How I Work
Looking beyond symptoms to understand the whole child
At Integrative OT, I take a developmental, root-cause approach to helping children thrive.
Rather than only asking, “How do we help your child do this task better?”
I start with a different question:
Why is this difficult in the first place?
Because challenges with sleep, feeding, speech, movement, emotional regulation, behaviour, and learning are rarely random.
They are often signs that the foundational systems supporting development need support.
My role is to help families understand what their child’s body and nervous system are telling us, so we can create meaningful, lasting change from the ground up.
A bottom-up approach to development
Many traditional therapy models focus on improving a child's performance in a specific task, called a “top-down” approach.
While that can absolutely be helpful, I first want to understand why that task is difficult.
If a child struggles to sit still, eat, sleep, learn, regulate emotions or coordinate their body, I don't see those as isolated problems.
I ask:
Is their nervous system feeling safe?
Are they getting restorative sleep?
Is breathing affecting their regulation and energy?
Are retained primitive reflexes influencing movement?
Are their sensory systems supporting learning?
When we strengthen the foundations using a “bottom-up” approach, higher-level skills often become easier, more efficient and more sustainable.
The developmental pyramid
I often explain this using the developmental pyramid.
Children develop in a meaningful sequence. When the foundations haven’t developed
appropriately, it impacts everything a the top. My Bottom-Up approach looks at the
whole pyramid, starting from the foundations to understand exactly where your child
is up to in their developmental sequence. This helps to identify the root causes behind
the challenges and support lasting change.
Many traditional therapies focus on the higher-level skills like learning, language,
behaviour, attention, emotional regulation, and participation that sit at the top. But
these rely on strong foundational systems underneath.
If the nervous system is under stress, if sleep is poor, if breathing is compromised,
if retained primitive reflexes are still driving movement patterns, or if sensory systems
are not integrating well, children often work much harder than they should just to
get through everyday life.
Rather than only working on the visible challenge, we look at what may be happening
underneath.
This helps us support the child as a whole, not just the symptom.
The Tools to Support Development
Every child is different, and treatment plans are always individualised.
I use evidence-based tools and therapies that support neurodevelopment, nervous system regulation, movement, and functional outcomes.
These may include:
Photobiomodulation (PBM)
The 528i state-of-the-art, evidence-based laser, photobiomodulation helps support cellular energy production, mitochondrial function, nervous system regulation, tissue healing, and brain-body communication.
Rezzimax
Supporting vagal regulation, nervous system calming, and body awareness through gentle vibration-based stimulation.
Brain Driver tDCS
Targeted support for neuroplasticity, brain regulation, and functional nervous system change.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Helping support regulation, stress response, autonomic balance, and nervous system resilience.
Neuromotor Games
Targeted visual and vestibular activities that improve balance, coordination, motor planning, and muscle function through engaging movement-based therapy.
Bobo Balance Pro
Interactive balance and coordination training that supports posture, movement control, and vestibular development.
These tools are never used in isolation, they are part of a broader, whole-child treatment plan built around your child’s individual needs
I believe the best outcomes happen when families are supported by the right team. Depending on your childs needs, I’ll help guide and connect you with trusted professionals that may include:
A Team Approach
You know your child best
Whether you've been told to "wait and see," you've recently received a diagnosis, or you're simply looking for a different way to support your child, you've come to the right place.
My goal isn't simply to help your child complete today's therapy session. My goal is to understand why they're finding things difficult in the first place, so the progress they make lasts well beyond our sessions together. I aim to help families feel heard, supported, and empowered with a clearer understanding of what is happening, and what to do next.
Because when we understand the why, everything changes.
Start Your Child’s Support Journey
Whether you’re looking for answers, clarity, or simply a place to begin, you’re welcome here.