OT That Meets Your Child Where Life Actually Happens
In-home, private-pay pediatric occupational therapy for children ages 2–18 in Central New York—support in your home, within your real routines, with one consistent provider who knows your child.
If this sounds like your child, I can help.
Every child I work with is different. But the families who find me tend to share a version of the same story: something is going on at home, at school, or out in the world, and the traditional system has run out of answers. This list isn’t exhaustive—it’s a starting point. If you see your child anywhere in it, let’s talk.
Big Feelings & Regulation
- Meltdowns that feel out of proportion or seem to come out of nowhere
- Difficulty recovering after hard moments
- Hard transitions between activities, places, or people
- Mornings, bedtime, or daily routines that feel consistently difficult
Sensory Processing & Daily Life
- Sensory overwhelm in public places like grocery stores, school, or family gatherings
- Strong reactions to clothing, food textures, sounds, or lights
- Difficulty with dressing, toileting, or eating independently
- Seeking intense movement (crashing, spinning) or avoiding movement (fear of unsteady ground)
- Stimming or venting frustration in harmful ways or ways that interfere with function
Participation & Everyday Skills
- Trouble sharing or joining in with peers, siblings, or group activities
- Challenges with utensils, cups, or straws
- Fine motor skills like handwriting, clothing fasteners, or coordination concerns
- Trouble focusing, following verbal directions, or completing everyday tasks
- Potty training challenges between ages 3–6
I work with children ages 2 to 18 and their families. I especially love the early years, when small shifts can create big change, but I also support older children and teens who need help building regulation, independence, and everyday skills.
What actually happens when I come over.
I arrive at your home with a plan, a bag of materials I think we’ll need, and a willingness to throw that plan out if your child needs something different that day. Every session is 60 minutes and follows a general structure that flexes based on your child.
Part 1: One-on-one with your child
I spend focused time working directly with your child. This is where I learn how they learn, what lights them up, what shuts them down, and what strategies are actually landing. To your child, it looks like play. To me, it’s assessment, connection, and skill-building all at once.
Part 2: Hands-on with you
You’re part of the session, not watching from the sidelines. I coach you through what I’m doing and why, and you get to practice it with your child while I’m still there to support you. I answer questions in real time, adjust the approach, and help troubleshoot as we go. This is the piece most clinics don’t include—and it’s often what makes the biggest difference long term.
Part 3: Time that’s just for you
Part of every session is dedicated to you as the parent. This might look like understanding what’s happening in your child’s nervous system, learning a self-regulation strategy for yourself during hard moments, or talking through how to stay emotionally connected when things feel overwhelming. We use this time for whatever support you need most that day.
You leave every session with practical, specific strategies that fit your real routines, along with the “why” behind them so you can adjust and grow with your child over time.
My approach, in plain language.
My work is built around three core commitments.
Co-regulation, not compliance
I prioritize co-regulation as the foundation of everything I do. Children learn to regulate their feelings and bodies by borrowing a calm, steady nervous system from a trusted adult. That’s the role I step into during sessions.
I’ve been told my whole life that I have a soft-spoken, calming, and deliberate presence. I bring that steadiness into my work so your child can experience what regulation actually feels like in real time, not just be told to do it.
Parent coaching, built in
You spend far more time with your child than I ever will—and that’s not a limitation, it’s the point. Every session is designed so you understand what we did, why we did it, and how to continue it in your daily routines.
My job is to make sure what we build together in 60 minutes actually carries into the other 10,020 minutes of your week.
Neurodiversity-affirming care
I love working with neurodiverse children. My goal is never to make your child less of who they are. It’s to support them in building the skills they need to move through the world with more ease, more capability, and more self-understanding—while still being fully themselves.
How This Is Different From What You’ve Tried Before
If you’ve worked with an OT in a clinic, school, or early intervention setting, you probably know the traditional model. Here’s how my approach differs, and why it matters.
| Traditional clinic or school OT | Empower Kids OT | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | A clinic room or a corner of the school | Your home, where real life happens |
| Session length | Often 30 minutes, back to back | A full 60 minutes, with time to meet your child where they are |
| Parent involvement | Parent usually waits outside, gets a quick handout at the end | Parent is part of the session and leaves with hands on practice |
| Who decides the goals | Insurance, school district, or clinic protocol | You, your child, and me |
| Waitlist | Often months long | None, we start when you're ready |
| Evaluation | Time-crunched, checklist driven | Thorough, unhurried, built around your actual concerns |
