Richa Barreto

I am a compassionate and friendly occupational therapist with 7 years of experience in community mental health. I have worked for the NHS as a care coordinator and more recently as an assessment clinician assessing and supporting individuals with first episode psychosis, aged 14-65 years. My interest areas and experience include working with individuals with neurodiversity and other mental health conditions such as; anxiety, PTSD, depression and personality disorders. I also have extensive skills in anxiety management, using a range of evidence based tools such as CBT informed interventions, mindfulness, motivational interviewing techniques, psychosocial education and goal setting, to help support people better understand their mental health and overcome barriers. I have qualifications in behavioural family therapy, compassion-led therapy and am qualified to screen and assess autism spectrum disorders using evidence based and NICE approved instruments, including the ADOS. I have experience working with adolescents and adults in both inpatient and community settings and have also worked with older adults in a community mental health service. Prior to qualifying as an occupational therapist, I worked as a special educational needs assistant in a pre-school which is where I fell in love with occupational therapy. Whilst training to become an OT I worked as a health care assistant for a CAMHS inpatient unit, building up valuable experience of mental health intervention for young people. My approach to OT is holistic and collaborative. I aim to support and empower individuals to achieve their goals and equip them with skills to maintain wellness well beyond recovery. In my spare time, I love yoga, food and music, combining the 3
makes me incredibly happy…preferably in the sunshine!