Smiling Star Occupational Therapy

Get to know Smiling Star Occupational Therapy

From Smiling Star Occupational Therapy's website.

• Our approach

  Smiling Star works with children and adolescents to help them achieve their daily goals in self-care, school and play. Sessions focus on developing confidence, self-esteem, social skills and general wellbeing through these key areas. The therapist has a special interest in Sensory Integration Therapy, using various sensory modalities through play to help children engage and thrive in home and school environments. Therapy also incorporates DIRFloortime principles, building social, emotional and intellectual capacities through play and interaction. The approach addresses neurodiverse children including those with ADD/ADHD and ASD diagnoses, as well as gross and fine motor skills, emotional regulation, executive functioning and visual perception.

• Meet the team

  Loren Gerdis is the Senior Occupational Therapist at Smiling Star. She holds an Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Cape Town (2007) and completed certification in Ayres Sensory Integration through the South African Institute of Sensory Integration (2010). She has 12 years of experience running a successful paediatric private practice in Cape Town before founding Smiling Star in Sydney in 2021, and qualified as a Basic DIRFloortime Provider in 2025. She is AHPRA registered (OCC0002503513) and brings extensive expertise in working with children and families.