Meet Thaina

Professional profile

I hold a BSc in Occupational Therapy, a Master's degree in Sleep Medicine and Physiology, a postgraduate diploma in Paediatrics, and a qualification in Applied Behaviour Analysis, alongside further certifications in neuroscience studies.

My work sits at the intersection of paediatric practice, intercultural care, and sleep study. I have published research articles, presented posters at academic events, and aim to keep research as an active part of my professional life in the near future.

Sleep is my specialist area. Beyond my paediatric clinical work, I offer sleep guidance to families, professionals, and organisations, with the goal of helping more people sleep well. I invest continuously in this field, having attended conferences, lectures, and specialist training, including a masterclass in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) delivered by the University of Oxford.

Within paediatric practice, I specialise in neurodivergence, with additional training in school health, social communication, and parent coaching. My approach is grounded in behavioural science and rooted in occupational science.

Initiatives and volunteering

During my undergraduate studies, I founded the Occupational Therapy Science Club and volunteered with the Girls and Women in Science programme.

Since moving to Cambridge, I have also participated in Sing Choir, a choir dedicated to charitable fundraising.

I am co-founder and psychoeducation writer at LumiNest, a women-led startup where I also develop therapeutic resources for families, including guidance booklets and visual prompt cards.

My aim is to bring together humane care and scientific commitment, with a particular interest in health writing across childhood, sleep, autism, and less explored areas of occupational therapy.

With a passion for writing, I contribute to health writing projects and have written for Klarity, OTHub, and others. I also run OTYours, my own newsletter exploring the world of occupational therapy.