Butterflies Occupational Therapist Team, Leeds

Hi! My name is Jenny Stephenson, l am the Clinical Lead and Director of Butterflies holistic occupational therapy. Thank you for taking the time to look at my website and what l have to offer.

Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner PG Dip

Occupational therapy (Pre Registration) MSc.

Applied Psychology PG Dip

Psychology BSc. (Hons)

HCPC number: 59184

BAOT number: BT0239175 

Full enhanced DBS and on the update service

I have received certifications and accreditations in the following areas:

Sensory Approach:

• Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner PGDip, 
• SAI Adults and Adolescents which includes the Just Right State (JRS),
• Kelly Mahler – Autism and Eating Disorders - Dying to be thin Webinar,
• ASI Wise: Trauma, the Senses and Mental Health,
• Beacon House: Emotional Regulation.

• I am working towards Ayres Sensory Integration Practitioner Status following the ASI WISE/CLASI modular training pathway which will enable me to assess Sensory Processing using the EASI assessment,
• I am working towards Level 1 Certification for Practitioners SAI training.

Feeding Approach:

• Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) feeding Approach.

Neuro-developmental Approach:

• M.A.E.S therapy approach training, and refresher, 
• The Chailey Approach to Postural Management.

Mindfulness and Meditation:

• Trained to teach, Paws. b Mindfulness in school project, 
• The Zones of Regulation - A framework and related curriculum for building self-regulation skills, 
• 3 Steps to improving Interoception, Mindfulness and Compassion L4 Teaching.

As an occupational therapist, my primary goal is to support parents, carers, families, and children in any way I can. I achieve this by providing a holistic, personalised, and flexible approach to care. I am a dedicated, approachable, and reliable professional who prioritises building strong relationships with children and families to ensure that their individual needs are fully met. 

Through careful problem-solving and strategic planning, I deliver tailored therapeutic interventions using play and activity to help children achieve their goals and foster independent functioning. This, in turn, contributes to the overall well-being of all involved.

With a wealth of experience spanning adult and child mental health, equipment services, and both inpatient and outpatient neurological care, I bring a comprehensive skill set to my practice, allowing me to provide a holistic and individualised approach to therapy.

My journey in occupational therapy began in 2004 during a four-day trek through northern Thailand with an experienced occupational therapist. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in the field, and I subsequently qualified with an MSc in Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2009. I currently reside in Leeds with my two children.

Interests: Sandy beaches, spicy food, pizza, and giraffes.
Dislikes: Grey days, and loud noises.

I am delighted and excited to join the fantastic Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy team.
of daily living.  Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2015, I have gained broad experience across a range of settings, including Adult Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT), acute elderly wards, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), neuro-stroke rehabilitation, and orthopaedics. These roles have enabled me to develop strong skills in assessment, formulation, intervention, supervision, and service development.

I am truly passionate about the field of occupational therapy and Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) and committed to making a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of my clients. My focus is on empowering individuals to engage in meaningful occupations, improving their quality of life, and supporting their overall well-being.

In 2023, I became an Advanced Sensory Integration (ASI) Practitioner, and in 2025, I completed a Master’s in ASI with distinction. ASI aims to support individuals with sensory processing challenges, enhancing self-regulation, motor coordination, and social participation. This training has significantly deepened my clinical knowledge and therapeutic practice.

Alongside my NHS work, I am involved in private practice, completing diagnostic assessments for autism and ADHD, and work for a mental health charity as a specialist mental health lead, facilitating parent-child group sessions. These roles allow me to blend clinical expertise with a compassionate, family-centred approach.

My commitment to professional development includes volunteering as a professional expert on the Leeds Research Ethics Committee (Health Research Authority) and working as a guest lecturer at the University of Bradford. These experiences have strengthened my academic and ethical understanding of OT practice.

Internationally, I participated in an OT project in Sri Lanka, delivering workshops and lectures on sensory assessment and intervention. This project, in collaboration with the NHS, Jaya Mental Health, THET, and the University of Kelaniya, focused on improving global mental health through knowledge exchange.

I am passionate about enabling individuals to achieve their goals through meaningful, strengths-based interventions. I strive to deliver inclusive, responsive care guided by empathy, respect, and integrity, and remain committed to developing services that empower children, families, and communities.

Specialist areas of expertise:

• Occupational Therapy Functional assessments in; self-care, school, productivity,      leisure/play, social/emotional needs.
• Ayres  Sensory Integration assessments and treatment for sensory differences with      the neurodiverse population.
• Diagnostic assessments and formulations for Autism and Attention Deficit      Hyperactivity Disorder (as part of a diagnostic Neurodevelopmental team      contributing to a multi-disciplinary approach to assess for the diagnosis of Autism and ADHD).
• Dyspraxia.
• Anxiety, Low Mood and Depression.

Qualifications/Training: 

• Advancing Practice Sensory Integration (MSc Distinction).
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOs).
• Support Learning in Practice SLiP MSc (educator).
• Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons).

Professional Membership(s):

• Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) OT 71323
• British  Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) BT 0811512

Other languages: Urdu and Punjabi.

Interests: travelling, lakes and mountains, gym, socialising, learning new skills like swimming, most animals but mostly my cat Dave!

Dislikes: Messy environments and cruelty to animals or people.