Katie Crowfoot is an experienced Occupational Therapist who qualified in 2010 at the University of Northampton, England. Over the past 15 years, she has worked extensively within the NHS, specialising in Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, and Autism. Katie’s career journey led her to discover Ayres Sensory Integration® through her Learning Disabilities team. She quickly became inspired by how sensory integration education applies across the lifespan and how it could transform her practice as an Occupational Therapist.
Katie is currently completing her MSc in Advancing Practice (Sensory Integration) with Ulster University and is about to begin her final module. Her training journey includes postgraduate sensory integration training, clinical application of sensory integration assessment tools, and sensory workshops focused on embedding tiered sensory integration interventions within mental health.
As the Occupational Therapy Lead for a large Occupational Therapy team covering Acute Mental Health, Psychiatric Intensive Care, and Forensic Services, Katie has successfully led several NHS England bids to secure funding that improves mental health services for autistic individuals. She has presented nationally and internationally at events such as the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference (2022, 2023, 2024) and the International Sensory Integration Congress (2023, 2024), sharing her expertise in sensory integration practices across adult services.
Katie plays a key leadership role at ASI Wise and the Sensory Project as part of the Leadership Operational Team. She mentors clinicians, leads the Community of Practice, and is actively involved as a lecturer delivering workshops and webinars. She is also a tutor on the Ayres’ Sensory Integration® education modular programme, providing guidance to therapists undertaking postgraduate training in Ayres’ Sensory Integration education in the UK. Additionally, Katie contributes as a mentor and member of the Social Media Team, helping to share sensory integration resources, promote continuing professional development (CPD), and support the wider community.
Over the past five years, Katie has developed and implemented a comprehensive sensory pathway within mental health services, following on from the work of Kath Smith, who implemented it in 2003, to ensure that sensory processing and wellbeing are always considered, assessed, and supported through tailored sensory integration programs. She is passionate about advancing professional development in sensory integration and firmly believes that understanding sensory systems is foundational to all recovery journeys.