Meet Geordie: Senior Occupational Therapist at Forbes Care

For Geordie, becoming an Occupational Therapist was shaped by personal experience.

Growing up, Geordie had planned for a future in the Australian Defence Force. However, a serious knee injury and the rehabilitation that followed changed that path. Experiencing first-hand the impact that injury can have not only on what someone can do, but also on their confidence, identity and sense of direction, ultimately led him to Occupational Therapy.

It’s an experience that continues to influence the way Geordie works today.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist at Forbes Care, Geordie brings a deeply reflective and client-centred approach to supporting people to build meaningful and fulfilling lives. He has a particular interest in mental health and psychosocial disability, helping clients understand the barriers they experience and develop practical pathways towards the things that matter to them.

Finding Meaning in the Small Moments

For Geordie, good Occupational Therapy isn’t always about dramatic change. Often, it is the smaller moments of connection and progress that have the greatest impact.

One experience from his student placement has stayed with him throughout his career. Geordie spent around 15 minutes talking with an older gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Their conversation had such an impact that the man later made Geordie a paper flower with a message of gratitude.

Years later, Geordie still keeps the flower as a reminder of the importance of connection, listening and taking the time to understand the person behind the diagnosis.

That same philosophy underpins his work at Forbes Care today.

A Strong Focus on Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability

While Geordie has experience across adult Occupational Therapy, mental health and psychosocial disability are particular areas of clinical interest.

His approach is collaborative and recovery-oriented. Rather than simply identifying what a person is struggling with, Geordie works alongside clients to understand why those barriers exist and what can realistically help them move forward.

This may involve developing insight into patterns of behaviour, building capacity and confidence, increasing community participation, establishing meaningful goals or finding practical strategies that support greater independence in everyday life.

Geordie also draws on principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) within his Occupational Therapy practice.

One tool he particularly values is the ACT “Choice Point”, which can help people recognise patterns, understand how their choices may move them towards or away from what matters to them, and identify achievable steps towards their goals.

Importantly, the client remains at the centre of the process.

Creating a Safe Space for Change

Geordie is known within Forbes Care for his calm presence, thoughtful clinical reasoning and ability to make sense of complex situations.

Building strong therapeutic rapport is central to his practice. He takes the time to understand each person’s experiences, priorities and circumstances while creating a space where clients can feel comfortable exploring challenges and developing greater insight.

For people living with mental health conditions or psychosocial disability, progress is rarely a straight line. Geordie recognises this and focuses on creating realistic, sustainable change rather than expecting change to happen all at once.

The goal is to help clients build the skills, understanding and confidence they need to participate more fully in their lives.

Celebrating Progress

Geordie has supported clients through many different stages of their journey – from developing everyday skills and increasing community participation to navigating significant changes in housing, supports and independence.

For him, success can look very different from one person to the next.

It might be securing appropriate assistive technology, finding suitable housing after a long period of instability, reconnecting with the community, developing greater confidence or simply taking the next step towards a goal that previously felt out of reach.

Each of those steps matters.

Occupational Therapy Built Around the Person

At the heart of Geordie’s practice is the belief that Occupational Therapy should help people participate in lives that feel meaningful to them.

Through thoughtful clinical reasoning, genuine therapeutic relationships and practical capacity-building, Geordie works alongside clients to better understand their challenges and identify pathways forward.

His clinical strengths include Mental Health, Psychosocial Disability, Adult Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Capacity Building, Recovery-Oriented Practice, Community Participation, Goal Setting and Therapeutic Rapport.

At Forbes Care, Geordie continues to bring a calm, considered and genuinely person-centred approach to supporting clients through meaningful and lasting change.

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