Catherine Daly is an Occupational Therapist and Child and Family Therapist who has worked extensively with infants, children and families requiring assessment and intervention for psychosocial, mental health and developmental difficulties. Catherine is a co-presenter with Chris Hodges at CPD Empower’s 17 September and Brisbane 20 November Workshop Stream:

Relational OT practice: Infant mental health and the parent-child connection

Q: You’ve described relational OT practice as a potential ‘missing piece of the puzzle’ for clinicians. Why is this approach so effective and rewarding?

Catherine: Relationships and connections are key to development, health and wellbeing, and are a core part of the way that we work as occupational therapists.

By working with parents and caregivers – looking at their sensitivity and responsiveness to their child's physical, mental health and developmental needs – we're addressing both the infants and the parents' mental health and wellbeing.

For occupational therapists, embracing relational OT practice can provide a missing piece of the puzzle in paediatric and mental health practice.

Q: What’s driving the increased focus on this area in occupational therapy?

Catherine: We know from the growing evidence that interventions are more effective when we consider the family context in which development occurs, and we work with the family or caregiving systems.

Relational OT practices in infant mental health can provide OTs with a framework to understand the unfolding of development within the context of relationship and the family system. This way of working can not only support the health and wellbeing of the child but also that of the parent.

Often the systems we work within limit our capacity to work systemically. That’s where we need to think more creatively about how we apply our core values, so we can deliver the outcomes we know will make the biggest difference for children and families.

Q: How can the CPD Empower immersive Workshop in Perth equip OTs – including those working solo – with the confidence and readiness to apply new skills in their practice?

Catherine: We're not researchers, we're clinicians – and we want to share how we work clinically and what helped us to develop our confidence.

In the Workshop we are combining what has worked for us in our own experience, and what we also know from years and years of growing evidence.

OTs will gain some real, practical insights and ideas that they can use in their clinical practice straight away, whether they work independently or with others.

Q: Why is it so important for both experienced and newer clinicians to step away from day-to-day work to share time and insights with other OTs?

Catherine: For me, it’s fascinating. People are doing amazing things clinically within their scope of practice.

There’s so much we can offer as OTs, yet much of our practice remains unseen. Sharing that is incredibly empowering.

We want our CPD Empower Workshop participants to leave energised, inspired and with the tools to apply relational OT practice with children – and to be able adapt these learnings to enhance the work they do with adult clients as well.

Read more about CPD Empower Workshop Stream Relational OT Practice - Infant Mental Health and the Parent-Child Connection at:

CPD Empower Perth 17 September 2025

CPD Empower Brisbane 20 November 2025

About CPD Empower

Designed for both experienced clinicians and those ready to stretch themselves, CPD Empower brings OTs together for high-impact, face-to-face learning that’s immersive, practical, and genuinely rewarding.

Perth 17 September 2025 | Sydney 30-31 October 2025 | Brisbane 20 November 2025 | Melbourne 26-27 March 2026

Learn more