Sabrina Dela Fuente, Occupational Therapist

About Sabrina

Sabrina Dela Fuente is a dedicated and attentive paediatric occupational therapist who believes that connection is at the heart of meaningful progress. With years of clinical experience across paediatrics, physical disabilities, and community practice, Sabrina has a deep understanding of how various conditions impact a child’s development and their family’s daily life. She is passionate about creating a "just-right" level of challenge in her sessions, ensuring therapy is child-centred, collaborative, and, most importantly, effective.

Having worked with diverse populations in both Australia and the Philippines, Sabrina is highly skilled at adapting her interventions to meet the unique personal and cultural needs of each family. She takes a strengths-based approach, tailoring therapy to a child's interests and capacities to ensure they stay engaged and motivated. Drawing on both her professional background and personal experience with a family member on the Autism spectrum, Sabrina provides care that is deeply empathetic and responsive to the needs of the neurodivergent children she supports.

Sabrina is committed to being a lifelong learner and a reflective practitioner. She regularly engages with current research to ensure her strategies are evidence-based and effective. Her goal is to empower children to build the independence and confidence they need to thrive in their families, schools, and communities.

Sabrina's Strengths

At Progress Pathways, we believe in leveraging our team members' strengths. Each team member completes a CliftonStrengths analysis within their first week on our team. Sabrina’s top strengths highlight her natural curiosity and her deep commitment to continuous learning. She is driven by a desire to constantly improve her skills and knowledge, which keeps her at the forefront of paediatric occupational therapy and ensures she is always providing the best possible care for her clients.

Her strengths also reflect a profound sense of connectedness and empathy. Sabrina has a natural ability to build bridges between people, helping families find meaning and purpose in their therapy journey. She is a calm and stable presence for those around her, offering comfort and perspective even during unpredictable or challenging times. This sensitivity allows her to build strong, enduring relationships with the children and families she supports.

Furthermore, Sabrina is a highly analytical and responsible professional who values gathering information to make well-informed, credible decisions. She takes great care in mastering the technical aspects of her role and is dedicated to being a knowledgeable and believable resource for her team and her clients. Her ability to see the "big picture" while remaining focused on practical solutions makes her an invaluable member of the Progress Pathways team.

Sabrina's Learning Pathway

We celebrate our team of lifelong learners. Sabrina has regularly participated in training to enhance her knowledge and skills. Below are some of the key courses Sabrina has undertaken:

• AEIOU: An Integrated Approach to Paediatric Feeding
  A child-led framework focusing on sensory exploration, oral-motor development, and mealtime participation.
• Moving Forward in a Hybrid World for Children of All Abilities
  Professional development through the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrics.
• Introduction to SOS (Sequential Sensory Oral) Approach to Feeding
  Training focused on supporting children with feeding difficulties.
• Growing Up During the Pandemic: Impact on Child Development, Learning and Behaviour
  Exploring the developmental impacts of environmental changes.
• Revisiting Play in Occupational Therapy Towards a Child-Centred and Evidence-based Approach
  Focusing on the central role of play in paediatric therapy.
  
  

These learning experiences reflect Sarah’s commitment to providing therapy that is informed, responsive, and grounded in best practice.

Sabrina has experience supporting children with diagnoses including:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Intellectual and Learning Disabilities
• Global Developmental Delays (GDD)
• Down Syndrome
• Genetic and Chromosomal Conditions (e.g., Leigh Syndrome, SURF1 Mitochondrial Disease)
• Neurological Conditions (e.g., Paediatric Stroke/CVA, Seizure Disorders)
• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Spina Bifida

Sabrina also loves supporting children who may not have a diagnosis, but who benefit from having support in the following areas:

• Feeding and mealtime participation (e.g., fussy eating, sensory exploration, and building positive relationships with food).
• Self-care and daily living skills (e.g., building independence in dressing, hygiene, and daily routines).
• Sensory processing and emotional regulation (e.g., supporting children to feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn).
• Fine and gross motor skill development (e.g., improving coordination, strength, and skills for school and play).
• Social skills and community participation (e.g., building confidence in social interactions and peer play).
• School readiness and engagement (e.g., supporting the transition to school and performance in classroom activities).
• Executive functioning (e.g., skills for planning, focusing, and completing everyday tasks).

These are some of the most common concerns families search for when looking for paediatric occupational therapy support, and Sabrina is passionate about helping children thrive in all of these areas.