Occupational therapy focuses on a child’s fine motor skills, self help skills, and sensory development. At Downtown Kids Therapy our therapists are trained to evaluate each child, and develop a treatment plan to help the child reach their goals.
Occupational therapy utilizes a child-centered approach in assessing and treating functional skills and everyday activities. A child’s most important “occupation” is play, therefore therapy incorporates meaningful tasks in order to promote a child’s development, independence and well-being.
Occupational therapists:
Assess and treat sensory processing difficulties
Increase independence with self-care skills such as dressing and self-feeding
Practice social interactions through peer play
Improve upper extremity muscle strength, endurance, and motor planning skills
Assist with skills needed for school readiness, including pre-writing and handwriting
Collaborate with other service providers including teachers, physical therapists, and speech therapists to promote carryover of skills in all domains
Provide families with home education programs and resources to help in home and school
Sara is a co-founder of Downtown Kids Therapy. She graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
Sara has worked in various settings including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, and an outpatient clinic for the past four years, but has found her passion working with children in a sensory gym environment. She has been trained in Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, the ALERT Program, Handwriting Without Tears, and Self-Regulation in Children. Sara was awarded “Best in Patient Care” in 2018 by the American Health Council.
Ariana received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She has begun her D.I.R. Floortime certification which she uses daily with her patients.
Ariana utilizes a fun, play-based, and individualized approach to therapy. She enjoys learning about children’s passions and interests and incorporating them into sessions to make therapy more meaningful. She has a passion for working with children of all ages and helping families flourish. She has worked in multiple settings including pediatric and adult outpatient clinics, acute and inpatient rehab, pediatric inpatient psychiatric hospital, and school settings. Ariana is passionate about providing a collaborative environment to promote education, confidence, and carryover at home and at school.
Alexandra earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. Her specialized training includes Yoga for Children, Handwriting Without Tears, Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, and she is currently pursuing certification in DIRFloortime.
Alexandra's approach is holistic and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic relationship-building and learning about the whole child. She works to build a nurturing, empowering environment, so that both the child and their family feel comfortable, confident, and excited to grow. Alexandra loves getting to know each child's unique interests and strengths, and fostering joy in the therapeutic experience with creative, individualized, dynamic treatment design.
Jill earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Stanbridge University in Southern California. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated summa cum laude with honors including an award for Academic Excellence and an induction into Pi Theta Epsilon, the occupational therapy honor society.
Jill is passionate about providing compassionate, playful, and individualized Care to help children and their families thrive. She has experience working in outpatient, sensory gym, and school-based settings. She enjoys learning about each child’s sensory needs and abilities to lead them towards their full potential. Jill works creatively to include each child’s interests into their therapy, promoting a collaborative environment in which children can grow in skill and confidence.
Rachel received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in North Carolina. She has had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings with children of all ages and countless diagnoses. She has devoted the majority of her career working with children in public and private schools, sensory clinics, home health, and in early intervention.
Rachel focuses on building therapeutic relationships with each child. She uses child centered and sensory forward treatments that address each individual child’s interests and needs to help them engage and learn to promote their growth and development.
