Having social confidence helps with daily interactions and branching out in life. With the support of Occupational Therapist, Chelsea, Ruby is building hers.
"Ruby's confidence is like an emotional bank account," her dad, Phillip, explains. "You have got to be continually investing and building it up, little bit by little bit."
Ruby's 'account' has certainly grown over the last year since finding support on Mable.
Here's how Chelsea is helping Ruby to become more self-assured and independent.
Benefits of OT support
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people in many ways. By connecting with their clients through various, sometimes creative means, OTs can deliver bespoke support.
For instance, Chelsea likes to use art therapy as an OT strategy to help her clients.
"Art therapy is a therapy I like to use to distract from the real task at hand," she says.
"So the idea is that it's a sensory experience… we're not forced to keep eye contact, we're not forced to really think about what we're saying," she explains.
Developing social skills, emotional regulation techniques and helping with executive functioning and problem-solving are just a few of the things she's working on while painting with a client like Ruby.
Chelsea also likes to take her therapy out and about, listing "social engagement, picking up on social cues, money management and emotional regulation" as some of Ruby's NDIS goals.
Ruby and Chelsea often visit cafes and bookshops together during therapy sessions.
"She teaches me how to pay for my food, learn how to take care of myself and how to do things when I'm out," Ruby says.
"She's very supportive …always encouraging me," she adds.
Phillip can see a positive change in Ruby since engaging Chelsea on Mable.
"She's getting more confident and more knowledgeable," he says.
Phillip also feels Ruby has gained some tools from Chelsea to "face hurdles" at school and make life a little easier.
"She's got better coping skills," he shares.
Learning from each other
But it isn't just Ruby who is learning from Chelsea. Chelsea also loves how Ruby teaches her to be more direct in her communication and be the best therapist for her.
"We pull each other up on things and are able to correct each other," she says.
"Ruby can be very literal," Chelsea reveals and feels their relationship is very open and trusting because of this.
"Being honest with Ruby has been the best technique to really get through to her," she says.
For Chelsea, joining Mable has not just introduced her to Ruby, a client she loves working with, but has also allowed her more flexibility in her life.
Independence all round
While Ruby enjoys gaining social confidence to become more independent, Chelsea also enjoys the freedom she now has being self-employed.
"Previously, I worked with a traditional provider, but I decided to swap to Mable as it offered me more flexibility," she says.
"I love that Mable allows me to choose my own hours, which means I can work as much as I want or as little as I want."
"Mable has really fitted in well with my family life," she adds.
Doing a job she loves also brings Chelsea immense joy and fulfilment.
"There is much satisfaction in helping someone achieve some of those things that we might think are small, but really aren't small, and make such a big difference," she says.
For Ruby, this is growing social confidence bit by bit.
Find out how support on Mable can help you today.
