The Children’s Therapy Centre is situated in Walmer, Gqeberha. Every day we endeavour to use our experience, skills, training and expertise to touch and change the life of every child we are privileged enough to help. Our team is made up of dedicated, determined and passionate professionals who are constantly increasing their knowledge and effectiveness through attending courses and staying abreast of latest treatment techniques.
There is no lack of fun when working with our special little ones and no resource is spared in ensuring your child receives the very best care they deserve.
Our multi-faceted team approach allows us to treat your child with a holistic perspective which we have found to be very beneficial. We all rely heavily on our specialised training and our years of first-hand experience in working with children.
Meet Samantha Schonknecht.
Samantha is a paediatric physiotherapist with over 20 years experience in the paediatric field. She worked in London for 13 years before moving back to South Africa in 2016, where she worked at The Children’s Therapy Centre in Johannesburg before moving to PE in 2024.
Samantha has a specialist interest and expertise in postural management for children with complex disabilities and gained a post graduate certification from Oxford Brookes University (UK) in this area in 2012. Samantha is an advanced NDT trained practioner as well as completing the Sensory Integration module 1 and Sensory Integration Intervention courses. She has advanced training in both gait analysis and orthotic prescription using the Elaine Owen method and Aquatic Therapy (hydrotherapy) for children with neurological conditions. She has also completed training in MAES Therapy; and has advanced training in the General Movements Assessment.
Samantha is passionate about the children and families she works with; understanding that the way babies and children move is the foundation for everything else that they do and so it’s critical that we get that right.
Meet Petronell Clarke.
Petronell is a physiotherapist with over 10 years of experience. She commenced her career as a women’s health physiotherapist, working primarily in the maternity ward. A few years ago she was approached by the NICU Matron and invited to expand her scope of practice to include supporting the care of NICU babies. Recognising the importance of this opportunity, she embarked on a series of specialised courses to enhance her knowledge and skills in managing neurological disabilities in paediatric patients.
This training has enabled her to transition into paediatric physiotherapy, where she has continued to grow and develop her expertise. Petronell has advanced training in the General Movements Assessments. She has developed a love with the field of paediatrics and is dedicated to providing high-quality physiotherapy services to babies and children.
As physiotherapists our aim is to help each child develop the skills they are missing. We specialise in early intervention, so we treat babies and children with movement and coordination difficulties. Our focus is on quality of movement – how a child moves rather than what they can do. Children need to be able to coordinate their bodies in a three dimensional manner with control in all directions.
The way we use our bodies lays the foundation for the development of all other skills (eg. visual, fine motor and speech)
For babies and children who are not achieving their milestones timeously
Premature babies, babies that have been hospitalised or in NICU or have had meningitis or encephalitis
Neurological conditions affecting movement and posture
Congenital conditions that affect movement and posture
Physical conditions affecting movement, balance and co-ordination
Our therapists use experience, skills, training and expertise to touch and change the life of every child we are privileged enough to help.
Privacy Policy Design & Development by Black Alsatian
