Maryke Moir
(van Heukelum)

Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT0089800 PP0660000662577)

Maryke is an enthusiastic and dynamic occupational therapist with a passion for enabling children to reach their full potential. Her special interest is in paediatrics and in working with children who present with difficulties with adapting in a developmentally appropriate way to their environment (play, interpersonal relationships, personal care and school may be affected). Each child is treated individually in accordance with a detailed assessment. Parents are active partners in their child’s occupational therapy journey. Treatment strategies include eclectic therapeutic approaches and techniques such as Ayres Sensory Integration®, Therapeutic Play, strategies that enhance and strengthen cognitive and executive function and concept formation and Neuro-Developmental Principles. The childhood occupation of play is utilised as both a channel for self-discovery and self-expression and a medium for explorative learning.

A large part of occupational therapy intervention includes habit shaping and thus the practice places an emphasis of ensuring a home programme in adjunct to therapy using the Special T therapy app.

After graduating from Stellenbosch University Maryke did her community service year in Mandisa Shiceka Clinic in Hammanskraal, just North of Pretoria. Thereafter she worked at Vera School for children with Autism where her passion for working in a school setting and working within a multidisciplinary team was evoked. Thereafter she gained experience at a well-established paediatric private practice based in Tokai for a few years. In 2020 she joined her mother Gudrun van Heukelum’s (paediatric occupational therapist and play therapist) well-known practice in Rondebosch. Together the mother and daughter team have joined forces. Maryke has opened a satellite practice at the German International School Cape Town.
Maryke has a gentle and warm nature. She likes to really get to know the children she treats and to form a special bond with them.

Maryke is fluent in English and proficient in German.

She is Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) trained allowing her the capacity to work with children with the following developmental presentation:

Sensory processing difficulties and disorders (see more information under ‘Sensory Integration Therapy ‘ website link)

Infant Sensory Integration

Fine motor delays (pencil grasp, handwriting, drawing, cutting, object manipulation)

Midline crossing and bilateral integration delays (dominance, directionality, body skills)

Gross motor delays (balancing, ball skills, coordination)

Postural insecurities (endurance, pencil control, playground engagement)

Motor planning difficulties / Dyspraxia

Visual perceptual difficulties (reading, writing, numerical skills, memory)

Social and emotional difficulties (low self esteem, emotional reactivity, immaturity, poor social interactions, behavioral difficulties)

Delayed independence in activities of daily development (toileting, dressing, eating, play participation).

Attention and concentration difficulties

Gudrun van Heukelum

Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT0007722 PP660225810)

Gudrun obtained her graduate training at the University of Stellenbosch. She worked in Namibia, Germany, London, Cape Town and the Eastern Cape in the Mental Health and Neurological Rehabilitation Sector, the Child – and family –services and a residential Children’s Home; all these settings offered Occupational Therapy Treatment within a multidisciplinary team.

Her love for multidisciplinary collaboration was extended when she started her own paediatric practice in Rondebosch in 1998, as she forged collaboration with many diverse schools, clinicians across various disciplines as well as with community organizations.

Gudrun completed her master’s degree in play therapy and integrated the play therapy principles in her therapeutic work, which focused on magnifying children’s capacity in their personal management, scholastic adaptation, and play and self-actualizing by enhancing sensory-motor, cognitive and psychosocial performance components. Her interest in children’s holistic growth and functioning within the family setting was extended by participating in the infant observation protocol and infant mental health paradigm.

Gudrun has presented a number of courses to colleagues over the years and she has been involved on an ad hoc basis at the OT division at UCT and the University of Stellenbosch.

Gudrun is fluent in English and German.

The Occupational Therapy Process

1. Referral

This can be made by the child’s parents or guardians, another health professional or the child’s teacher

2. Initial Interview with parents and child

Initial interview, in which we obtain medical, birth, developmental and sensori-motor history, as well as find out what your, and the teacher’s main concerns are. We believe that the child’s motivation and “buy into” the process is most important for a successful therapy journey

3. Comprehensive Assessment

A comprehensive assessment of your child’s strengths and difficulties will be completed using a battery of standardised tests and clinical observations. Although the assessment can be quite challenging for your child, children typically enjoy the assessment as the activities are child-directed and fun. The assessment consists of looking at your child’s sensory functioning, gross and fine motor development, as well at their visual-perceptual skills.

4. Detailed Feedback

Detailed verbal feedback is provided to the parents once the report has been completed. This includes discussing your child’s strengths and areas of concern, as well as making recommendations. You will also receive the written report based on the assessment findings. Should your child require occupational therapy, times will be arranged at the feedback consultation.

Maryke Moir (van Heukelum)