Pediatric Occupational Therapy
When your child is struggling at school, at home, or in social situations, it can feel overwhelming to know where to turn. There are countless factors to consider, endless advice from well-meaning friends and professionals, and often no clear answer in sight.
The truth is, children are wonderfully complex—and there is rarely just one reason behind the challenges they face. To complicate matters, very different issues can look the same in young children, leading to misdiagnoses or treatment approaches that don’t truly address the root cause.
That’s where I come in. With over 25 years of experience as an OT working with children of all ages—including those with fine motor delays, autism, multiple handicaps, and emotional regulation difficulties—I know how to look beneath the surface and uncover the foundational needs of each child. My priority when meeting a new family is to build a full picture of your child’s strengths and challenges so we can create a plan that truly supports growth.
Sometimes the answer is straightforward:
- Fine motor delays
- Poor pencil grasp
- Illegible handwriting
- Sensory seeking
Other times, the picture is more complex:
- ADHD
- Poor Emotional Regulation
- Sensory defensiveness
- Visual-motor coordination difficulties
- Retained primitive reflexes
- Persistent fight/flight/freeze states
- Challenges crossing midline
- Anxiety
These can be harder to identify and treat effectively, but with the right lens, real progress is possible.
When your child comes to therapy with me, you can be assured they will receive my full attention in every single session. I do all therapy myself in a private office, with no assistants and no other therapies happening in the background. This ensures a calm, focused environment without distractions, where your child feels safe and supported.
I work with children over the course of several sessions, collaborating closely with parents and teachers to spot patterns and get a clear picture of what’s really going on. I am available to visit and observe your child in school, if necessary, to ensure that the progress your child makes in therapy carries over into the classroom and beyond. Many families come to me after working with other therapists—sometimes with partial success, but with lingering issues that just haven’t resolved. My goal is to uncover what others may have missed and create a plan that helps your child thrive.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, handwriting, sensory processing, or behavior, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can find a path forward.
Rikki Spivak is trained and/or certified in:
- Handwriting Without Tears Handwriting Program
- Size Matters Handwriting Progam
- Primitive Reflex Integration
- Theraputic Listening Program
- Creating a Sensory Diet
- Polyvagal Theory
- Zones of Regulation
