Senior Occupational Therapist,
Founding Director
Kim Nicolson
I began practicing as an occupational therapist in my home country, Scotland in 1987
before embarking on an overseas adventure to Singapore. Intending to move on after
completing a contract with Tan Tock Seng Hospital, I am still here 32 years later.
I began working with children early in my career at the Cerebral Palsy Association
(Singapore). I then worked in Kandang Kerbau Hospital and Dover Court School before
returning to the UK for a year in the late 90’s to work at the Mary Sheridan Centre and
study for the American occupational therapy exam.
I returned to Singapore and set up Kaleidoscope in 1999 with Suvi, after realizing there
was a growing need for more pediatric services here. It was a very exciting time and
opening a private practice enabled me to travel to places like the US and the UK to attend
training opportunities with trailblazing therapists who were bringing new approaches into
the field of occupational therapy. It also allowed us to invite speakers that we highly
respected to come to Singapore and share their knowledge.
Opening Kaleidoscope meant that I have had to master new skills outside of my clinical
role. Some I have enjoyed such as being able to build, design and furnish our therapy
spaces others, such as budgeting for these spaces, have been more challenging!
Supervising, mentoring and ensuring our therapists stay up to date within their field has
been an important part of my work.
Becoming a mother added a deeper understanding and empathy for the families I served
and significantly changed the way I practiced as a therapist. I also have a family member
whose diagnosis has enabled me to view things from a different perspective and with a
different lens and this has reminded me that nothing is static, and we must all continue to
learn, adapt, and change the way we practice in order to provide the best support to our
clients.
