Establishing roots for lifelong growth.
What is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric OTs work with children and youth to help them accomplish the things that they need to do (such as eating, using the bathroom, or getting dressed), want to do (such as playing, participating in sports/games, or socializing), and are expected to do (such as schoolwork or helping around the house).
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A child may struggle with these tasks due to challenges in sensory processing skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual spatial skills, and/or visual perceptual skills.
The OT will work with your child and family using a strengths-based approach to support them in working towards collaboratively-set goals.
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Our aim is to understand and target the underlying roots of the child's challenge(s), rather than managing behaviours.
What is Sensory Processing?
The foundation of human development...
The sensory system tells us information about what is happening both inside and outside of our bodies. When children have challenges in the perception and processing of sensory information, they may struggle in many contexts, including at school, at home, and with peers. An occupational therapist can complete a thorough assessment to understand how a child processes sensory input. Recommendations can then be provided to the child's support team to promote their success and health at home, at school, and in the community.
Our 8 Senses:
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the general process for accessing your services?
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Send us a message (see 'contact us' page) to schedule a virtual meet & greet to see if OT is right for your child. We can then set up an initial assessment. Ongoing therapy may then be recommended.
Where do you provide services?
- We work with children in their homes, their schools, or in the community. We also have access to local studio spaces if that works best for your child.
Do you directly bill private insurance?
- No, but we will happily provide you with a detailed invoice for you to submit to your provider.
Do I need a referral from a pediatrician?
- No referral is needed to access private OT services!
Can I use ministry funding (autism/at home program) to access services?
- Absolutely! We can help guide the process to get this set up, if needed.
What if I don't have ministry funding or private insurance?
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Please reach out as we might be able to support you in accessing other avenues of funding.
My child already has an OT assessment. Can we skip right to direct therapy?
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Maybe! We are happy to work off of another therapist's assessment, if it provides us with enough information to understand your child's sensory needs to guide treatment. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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Still have questions? Email Nicola, nicola@oaktreeot.ca