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.
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.
Erin received her masters and doctorate in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern California (USC), where she specialized in pediatrics. Erin has her Sensory Integration Certification from USC which she uses daily with her patients. She also has an Advanced Practice in Swallowing and provides feeding therapy for babies and children with swallowing disorders or picky eating issues.
She has worked in pediatric settings like the NICU, private practices, early intervention, and schools. She has provided care to children ages 0-17 with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory integration disorders, genetic anomalies, ADHD, and other diagnoses. She enjoys making sessions child-led so that every child leaves happy and she feels strongly about working with the parents, child, and other health care providers as a team for each child to reach their goals.
