Welcome to the Adventure!
I’m Stephanie, a clinical occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families through meaningful, relationship-centered care.​
I'm passionate about how feeding therapy can help families, what sensory integration work can do for a child's quality of life, and helping children grow beyond traditional developmental milestones. You'll find that in working with me that I strive to provide the highest level of evidence-based, mindful therapy with deep compassion and an open heart because I've seen how transformative this can be. Every child is a wholeI, capable person, and my work centers on understanding the unique sensory, emotional, and developmental pieces that shape their lives.
Whether supporting feeding challenges, regulation, play skills, or functional independence, my goal is always the same: to help each child become the best version of themselves, with confidence, connection, and joy.​ I am honored to partner with families on their journeys and to create gentle, child-led spaces where growth can unfold naturally and authentically.​
Based in the East Bay, I live with my family – I’m Mom to two boys and wife to Mike- all with their own strong food preferences. I enjoy yoga, hiking, cooking, puzzles, games with family and friends and attending sporting events.
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Approach to Therapy
Occupational therapy is more than treatment- it's a relationship. My approach is rooted in wholeness, honoring the child as a complete person with their own history, strengths, and way of engaging with the world. I look beyond symptoms to understand the emotional, sensory, developmental, and relational pieces that shape a child's experience.
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Therapy, therefore, is child-led, guided by curiosity, comfort, and readiness. I follow each child's cues, creating space for them to explore at their own pace. This allows progress to unfold naturally and supports long-term confidence rather than short-term compliance.
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Connection is at the heart of the work. I partner closely with parents and caregivers, nurturing secure, supportive relationships that make growth possible. Together, we create a foundation where children feel safe, deeply understood, and celebrated, and where parents feel seen and empowered.
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Above all, I bring softness to the therapeutic process. Developmental challenges can feel heavy for families; my role is to offer gentleness, compassion, and steady support. In calm and responsive environments, children can grow, try, and thrive.
Professional Profile
* Licensed clinician (State of California) with advanced certification in feeding and swallowing disorders
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* SIPT certified with extensive training in sensory integration and sensory-informed intervention
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*Advanced training in pediatric feeding approaches, including:
* SOS Approach to Feeding
* Get Permission Approach to Feeding
* Transforming Anxious Mealtimes
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* Additional specialized certifications and trainings:
* Therapeutic Listening® (TL)
* Bal-A-Vis-X
* Yoga with Sonia Sumar focussing on child with special needs
* Zones of Regulation Curriculum
* Various Handwriting Programs such as Handwriting without tears
* Visual/Vestibular assessment and treatment
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* Broad clinical experience across pediatric settings, including:
* Early intervention services in families’ homes
* Outpatient pediatric sensory integration clinics
* UCSF inpatient pediatric rehabilitation
* Multidisciplinary feeding teams
* School district–based programs
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* Strong commitment to child- and family-centered care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and functional participation across environments.