Anahita (Ana) is a passionate occupational therapist and academic with over 17 years working in occupational therapy, 10 of which in neuropsychiatry. She considers herself as both a mental health and neuro-behavioural occupational therapist.

Ana’s PhD research is centred on how occupational therapists conceptualise and utilise sensory modulation interventions in adult acquired brain injury settings, to treat behaviours of concern (BoC). This research subject was born from Ana’s clinical work as she was able to help people living with brain injury related BoCs, participate in meaningful occupations by regulating their senses. Ana hopes to bridge a gap in clinical practice, so that occupational therapists are equipped to extend the use of sensory modulation interventions (SMIs) into brain injury rehabilitation. Her early research indicates that SMIs can improve participation in meaningful life roles for those living with BoC after brain injury.

Ana began her research journey in 2014 as a clinical researcher, she was the lead researcher for a team at Austin Health and at Independent Rehabilitation Services. In 2022, she transitioned into academia to ensure emerging occupational therapists are skilled in sensory modulation assessments and treatments, for people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Ana’s research has international significance with implications on neurobehavioral rehabilitation practice and occupational therapy role clarity. Ana has published internationally in the context of Huntington’s Disease; neuropsychiatric rehabilitation; the role of the occupational therapist in neurobehavioral rehabilitation, and has developed a contemporary definition of ‘sensory modulation’. In 2019, she was awarded a grant to publish the sensory modulation concept analysis as Open Access.