Occupational Therapy
Individual sessions offered by registered Occupational Therapists.
About OT
Occupational therapy can be provided in a variety of settings, and each setting is unique in how and where therapy is recommended or implemented. Therapy can differ based on the organization providing the service, the age of the child, the developmental level of the child, the specific concerns (i.e., motor planning vs. activities of daily living), the severity of the concerns, the child’s temperament, the child’s learning style, and the child’s Occupational Therapist.
The Stewart Center provides occupational therapy utilizing a clinical model; however, our model maintains a close connection with the school model (for Westview students) and encourages collaboration amongst parents, teachers, and other staff members that can support the carryover and generalization of skills and supports.
Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. Occupational therapy practitioners ask, "What matters to you?" not, "What's the matter with you?" Occupational therapy services typically include:
-
an individualized evaluation to determine the client’s goals,
-
customized intervention to improve the client’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
-
an outcome evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Sessions Offered:
Individual Session (Sessions are $135 per hour and $67.50 for 30 minutes.)
Individual OT is focused on neurodevelopmental techniques, therapeutic play, self-help, fine and gross motor skills. For The Westview School students, The Stewart Center is able to provide a one-on-one clinic model for pull out-services throughout the school day or after school with the added benefit of teacher, staff and family involvement. This collaborative approach to therapy encompasses the whole child and facilitates true growth.
Occupational Therapy Assessments:
Occupational therapy assessment services are conducted by appropriately credentialed and trained Occupational Therapists. Most assessments cost around $350, but could be more or less expensive depending on the specific questions and age of the individual to be assessed.
Occupational therapy assessments include an individualized evaluation where the client, family, and occupational therapist work together to determine goals for a customized intervention to improve the client’s ability to perform daily activities. Occupational therapy assessments may include:
-
a review of relevant case history, including past and current medical, auditory, visual, motor, and cognitive status;
-
standardized and/or non-standardized methods selected with consideration for ecological validity, such as:
-
comprehensive evaluations of the client’s school, home, and/or other environments;
-
parent response instruments and observation to examine sensory-motor development, motor skills planning, and activities of daily living;
-
caregiver interview;
-
contextualized behavior and functional observations.
-
-
recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use;
-
guidance and education for family members and caregivers;
-
customized goals to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities;
-
recommendations for adapting the environment to fit the person;
-
recommendations and/or referrals for occupational therapy services;
-
recommendations and/or referrals for follow-up services from other disciplines (e.g., physical therapy, speech therapy, optometry, medical, and the like);
-
an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or to make changes to the intervention plan (in follow-up assessments)
Theresa is a Registered Occupational Therapist with experience working with children, youth, and adults with neurological differences in the private school, clinic, and community settings. She received her Doctorate Degree in Occupational Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, she worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is also a writer and consultant who offers her specialized knowledge to websites and companies serving the neurodiverse community.