SERVICES
EVALUATION
A formal evaluation is completed for each child before receiving occupational therapy treatment, unless a recent occupational therapy evaluation has been completed elsewhere within the past 6 months. This evaluation will formally assess your child’s overall functional abilities, strengths, and areas of need. This valuable information will help me determine the need, frequency, and type of service delivery. Evaluations are approximately 1 to 2 hours in length. Parents are welcome to attend and observe the evaluation but I ask that interactions with your child are kept to a minimum as this will help ensure the validity of the results.
HOME-bAsed occupational therapy
There is tremendous value in observing and working with children in their natural environment. Typically, children are most comfortable in their home setting which allows them to be their true self and supports carry over by families. I bring my own novel therapy activities as well as incorporate your child’s familiar preferred or non-preferred tasks in the home to address individualized goals developed with the family. Sessions are typically 60 minutes long with the last 5-10 minutes focused on debriefing with the caregiver, if present. Family members are always welcome and encouraged to join OT sessions at home.
school-based occupational therapy
When a child primarily struggles in the school environment, it is best practice to receive support within that natural environment. If your school team agrees to visits from a specialist, occupational therapy sessions can be held in this setting as well – either in addition in home services or solely in the school setting. Depending on your child’s needs and comfort level of your school team, I can spend time in the classroom or pull the child out in an individualized setting to provide treatment and strategies.
feeding therapy
In order to address feeding challenges, I provide occupational therapy services to children using the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) treatment approach. The SOS feeding approach is grounded in stages and skills of feeding found in typically developing children. Children will participate in "Food School", therapeutic sessions dedicated to helping kids learn how to eat new foods through play and systematic desensitization during structured meals. We will first complete a comprehensive feeding and oral motor evaluation to help identify food preferences, patterns, and possible oral motor weaknesses contributing to picky eating habits.
preschool screenings
A preschool screening can be initiated by a child's teacher or parent. A screening consists of a brief discussion with the parent and/or teacher, via phone or in-person, regarding concerns related to a child's development. I then coordinate and schedule a visit to the school to observe the child's abilities and behaviors in the familiar preschool environment to determine whether or not a full evaluation is warranted.
SPECIALIZING IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN WHO MAY HAVE
Sensory processing challenges
Self care difficulties
Behavior or self regulation challenges
Handwriting difficulties
Delayed developmental milestones
Feeding struggles or picky eating habits
Fine motor/visual motor deficits
Autism spectrum disorder
Down syndrome
Genetic disorders