My philosophy promotes reaching independence through play and function. I believe that children are more prepared to reach their goals when therapy is provided in spaces where children spend their time, naturally, so they can better generalize their skills and find confidence through the process! Occupations are strengthened through meaningful engagement in real-life scenarios. Whether support is needed in the home, at a playground, in a preschool classroom, at a grocery story, a barber’s shop, or anywhere in between, services come to you! My belief is that children function best when they feel safe, and our goal is to deliver safety through impacting the nervous system with therapeutic and evidence based strategies that lead to greater resilience, skill, and sensory health.

Who might we help?

I work with infants, children, and adolescents across all stages of development, alongside the entire family, and any other members of a child’s care team. From a fussy infant with regulatory or feeding challenges to a toddler missing developmental milestones. A preschooler with attention concerns to a kindergartner with difficulty writing letters. A school-age child having difficulty learning to ride a bike to a teenager learning life skills as they prepare to move into adulthood…and anything in between!

I believe parents are the experts of their children, and it’s my goal to listen to you to gain a better understanding of the challenges you are up against as a parent, so that we can work together to create an action plan that works. I will meet you with compassion and knowledge, and use up-to-date research on child development and brain science, so we can tackle challenges with confidence. Whether you are searching for solutions on how to better structure your home environment to build in calm spaces, how to increase consistency of language between caregivers, how to better support transitions, I am here to help! My goal is to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, so we can customize strategies with your family’s individual desires at the forefront. Understanding your child’s developing brain and learning effective ways to intentionally connect with your child’s needs will surely empower you to thrive on your parenthood journey! Parent coaching can be delivered via phone, online, or in person within the context of your home or community.

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a neurophysiological listening therapy that is scientifically supported to regulate the nervous system, for improved attention, arousal, and social engagement. This program was developed and researched for decades by Dr. Stephen Porges, and is based on the Polyvagal Theory, or “the science of feeling safe.” The goal of the SSP is to build a more resilient nervous system, leading to improved regulation and daily functioning. When the nervous system detects safety, we move out of ‘fight-or-flight’, creating space for spontaneous social engagement to occur.

The SSP is designed to stimulate the vagus nerve and the neural networks associated with listening, leading to positive changes within the nervous system. Through the listening of a five-hour therapeutically-altered musical playlist, SSP trains the middle ear muscles to tune into cues of safety, as signaled by the same frequencies of human voice. When we can move the nervous system out of chronic states of ‘fight-flight-or shutdown’, it allows us to respond versus react to life’s challenges, become more responsive to our emotional needs, access higher learning and cognition, and build positive social relationships.

It can be woven into your child’s therapy, or used as a stand alone service, and is also offered for adults. Visit the What is Safe and Sound website to learn more! Contact me today for a free SSP consultation so I can determine if this program would enrich your life, or the life of your child.

Whether it’s board games, yard games, gross motor equipment, scooters, swings, books, or just about anything in between, I am excited to offer families the opportunity to rent therapeutic equipment for home programming. Whether its use is for skill attainment between therapy sessions, or in conjunction to a parent coaching or consultative model of care, I will guide recommendations that will foster growth.

From teacher workshops, to university ‘career path’ events, to parent groups, and everything in between, I am passionate about educating others on the impact that occupational therapy can have on people’s lives. Having had numerous successful speaking opportunities (and growing) , I am confident in my ability to tailor topics to meet the specific learning goals of each group. Topics can range from understanding how sensory integration impacts learning, to practical strategies for improved co-regulation & finding the calm after the storm, to beyond behaviors & getting curious with all children…options are endless! Contact me today to inquire about how I can best contribute to the growth and development of your group or organization.

Are you an occupational therapist who is newly licensed, new to pediatrics, or just overwhelmed by the feeling that you don’t have all the skills and tools you need to feel successful in supporting the families you work with, despite your best intentions to do so? With greater than 10 years of clinical experience, paired with extensive experience in mentoring employees, as well as hosting a pediatric study group, I am equipped to provide you with individualized, supportive, and insightful learning opportunities. I am passionate about ensuring that all therapists within our community feel empowered with the information, support, and resources they need to go beyond surface level treatment, and to ultimately grow in their confidence and career satisfaction!

I am also available for consultative services for therapy practice owners who would benefit from having a highly trained therapist to help mentor staff for greater employee retention. Or perhaps you are a non-OT practice owner who employs OT’s, and could use environmental consulting to help you create thoughtful therapy spaces that are tailored towards ensuring your OTs feel equipped with a space that will allow them to flourish.