further my studies by completing the Paediatric Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) Course.  This was one of the most enriching courses in my career where I now cannot look at human development the same ever again. 

I moved to the beautiful city of Cape Town in 2014 where I started work at a Sensory Integration Private Practice. I completed my Sensory Integration Training whilst working at this practice which started my journey in working with children with Sensory Processing Disorders. In 2018, I moved to Dubai as I had always dreamed of travelling abroad and worked in a private clinic seeing children with a variety of diagnoses. In August 2019, I moved for a job in London which has proven to have been a life-changing move having met my future husband-to-be. I have recently completed the DIR Basic Training (levels 1-4), which has enriched my treatment when working with children that are diagnosed with ASD.

Outside of work, adventures that include visits to beautiful natural settings are high on my list.  Chasing sunsets is something you may catch me doing… I am yet to find a sunset that beats Cape Town’s pink, golden, orange skies! I will update you should I find one as I still have many places to explore and travel restrictions are finally being lifted.