Heidi Carstensen-van Zyl

Heidi trained as a physiotherapist at the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and graduated in 1999 with an honours degree in Physiotherapy.

It was during her practical clinical placements at University that her interest for paediatrics and her love for working with children were first kindled. During this period she gained invaluable experience working with a wide variety of conditions at special needs schools and at the Paediatric in-patient unit at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Heidi completed her Basic Bobath Foundation course in 2001, and has worked in paediatrics for over 11 years in the private sector, in special needs schools and at the Bobath Centre for children with Cerebral Palsy in London. Heidi joined Therapy 4kids in November 2010. Heidi’s advanced training in Bobath Courses and other specialist paediatric training courses have served to further improve her knowledge and clinical skills in the analysis of movement patterns and how they relate to functioning and participation in everyday life.

Heidi has a special interest in working with children who have more complex conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Genetic Syndromes, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Muscular Dystrophes / atrophies. She also enjoys treating children and babies with developmental delays. She finds it extremely rewarding seeing the children or babies under her care overcoming their difficulties with movement, becoming more confident in themselves and seeing them mastering new skills.

She is a member of:

• Health Professions Council (HPC)
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP)
• British Association of Bobath Trained Therapists (BABTT)
• The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP)