About Taqua & Astrolabe Therapy
Supporting children, young people and adults across Solihull and the West Midlands
I work with children and families who are struggling with things that should feel easier — learning, focus, behaviour, coordination, confidence.
Often, parents know something isn’t quite right, but don’t yet have the language to explain it.
My role is to help make sense of those challenges and support children to feel more settled, capable and confident in themselves.
“I know what it feels like to struggle, but not understand why.”
Astrolabe Therapy was born from my own experience.
Growing up, I knew I was capable, but I struggled in ways that didn’t make sense: with learning, coordination, attention and confidence. Despite seeking help, I was often told there were no real answers.
That experience shaped everything I do now.
I understand how confusing and frustrating it can feel when a child is clearly struggling, but no one can fully explain why.
How I help…
I support children who are finding everyday things harder than they should be — whether that’s learning, behaviour, emotional regulation or coordination.
Using a movement-based, drug-free approach, I work to understand what may be happening beneath the surface and support the nervous system to develop in a more integrated way.
The aim is simple:
to help children feel more in control of their bodies, their emotions and their learning — so that things begin to feel easier, more natural and less overwhelming.
Training and experience…
BSc, PGDipEd, MA, NDT, INPP, JIAS, RMT
I am trained as a Neuro-Developmental Physiological Psychologist through the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) in Chester.
Before moving into this work, I trained and worked as a teacher, which gives me a strong understanding of how children learn and where difficulties can arise in the classroom.
I am also a certified Johansen IAS Practitioner and Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) Consultant, and have trained in additional movement-based and developmental approaches - such as Brain Gym, Touch for Health, and Movement for Learning.
My work is grounded in research, clinical practice and lived experience, and I continue to develop my knowledge to ensure I am offering the most effective support possible.
Why Astrolabe?
Every name has a story. This one is about finding direction.
An astrolabe is an ancient navigational tool, sometimes described as a medieval GPS. It was used to understand position, direction and movement by mapping the relationship between the earth, the sun and the stars.
Originally developed by the Greeks, the astrolabe was later refined by a female Arab Muslim astronomer, Mariam Al Astrulabi. Her work allowed for more precise measurements of time, location and movement, helping people better understand where they were and how to navigate forwards.
This idea sits at the heart of Astrolabe Therapy.
When a child is struggling, it can feel difficult to understand what is going on or which direction to take. Without a clear sense of what’s happening beneath the surface, everything can feel uncertain.
In the same way an astrolabe helps determine position and direction, this work is about understanding what may be affecting a child’s development — and using that insight to guide the next steps forward.
By helping the body feel more grounded and integrated, children can begin to feel more secure, more capable and more in control — creating a path towards greater independence, confidence and growth.
Astrolabe Therapy began as a personal journey.
Growing up, I knew I was capable, but I struggled in ways that didn’t make sense — academically, socially and physically. It affected my confidence, my ability to stay organised and focused, and how I connected with others.
Despite this, I was often told there were no real answers, and that I would simply have to accept my limitations.
Receiving a diagnosis brought some relief, but it didn’t provide a way forward. There was still a sense that something deeper had not been understood.
That experience led me to look beyond conventional approaches.
After years of searching, I discovered research and clinical work that explained what I had experienced , and more importantly, offered a practical, drug-free way to address it.
Through this work, I saw real and lasting change in myself.
My story…
I understand what it feels like when something isn’t working, but no one can fully explain why.
As both a teacher and a therapist, this shapes everything I do.
I am passionate about recognising early signs of difficulty and helping children before those challenges begin to impact their confidence, learning and sense of self.
I see each child not just through observation, but through lived understanding.
Behaviour is often misunderstood.
What can look like defiance, distraction or lack of effort is often a child trying to communicate something they cannot yet put into words. It can be a sign that their system is overwhelmed or not functioning as it should.
Many parents find themselves searching for answers, often feeling dismissed or offered quick solutions that don’t fully address the root cause.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
I know how difficult it can be when things don’t feel as they should, but there are no clear answers. I spent years searching for understanding, and that experience now shapes how I support the children and families I work with.
My aim is to help children feel more confident, capable and at ease in everyday life, whether that’s learning, socialising, moving their bodies, or simply feeling more settled in themselves.
I see your child, because I have lived what they may be going through.