What is occupational therapy?

Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) supports children at risk for delays or those with conditions impacting development. A child may have a formal diagnosis, or may simply have subtle delays in one or more areas of sensory-motor development interfering with their ability to optimally engage in their daily routines and activities. Occupational therapists (OT's) help a child participate in all activities of daily life. Common underlying issues that can impact a child's ability to eat, play, participate in daily routines, or engage with others might include motor skills, sensory processing, cognition or self-regulation. Other influences include the environment (ex: parent support and physical space), as well as the challenge of specific activity. The goal of pediatric occupational therapy is to enhance development and minimize the potential for delays through direct treatment and caregiver education and empowerment.

Who might benefit from our services?

• Infants born preterm
• Infants and toddlers who are slow to meet their motor milestones
• Kids with known developmental conditions such as Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, genetic disorders, and more
• Kids who are over-sensitive or avoidant of certain sensory input such as movement, touch, sound, lights, taste
• Picky or limited eaters
• Kids who have difficulty manipulating toys, containers, utensils, clothing fasteners
• Those who struggle with holding a pencil and learning to write
• Kids who appear clumsy, uncoordinated, or unaware of their body in space
• Kids who react intensely to daily routines such as diaper or clothing changes, bath time, brushing hair, etc
• Kids who appear weak, fatigue easily, frequently slouch
• Kids who are constantly "on the go"
• Kids who are emotionally reactive and have difficulty managing their emotions
  
• Those who are impulsive or have poor safety awareness

Meet your OT!

Kara Welborn

Hi! I'm Kara. I graduated from University of Puget Sound with my master’s degree in 2012. I have worked with children of all ages in a pediatric outpatient clinic and in the home. My experience also includes working with adults in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. 

​I enjoy exploring and discovering children’s abilities through play. I am driven by giving children and families tools they need to be more successful in everyday tasks that are meaningful. I have completed a variety of additional training in areas of sensory processing, feeding, self-regulation, and Therapeutic Listening.

I love being a mom to my two girls, being active, spending time with my family and friends, and exploring the outdoors.

Emily Secter

Hi - My name is Emily, and I graduated from Pacific University in 2012. For the past 10 years, I have been working as a school OT and in an out patient pediatric setting. I have also worked in adult acute care.

My passion is working with children; highlighting the strengths and assisting with the difficulties. I have additional training in sensory processing, developmental coordination delays, feeding and autism spectrum disorder. When working with children I feel it is important to work with the parents and other care providers to best serve the child and family.

I have two adult children, both in college. I love to spend time with them cooking and hiking in the beautiful NW. My partner, Ken, and I recently got a puppy... So, I kind of feel like I am a new parent again.

Austen is currently only accepting clients for virtual wellness consultations. You can read more about that option HERE.

Our approach

Our therapy services generally take place in your home. We travel up to 30 minutes from our departing location without an additional fee. If therapy at home is of concern, another location in the community can be discussed. We are also willing to provide services at a child's daycare, preschool, or private school, should that setting agree. We think it is beneficial and important to provide services within a child’s natural environment. This allows us to best understand how your child engages in their most familiar context, and collaborate with the caregiver present to promote consistency. 

Our mission as in-home OT's is to be curious about what a child is experiencing, and what is missing in that child’s experience causing a disruption or delay. We help kids find those missing pieces so that they can put them together spontaneously, whether that be related to motor development, sensory processing, self regulation, or other skills. We tailor our sessions to meet a child where he/she is at developmentally, not necessarily focusing on what the child is doing, but rather how he/she is doing it and helping them figure out even better ways of doing so. We value the parents or caregivers participation in sessions if possible, to allow for collaboration, problem solving, and home program implementation.

Our interventions

Sensory-motor movement and play

Sensory integration is the process of receiving, organizing, and integrating information from all of the senses (vision, touch, movement, smell, taste, hearing) within the brain, and responding in a meaningful and functional way. Being able to interpret this information efficiently provides the foundation for motor planning, coordination, gross and fine motor skills, postural stability, executive functioning, attention, academic learning, and behavior. Through play, we facilitate movement activities of just-right challenge to promote appropriate, successful, and organized responses. We join your kiddo in activities that actively engage your child in a meaningful way and provide the intensity, duration, and quality of sensation his or her central nervous system needs for sensory integration, regulation, and learning of complex tasks to occur. In-home sessions are 50-60 minutes in length.

Handwriting remediation

Handwriting is a very complex skill. It requires organized and coordinated operation of multiple sensory systems, in combination with cognitive and motor function. That said, difficulties with handwriting usually imply a disruption somewhere in that foundation. When helping children master the complexities of handwriting, we use a holistic multi-sensory approach for ultimate kinesthetic learning. This includes sensory-motor interventions, concepts from the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, and materials we have developed over the years.

Insurance and payment

We do accept some insurance plans including BlueCross Blue Shield, Moda (Connexus, Beacon, Synergy, OHSU), Pacific Source, Cigna, and First Choice. If you hope to involve your insurance company (in or out of network), Austen will complete a benefits check and prior authorization if applicable, and bill insurance directly. You will be responsible for copays, deductibles, or co-insurance according to your plan coverage. It is also your responsibility to investigate your coverage and determine your financial obligation according to your plan. Here are some questions to ask a member services representative:

• What is my child's coverage for in-home occupational therapy services? Does my insurance exclude in-home visits (place of service code 12)?
• Does my plan require a deductible to be paid before coverage of occupational therapy begins? If so, what is the dollar amount? What have I paid towards it so far?
• Do I have a copay or coinsurance?
• Does my insurance plan cover a limited number of sessions for each calendar year? If so, how many?
• Am I required to have a doctor's referral or pre-authorization before my child sees an OT?

If we are out of network with your carrier, we can provide you with a "superbill" to submit for possible reimbursement. Alternatively, we offer a discounted private pay rate. Contact us for details.

Free 20 minute consult for in-home OT clients

For families looking for in-home OT, a free 20 minute consult is provided to determine if Steps 2 Grow is a good fit for your family. If mutually agreed, we will schedule our first visit! At our initial meeting, we will discuss your concerns, do an assessment of your child's skills, and collaborate on a comprehensive treatment plan together.