Hi, my name is Doug and I’m a COTA which stands for, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I have been a COTA working with kids since 2011 both in the school and pediatric outpatient settings. As a COTA, I get to help kiddos work toward their occupational therapy goals, mostly through play, as play is one of their main occupations.
Why Occupational Therapy? Because it’s fun and there is diversity in what we get to work on such as fine and gross motor skills, regulation, reflexes, ADLs (activities of daliy living), sensory input, and the list goes on. But also, I like that occupational therapy looks at the child as a whole.
Why kids? Because kids are fun! I feel that I have an ability to connect with them, often using humor, and wanting to make them feel known. I grew up as a “quiet” kid having anxiety (but I didn’t know it at the time) and often felt overlooked and unknown. I try to remember that with each kiddo I work with in hopes that they will feel seen, heard, and known. I believe that each child is unique, special and is their own person.
Though we don’t know it all, my hope is that through this website and blog we can help support you with knowledge and information to help you and your kiddos wherever they may be on this journey called life.
Hi, my name is Taylor and I am a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). I currently hold a certification in mindfulness and am a trained SOS approach to feeding specialist as well as a certified clinical child and adolescent anxiety treatment professional.
By receiving therapy services as a young child and having a strong passion for helping others, I developed a desire to work in occupational therapy. Kids have a special place in my heart from years of experience in nannying, working in daycares, and working as a COTA in a pediatric outpatient clinic.
I sincerely enjoy helping kids of all ages within the areas of occupation including play, education, social interactions, and activities of daily living. Occupational therapy allows kiddos to be as independent as they can be through meaningful and purposeful activities. I have assisted kids with fine and gross motor skills, visual motor integration, sensory processing, social skills, anxiety management, and oral motor feeding skills.
Through this blog, I hope to share the knowledge of occupational therapy and how to help your kiddos live life to the fullest.