Dates: 14–17 December 2026 (Monday–Thursday)
Venue: The Passion Hub Child Development & Therapy Centre, 112 Lorong Madras, Georgetown, 10450 Penang, Malaysia
Main Trainer: Kim Barthel, Occupational Therapist, International Speaker, Author & Mentor (Canada)
Hosted by: Be Ready Occupational Therapy Centre, in collaboration with The Passion Hub Consultancy & Resources and Relationship Matters
Capacity: Limited to 20 participants
Developing Clinical Skills Beyond Techniques
Clinical excellence is more than knowing what to do — it is understanding why, when, and how to adapt your clinical reasoning and intervention approach to each individual. This intensive combines evidence-informed practice, clinical mentorship, hands-on learning, and reflective practice to strengthen flexible clinical reasoning and holistic intervention planning.
This is the second intake of the Excellence in Clinical Practice programme, following an overwhelming response to the first intake in Melaka (10–13 November 2026), which is now full. This Penang intake offers a new opportunity to join Kim Barthel and an international clinical facilitation team for four days of live, hands-on learning.
What You'll Experience
• Strengthen clinical reasoning from assessment through to intervention
• Observe and participate in live client sessions
• Benefit from small-group mentorship
• Receive individualised, strength-based feedback
• Engage in pool sessions to deepen observation, clinical reasoning, and collaborative learning
What Makes This Intensive Unique
Thoughtfully Curated Live Clinical Learning — Live clinical sessions are planned around participants' learning needs. Clients are carefully selected to represent a diverse range of ages, presentations, and therapeutic goals, providing opportunities to explore clinical reasoning across a variety of real-world cases.
Mentorship in Small Groups — With participation limited to just 20 clinicians, participants receive individualised guidance, engage in meaningful discussions, and benefit from close interaction with Kim Barthel and the international clinical facilitation team.
Strength-Based Clinical Feedback — Receive individualised, constructive feedback designed to support clinical growth, reflective practice, and confidence in applying learning to your own clients.
Collaborative Clinical Reasoning — Learn alongside an interdisciplinary group of professionals through case discussions, pool sessions, and reflective dialogue that deepen clinical thinking and broaden perspectives.
A Unique Clinical Learning Environment
Learning takes place within a purpose-built therapy centre designed to support authentic clinical practice. Rather than remaining in a single training room, participants rotate through multiple therapy spaces where live assessments, intervention sessions, discussions, and mentorship occur concurrently — including sensory and gross-motor therapy rooms and an on-site pool for aquatic (Halliwick) sessions. This dynamic environment provides opportunities to observe a diverse range of clients, clinical presentations, and therapeutic approaches while engaging in meaningful discussion and reflection with mentors and peers.
Who Should Attend
Ideal for occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, special needs educators, and other professionals supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Meet Our Main Trainer
Kim Barthel — Occupational Therapist, International Speaker, Author, Mentor (Canada)
Kim Barthel is an occupational therapist, multi-disciplinary speaker, mentor, and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts globally. She is passionate about integrating neurobiology, complex behaviour, trauma-sensitive and neurodiverse-affirming practice, sensory processing, movement, attachment, and mental health.
Kim was honoured to win the Award of Merit from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy in 2019, and in 2025 received an award from the international ATTACh Association for innovation in treatment of children with unique needs. With 42+ years of practice helping people be their best selves, Kim's overall mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit — and she is still learning every day.
www.kimbarthel.ca | Relationship Matters
Meet the Clinical Facilitation Team
Nikki Smit — Occupational Therapist, International Speaker & Mentor (Singapore)
Nikki Smit is an occupational therapist, speaker, educator, and mentor with over 15 years of clinical experience, teaching and mentoring practitioners across disciplines worldwide. Through her private practice, Project Play, she works with children, adults, families, and organisations in Singapore. Her work sits at the intersection of nervous system regulation, sensory health, mental health, and relational, trauma-sensitive care. As a neurodivergent practitioner, her lived experience shapes how she teaches and works, with a particular focus on presence, attunement, and use of self in the therapeutic relationship.
Loganathan Gurusamy — Physiotherapist, International Speaker & Mentor (India)
Mr. Loganathan Gurusamy is a physiotherapist specialising in neurorehabilitation and a PhD candidate in Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapy and Developmental Sciences. He is certified in Advanced Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, Ayres Sensory Integration, PNF (level 3), and Aquatic Therapy, among others. He owns Therapy India, organising international rehabilitation certification programmes, and maintains a private practice in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Hannah Edwards — Occupational Therapist, International Speaker & Mentor (Australia)
Hannah Edwards is an Australian occupational therapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience supporting children and their families across private practice, community health, and school settings. She works clinically at the Gabrielle Centre for Children within a neuro-affirming, relationship-based, and sensory integrative multidisciplinary team, and is co-founder of Mind 2 Mind Courses and CPD Retreats. Hannah also brings a deeply personal perspective to her work through her lived experience of parenting a child with Down syndrome.
Benson Song (Song Yu Seng) — Occupational Therapist, Founder of Be Ready Occupational Therapy Centre (Malaysia)
Benson Song is a paediatric occupational therapist with over 12 years of experience supporting children with developmental, learning, sensory, and behavioural challenges. He founded Be Ready Occupational Therapy Centre, home to Malaysia's largest team of full-time occupational therapists in a private paediatric practice, delivering Early Intervention Programmes, Sensory Integration, School Readiness, and Adolescent Independence programmes.
Jacqlynn Teong (Teong Chia Ying) — Occupational Therapist, Co-founder of The Passion Hub (Malaysia)
Jacqlynn Teong is an occupational therapist with over 12 years of clinical experience supporting infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with developmental, neurological, sensory, emotional, and participation challenges. As Principal Occupational Therapist and Co-Founder of The Passion Hub, she leads a multidisciplinary team providing neuro-affirming, evidence-informed, and relationship-based services, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Malaysian Occupational Therapists Association (MOTA).
Special Mention
Bob Spensley — Co-founder & CEO, Relationship Matters (Canada)
Bob Spensley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Relationship Matters, with over 30 years of experience in education, community development, leadership, and professional learning. Working alongside Kim Barthel, Bob supports the development and delivery of training programmes for professionals worldwide.
A Special Gift for Participants
Courtesy of Kim Barthel, Bob Spensley, and Relationship Matters, every participant who successfully enrols and completes full payment for the Clinical Intensive will receive complimentary access to one (1) pre-recorded, on-demand course series of their choice, including a live Q&A session. Topics include Trauma Sensitive Practice, Sleep Matters, Autism Matters, Regulation Matters, and more.
Optional Pre-Course Penang Experience
To welcome participants before the programme begins, Be Ready and The Passion Hub are planning an optional Pre-Course Penang Experience on Sunday, 13 December 2026 — a chance to explore Penang, meet fellow participants and facilitators, and build connections before the course starts. Participation is entirely optional; personal expenses are borne by each participant.
Registration
Spaces are limited to 20 participants. For registration and enquiries, contact:
Benson: +6014-316 8868 (text/call/WhatsApp)
Email: bereadyot19@hotmail.com
Hosted by: Be Ready OT Centre in collaboration with The Passion Hub
