Intervention strategies are child-specific. Every child is different, so every therapy session looks different.

Child's attachment to the therapist: The basics of what is important for typical children is also what is most important for children with challenges. We need to provide a place of connection and belonging; and every child needs to have someone who delights in them!

Parent Education: Our occupational therapists love to impart strategies, skills, and knowledge to caregivers so they come away feeling confident and eager to work alongside their child, from day to day, until the next session.

That is the starting point of intervention, and from there... we springboard towards our desired outcome. Subcortical processing (subconscious, below the cortex in areas such as reticular activating system) is necessary for cortical processing (e.g. executive functions such as planning, attention, organization). Thus, in our holistic approach, sensory integration theory forms the foundation leading to improvements in balance & posture, perceptual reasoning, gross motor skills and fine motor (e.g. handwriting).

 

 

Our knowledge comes from ongoing, current work and research including:

  • Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certified (200 hour training in sensory integration by leading professors in the field)

  • Gordon Neufeld - Diana is a Graduate of The Neufeld Institute Intensive 1,2,3 plus Advanced Studies in Adolescence and Advanced Studies in Anxiety (approximately 150 hours); all staff complete learning from Gordon Neufeld

  • Integrated Listening System Practitioner (iLS)

  • Strategies of Michelle Garcia Winner - social thinking

  • Kelly Mahler - international speaker and author on Interoception

  • Cris Rowan - OT, author of "virtual child"

  • Can Child, McMaster University

  • Cutting Edge Strategies to Improve Executive Function (Sarah Ward)

  • Special Interest Groups - pediatric OTs

As well as a strong foundation based upon:

  • Occupational therapy theory and models of practice.

  • Years of hands-on clinical experience with a diversity of children