OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WORK TO HELP CHILDREN DO THE THINGS THEY NEED AND WANT TO DO THROUGH THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF DAILY ACTIVITIES (OCCUPATIONS).

Children’s Therapy Place provides pediatric occupational therapy services to children so they can live life to its fullest by helping promote health, and prevent or live better with injury, illness, or disability.

Special Programs

Handwriting Without Tears

Handwriting Without Tears– Our therapists are trained in the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. Handwriting Without Tears intervention addresses developmental and appropriate foundational skills for handwriting. The curriculum is research-based and uses an engaging multisensory approach for children to learn and improve writing skills. Parents are also provided tips and resources to carryover learning in the home.

Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) Approach to Feeding

Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) Approach to Feeding– Children’s Therapy Place now offers feeding therapy using Dr. Kay Toomey’s Ph.D. Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, a systematic desensitization program respected and used worldwide to treat feeding issues. It can also be used to treat oral motor delays. We offer individual and group feeding sessions.

Some of the red flags that may indicate a child is in need of feeding therapy include:

- - Ongoing poor weight gain
  - Weight loss
  - Ongoing choking/gagging
  - Coughing during meals
  - Inability to transition to baby food purees or solids
  - Family is fighting about food with child
  - Parent repeatedly reports the child as difficult for everyone to feed

Therapeutic Listening®

Therapeutic Listening®-Is a specific sound based intervention focusing on developmental and sensory processing challenges. It uses organized sound patterns and music to impact the nervous system to increase attention, balance, body awareness and control, communication, social engagement, and organization of sensory input. This is an evidence-based protocol that helps children become more organized, improve behavior regulation, and to have more frequent and positive therapeutic outcomes.

Astronaut Training

Astronaut Training– A specially designed program which addresses 3 different and very important sensory systems: the vestibular, visual, and auditory systems. Functional improvements in the child are seen with spatial awareness, general movement coordination, sensory regulation, attention, visual tracking, and locating and perceiving sound in their environment.

The program uses a rotary board to test a child’s responsiveness to rotary movements. When a child is positioned in sitting and lying, the head is positioned to activate the inner ear hair cells while the eyes are closed to create a post rotary nystagmus (flickering of the eyes). The rotary board is rotated in counterclockwise and clockwise directions for up to 10 seconds with directional music input provided. Post rotary, the nystagmus of the eyes is assessed to determine the child’s response to the input. Most children’s response should last up to approximately 7 seconds. When it is determined that a child has an atypical response, various treatment protocols are implemented to assist the child in integrating their vestibular, visual, and auditory processing.

Zones Program for Self Regulation

Zones Program for Self Regulation– A cognitive-behavioral approach to help individuals learn self-regulation skills. The Zones framework is designed to address underlying emotional and sensory regulation deficits and help children move toward independent regulation. Our therapists utilize the program and its numerous visuals to help children determine their alertness level, behaviors, and how they may be affecting themselves and those around them. Children are able to take tools into their daily lives and effectively manage behavior and feelings.

Specialty Areas

Fine Motor Development

Sensory Processing

Motor Coordination

Handwriting

School Function & Participation

Visual Perceptual Skill Development

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD)

Down Syndrome

Self-Regulation

Self-Care Skills

Social Skills

Feeding

Sensory Diets

MEET OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

Elisa B. OTR/L

Kylie H., OTD, OTR/L – Twin Falls OT Team Lead
Location: Twin Falls Office
Kylie completed her doctorate in occupational therapy at Creighton University which is located in Omaha, Nebraska. She moved to Twin Falls after completing her education to fulfill her dream of working with children and exploring the outdoors. Kylie has worked with children of all abilities for 10 years and has continued her passion for children through OT. Kylie specifically enjoys helping children with sensory processing needs, social emotional/ emotional regulation needs, and helping children reach those important milestones through creative activities. When Kylie is not in the office, she is found hiking in the mountains, kayaking/boating/swimming at the lake, golfing at the course, or skiing on the slopes.

Megan K., OTR/L
Location: Boise
Originally from Declo, Idaho, Megan received her education from Idaho State University. In her free time, she enjoys games, walks, hiking, reading, audiobooks, and learning new activities and information about the world around her!

Tara P., COTA/L
Location: Twin Falls Office
Tara has been a COTA for 23 years! She graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1992, College of Southern Idaho 1994, and American Institute of Health Technology with an AAS in Occupational Therapy 1997. Tara has worked in the Boise, Meridian, Nampa area for 12 years and then moved back home to Twin Falls for the last 11 years. Her favorite areas of therapy are birth to 5 year olds, she loves to do aquatic therapy and especially horse therapy (aka Hippotherapy). In her spare time since her kids are older, Tara has found a love for kayaking and going to her family’s cabin to chill and read books.

Stephanie S., COTA/L – OT Department Lead
Location: Boise Office

Erica W., MS, OTR/L
Location: Meridian Office
Erica grew up in San Diego, CA and moved to the Bay Area of Northern California to attend college. She graduated from San Jose State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2014, and Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2015. Shortly after, she moved to Idaho with her husband to enjoy the slower pace of life! As an OT, she has worked in subacute rehab, home health, acute rehab, and most recently, pediatrics. She loves helping children achieve their goals through play! Erica feels fortunate she is able to work part-time and spend so much time raising her two young daughters. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, traveling, and enjoying activities her kids love!

Hanna A. OTR/L
Location: Boise Office

Christine H-OTR/L
Location: Boise

Originally from Chino, California, Christine received her education from Loma Linda University. In her free time, she loves crafting, being outdoors, spending time with family, playing with her dog, working out and reading.

Keera S., BS COTA/L

Location: Meridian