Healing Strides Counseling is partnered with
Bloom Occupational Therapy
What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy is a client centered practice used to promote engagement and success in everyday activities. Pediatric occupational therapy can address a wide variety of skills including fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, balance and coordination, social participation, milestone development, and so much more. Pediatric occupational therapy grows these skills through engagement in a child’s most important occupation, play! We can collaborate to ensure that your child is able to positively participate in desired and necessary activities throughout their day.
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Bloom Occupational Therapy with Katie Henderson, MOT, OTR/L
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Katie Henderson, MOT, OTR/L of Bloom Occupational Therapy & partnering with Healing Strides Counseling Services LLC in Kent, Ohio.
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Katie Henderson, MOT, OTR/L
Hello! I am Katie Henderson, a pediatric occupational therapist committed to helping your child reach their maximum potential! I am a graduate of Kent State University’s Human Development and Family Studies undergraduate program and completed my Master’s of Occupational Therapy at Walsh University. I specialize in working with children and adolescents helping them grow their independence in life skills. Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, baking, traveling to new places, and watching all the new movies and tv shows. I look forward to supporting you and your family gain independence in everyday occupations! |
Pediatric Occupational Therapy offers a wide range of physical and psychological benefits to help kids thrive
What Skills Can Be Improved with Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric occupational therapy works on a variety of essential skills to help children develop and function more effectively in their daily lives.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
A key area of focus is movement and coordination, where therapists help children improve both fine motor skills, such as grasping objects and manipulating tools, and gross motor skills, including balance and coordination. These physical abilities are crucial for everyday tasks like dressing, playing, and participating in sports.
Sensory Processing Skills
Additionally, sensory processing is a critical component of pediatric OT, where children learn how to interpret and respond to sensory information such as touch, sound, and movement. This is particularly beneficial for children who may be overly sensitive or under-responsive to sensory stimuli.
Visual and Cognitive Skills
Improving visual-motor and visual-perceptual skills is another focus, as therapists work on hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and spatial awareness, which are vital for activities such as writing, reading, and playing sports. This important area encompasses training thoughts, perception, and memory, where occupational therapy helps children develop cognitive skills like problem-solving, attention, and memory retention, enabling them to focus, learn, and navigate their environments more successfully.
Emotional and Behavioral Regulation Skills
Lastly, self-regulation and coping skills are emphasized to help children manage their emotions and behaviors. This includes learning strategies for emotional regulation, impulse control, and coping with frustration, which are essential for social interactions and academic success. Through these targeted areas, pediatric occupational therapy provides children with the tools they need to thrive both at home and in school..
A key area of focus is movement and coordination, where therapists help children improve both fine motor skills, such as grasping objects and manipulating tools, and gross motor skills, including balance and coordination. These physical abilities are crucial for everyday tasks like dressing, playing, and participating in sports.
Sensory Processing Skills
Additionally, sensory processing is a critical component of pediatric OT, where children learn how to interpret and respond to sensory information such as touch, sound, and movement. This is particularly beneficial for children who may be overly sensitive or under-responsive to sensory stimuli.
Visual and Cognitive Skills
Improving visual-motor and visual-perceptual skills is another focus, as therapists work on hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and spatial awareness, which are vital for activities such as writing, reading, and playing sports. This important area encompasses training thoughts, perception, and memory, where occupational therapy helps children develop cognitive skills like problem-solving, attention, and memory retention, enabling them to focus, learn, and navigate their environments more successfully.
Emotional and Behavioral Regulation Skills
Lastly, self-regulation and coping skills are emphasized to help children manage their emotions and behaviors. This includes learning strategies for emotional regulation, impulse control, and coping with frustration, which are essential for social interactions and academic success. Through these targeted areas, pediatric occupational therapy provides children with the tools they need to thrive both at home and in school..
What Common Conditions Can Be Treated with Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in supporting children with a range of developmental and neurological conditions.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
One common condition treated is ADHD, where occupational therapists help children improve their focus, attention, and impulse control. Therapy often involves strategies for organizing tasks, managing time, and developing self-regulation skills to support academic success and daily routines.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
For children with ASD, occupational therapy focuses on enhancing communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. These interventions help children with ASD engage more effectively with their peers, learn daily living skills, and navigate their sensory environments. Occupation therapy also may address physical deficits also associated with the condition such as fine motor delays, decreased endurance, coordination, and core stability
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Another condition frequently addressed is SPD where children struggle to appropriately process sensory information such as touch, sound, or movement. Occupational therapists work on helping these children manage sensory sensitivities, improving their ability to participate in everyday activities and environments without becoming overwhelmed or withdrawn.
Cerebral Palsy
In cases of Cerebral Palsy, OT focuses on improving motor skills, strengthening muscles, and increasing coordination, enabling children to gain more independence in activities such as dressing, feeding, and playing.
Down Syndrome
Children with developmental delays also benefit significantly from occupational therapy. These delays can affect motor skills, cognition, communication, and social interactions. Therapy provides targeted interventions to help these children meet important developmental milestones. Similarly, for children with Down Syndrome, occupational therapy helps improve motor skills, cognitive abilities, and self-care tasks. Therapists work with these children to build the strength and coordination needed for everyday tasks and enhance their ability to engage socially and academically.
Anxiety
Lastly, anxiety is another condition that can be effectively managed through occupational therapy. Children with anxiety often struggle with emotional regulation and coping skills, which can interfere with their ability to function in school, social settings, and at home. Occupational therapy helps them develop calming techniques, manage stress, and build resilience, allowing them to participate more fully in life’s activities with confidence and emotional control.
In all of these cases, occupational therapy provides a holistic and individualized approach, empowering children to build the skills they need for greater independence and participation in daily life.
One common condition treated is ADHD, where occupational therapists help children improve their focus, attention, and impulse control. Therapy often involves strategies for organizing tasks, managing time, and developing self-regulation skills to support academic success and daily routines.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
For children with ASD, occupational therapy focuses on enhancing communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. These interventions help children with ASD engage more effectively with their peers, learn daily living skills, and navigate their sensory environments. Occupation therapy also may address physical deficits also associated with the condition such as fine motor delays, decreased endurance, coordination, and core stability
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Another condition frequently addressed is SPD where children struggle to appropriately process sensory information such as touch, sound, or movement. Occupational therapists work on helping these children manage sensory sensitivities, improving their ability to participate in everyday activities and environments without becoming overwhelmed or withdrawn.
Cerebral Palsy
In cases of Cerebral Palsy, OT focuses on improving motor skills, strengthening muscles, and increasing coordination, enabling children to gain more independence in activities such as dressing, feeding, and playing.
Down Syndrome
Children with developmental delays also benefit significantly from occupational therapy. These delays can affect motor skills, cognition, communication, and social interactions. Therapy provides targeted interventions to help these children meet important developmental milestones. Similarly, for children with Down Syndrome, occupational therapy helps improve motor skills, cognitive abilities, and self-care tasks. Therapists work with these children to build the strength and coordination needed for everyday tasks and enhance their ability to engage socially and academically.
Anxiety
Lastly, anxiety is another condition that can be effectively managed through occupational therapy. Children with anxiety often struggle with emotional regulation and coping skills, which can interfere with their ability to function in school, social settings, and at home. Occupational therapy helps them develop calming techniques, manage stress, and build resilience, allowing them to participate more fully in life’s activities with confidence and emotional control.
In all of these cases, occupational therapy provides a holistic and individualized approach, empowering children to build the skills they need for greater independence and participation in daily life.