Carla graduated as an occupational therapist in 1988. To enhance her knowledge of mental health, she completed post-graduate courses in psycholinguistics and psychopathology in 1992. Carla has further received training in unstructured play therapy, psychodrama, Sensory Integration theory and Group dynamics. She has worked as a mental health occupational therapist in South Africa, England and Australia in a range of clinical, management and leadership roles.
Carla’s passion for her profession and its application in mental health is evident in her ongoing commitment to research and sharing of knowledge. Her research interests include anger management, relationships between sensory processing and attachment theory, and employment as an outcome for persons with experience of mental illness. She regularly offers workshops and training opportunities in these fields, as well as in the application of the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, an occupational therapy practice model.