Hello, I’m Laura, a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in supporting children in foster care. My goal is to help children thrive in their new homes by addressing challenges that might stem from their experiences. Here’s how I can support your foster child and your family:

Understanding the Impacts of Trauma: Many children in foster care have experienced trauma, which can affect their emotions, behavior, and ability to focus. I can help them develop healthy coping mechanisms, manage emotions, and build resilience through play and other fun activities.

Addressing Sensory Processing Challenges: Some children have difficulty processing sensory information from their surroundings, such as sights, sounds, touches, or smells. I can assess these challenges and create calming or stimulating environments to help them regulate their sensory input. This can make daily activities feel less overwhelming.

Promoting Self-Regulation Skills: Self-regulation is all about managing emotions, attention, and behavior. Through play therapy and activities that promote focus and relaxation, I can help children develop these crucial skills for success in school and social situations.

The modalities I use include:

Interactive Metronome: This fun tool helps with focus, attention, motor skills, and even sensory processing. It involves coordinating physical movements with auditory cues.

Reflex Integration Techniques: These gentle exercises can help integrate reflexes that might be impacting a child’s coordination, balance, or attention.

Visual Assessment and Support: I can check a child’s vision and how their eyes work together. If needed, I can provide treatment or refer them to a vision specialist for further evaluation.

Sensory Processing Assessment and Treatment: By understanding how a child reacts to different sensory stimuli, I can develop treatment strategies and recommend tools to help them manage their sensory input, making daily life smoother.

I’m passionate about helping children in foster care reach their full potential, and I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. Therefore, my services are completely free for your family.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to discuss how I can support you and your family.