Based at The Edinburgh Practice in Edinburgh, Callum MacKinnon is an Occupational Therapist helping people of all ages overcome challenges in completing everyday tasks and activities — what OTs call occupations. These occupations give life meaning, purpose, and structure, whether that means supporting a child in a classroom, helping a young person manage a demanding job, or assisting someone with the everyday tasks that others take for granted.

As one of Edinburgh's few male Occupational Therapists in independent private practice, Callum brings a distinctive and valued perspective. Since 2017, he has worked across a broad range of children's and adult services in both the NHS and the independent sector. Alongside his work at The Edinburgh Practice, he holds a specialist NHS role supporting neurodivergent adults within a mental health service, where he also works to embed evidence-based, neuroaffirming practices across his wider team.

Clinical specialisms

Callum's practice covers a wide range of needs across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. He has particular expertise in:

• Neurodivergence — autism, ADHD, and co-occurring conditions across the lifespan
• Sensory processing difficulties and sensory integration
• Coordination and motor skill difficulties, including DCD / dyspraxia
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing, including trauma-informed support
• Occupational performance and daily living skills for children, young people and adults
• Workplace and school-based reasonable adjustments

Therapeutic approach

At the core of Callum's practice is a strengths-based, person-centred approach that empowers individuals to understand and meet their own needs. He considers the whole person — physical, mental health, learning, and sensory needs — and works collaboratively to identify what is getting in the way of daily life and wellbeing. His trauma-informed approach uses coaching methods to foster self-management and problem-solving skills, and he co-produces resources with clients to raise awareness of the challenges they face and the adjustments that can help.

Callum is trained in the COOP approach (Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance), a goal-directed intervention specifically effective for children and young people with coordination difficulties and DCD. He also applies Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) and Sensory Integration principles across his clinical work.

Qualifications and professional development

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy — Glasgow Caledonian University
• PGCert Sensory Integration — Sheffield Hallam University (the UK's only RCOT-accredited postgraduate SI programme)
• PGDip Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy — Queen Margaret University
• AHP Fellowship 2024–25 — NHS Education for Scotland
• Further training: COOP, Occupational Performance Coaching, Care Aims, Behavioural Activation, Sensory Ladder, The DECIDER Skills, ASSIST (Suicide Prevention), Functional Assessment, Quality Improvement

Callum is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).