Steph Hutton has been drawn to the moments where children and young people feel most themselves—curious, playful, thoughtful, hopeful. Over the past 20 years, this curiosity has shaped a career dedicated to understanding what helps young people feel safe, connected, and able to take part in their world in ways that feel meaningful to them. Steph began her professional life in community youth projects and childhood development before training as an Occupational Therapist. 

Early on, she found herself working alongside children and families who were navigating challenging emotional, sensory, and relational experiences. This led her into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), where she spent 13 years working across in‑patient units, community teams, day services, and urgent care. Alongside her clinical work, she supported the development of Occupational Therapy within a local NHS Trust as the CAMHS Professional Lead.

Across every role, Steph has been guided by a simple belief: children thrive when they feel connected and understood. Her practice centres relational safety, sensory understanding, and meaningful participation, offering gentle, collaborative support that honours each child’s identity and needs. Her work is grounded in evidence‑informed, neuroaffirmative approaches, drawing from occupational science, Ayres Sensory Integration, and Sensory Attachment Intervention.

Her interest in Autism assessment grew from wanting families to feel held and understood. She trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS‑2) to support children and families in exploring the qualities that may contribute to a diagnosis, while also thinking together about what support might be helpful moving forward. The focus is always on clarity, compassion, and supporting children to access the life they want and need.

She holds a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, a BSc (Hons) in Childhood Development Studies, and a Diploma in Primary Education, alongside further training in DBT, Ayres Sensory Integration, and Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI Level 1).