Paola Falcoski

I am a Specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) Clinician working in a child and adolescent mental health service within an Eating Disorder Team. As part of this multidisciplinary team, I have been responsible for developing the role of Occupational Therapy, including the types of assessments we use and the interventions we offer for those with an Eating Disorder. Through this work, it has become evident that there is a growing need for autistic individuals with an eating disorder to receive adapted, creative, and individualised treatment that considers the interplay between characteristics of Autism and Eating Disorders. I have been lucky enough to learn from these individuals who have shared their experiences, including helpful (and unhelpful) approaches, which have contributed towards the type of work that we, as Occupational Therapists, offer and how we offer this. I feel very privileged to work alongside these individuals and am excited to continue to learn about this area of practice and apply this knowledge so we can better support autistic individuals with an eating disorder