Occupational Therapy

Empowering Daily Routines

As a parent, you want your child to learn, develop and grow. This process is different for each child and family and we’re honored to be with you on your unique journey. If you’re noticing delays or differences in development – where regular everyday activities seem challenging for your child – our occupational therapists are here to be that helping hand.

Red Flags to be on the Look Out For
Infants
  • Appears to have dominant hand (only using 1 hand to reach/grab items)
  • Not tolerating tummy time well
  • Not bringing hands together at midline (4 months)
  • Not transferring objects between both hands (6 months)
  • Difficulty transitioning to bottle feeding, puree or table foods
  • Not interested in self-feeding (fingers)
1-2 Years
  • Not holding cup/bottle on their own
  • Doesn’t point using index finger
  • Doesn’t use fingers to feed self
  • Little to no interest in using utensils (fork and spoon)
  • Not using a pincer grasp (thumb and index finger)
  • Not showing interest in scribbling or holding a coloring implement
  • Showing decreased variety of foods accepted
At Milestone, we support your child and family in adapting to new ways of functioning and freedom, creating daily routines that are empowering, not stressful.

Talk to one of our occupational therapists about your child today. 

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION CALL WITH A THERAPIST
From an Empowered Parent

“Miss Kayla [from Milestone] is the best!! We would follow her to the ends of the earth.  Her calm and caring nature are magic and she can always bring out the smiles in our daughter.  Her passion and talent have had a tremendous impact on our family.  We <3 Miss Kayla!”

@amberlyn_1

Bringing Joy To Everyday Activities

Occupational therapy covers a wide range of activities and behaviors that your child may be struggling with…think: sensory processing, eating, playing, sleeping, learning and social development to name a few.   Here are more specific examples for when our OT’s can help get involved:

SELF-CARE SKILLS

Dressing, Shoe Tying, Brushing Teeth, Grooming, Hygiene

FINE MOTOR SKILLS

Handwriting, Grasp, Buttoning, Using Scissors

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS

Safely Navigating Environment, Sitting / Walking / Crawling Independently

FEEDING

Accepting Variety of Foods, Oral Motor Skills, Feeding, Drinking, Using Utensils

SELF REGULATION

Transitioning to new activities, responding to changes in routine, emotional and sensory regulation

ATTENTION

How your child focuses on play activities, family members and peers

SENSORY PROCESSING

Sound, Touch, Taste, Smell, Movement and Balance

SOCIAL SKILLS

Sharing, Turn-Taking, Playing with Peers, Playing In Creative Ways

Meet Your Milestone

Occupational Therapists

Whether your challenges are big or small, our caring team of occupational therapists can illuminate a new path forward for your child and your family so everyday activities can be joyful.
Occupational Therapist

Rachel B., OTD, OTR/L

FUN FACT

I am learning to roller skate!

 

MY WHY

I always knew I wanted to work with kids, being able to help them grow and develop in order to achieve their highest potential is a privilege.

Rachel is originally from San Diego. She earned her bachelors degree in child development at Cal Poly SLO, and her masters/doctorate in occupational therapy at USC.

I love to swim and go for long walks on the beach, and I love a good book!

 

TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS

  • Swim Angelfish (aquatic therapy)
  • USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education Certificate Program

 

INTERESTS

  • Sensory Integration
  • Sensory Feeding
Occupational Therapist

Amanda C., MOT, OTR/L

FUN FACT

All of my pets have been named after Beatles songs and/or albums.

MY WHY

I love helping kids and their families learn and grow. Being a witness to these special moments is an absolute privilege!

Amanda was born and raised in San Diego, California but moved to St. Louis, Missouri at age 18 to attend college at Webster University.
She graduated with a degree in Education and Mathematics in 2008 and taught for 6 years as a high school math teacher. After spending a total of 10 years in St. Louis, she moved across the state to Kansas City, Missouri, where she was an Upper Elementary (ages 9-12) Montessori teacher for 3 years.
It was at that point, Amanda decided she wanted to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. She ran her own tutoring business for 2 years (tutoring in math as well as reading/spelling for kids with dyslexia) while taking prerequisite courses and applying to graduate schools.
Amanda attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2021.
Amanda moved back to San Diego, California to be closer to her family in late 2021 and has been working as a pediatric occupational therapist since April 2022.
In her free time, Amanda can be found spending quality time with friends and loved ones, including her pets! She enjoys crafting and sewing/quilting and going for hikes at Mission Trails when she has the energy!
TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS
  • Swim Angelfish (aquatic therapy)

 

INTERESTS

  • Oral Motor Skills
  • Littles/Early Intervention
  • Medically Complex Kiddos
Occupational Therapist

Dima E., MS, OTR/L

FUN FACT

I love jigsaw puzzles!

MY WHY

’ve always gravitated towards working with kids because of their spontaneous nature and funny reactions. It brings joy to my heart watching them become successful and independent.

bio coming soon.

 

INTERESTS

  • Sensory Integration
  • Fine Motor
  • Feeding
  • ASD Population

Victoria “Tori” H., MS, OTR/L

SOS Feeding Trained

FUN FACT

I love to hula hoop!

MY WHY

I have always loved working with kids. I love their innate goodness and curiosity about the world around them.

Born and raised in Southern California, Tori received a Bachelor’s degree in social science with a primary emphasis in child development and secondary emphasis in psychology in 2010. She then went on to receive her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2013.

Tori has experience in a private pediatric clinic setting, working with kiddos ranging from 4 months to 22 years. She has experience with a variety of diagnoses and enjoys collaborating with family members to provide a unique plan for each individual.

In her free time, Tori enjoys traveling, camping and spending time with family.

 

TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS

  • SOS Approach To Feeding
  • Hand Writing Without Tears
  • Visual-Perceptual + Visual Motor Rehab
Occupational Therapy

Carissa L., MOT, OTR/L, CEIM

Lead Occupational Therapist

FUN FACT

I can roll my tongue and fold it in half completely sideways. No one else in my family can do this.

 

MY WHY

After my dad’s car accident and year long recovery of therapy, I knew I wanted to be a therapist. Working with families and their children as their OT has been such a blessing.

Carissa has experience in both adult and pediatric outpatient clinic settings, but her passion has always been helping children. She now enjoys working with children in both clinic and early intervention home therapy settings.

During her free time, she enjoys baking, singing, rooting for her favorite sports teams, and going on fun adventures with her husband and dog.

 

TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS

  • SOS Approach To Feeding
  • Handwriting Without Tears
  • Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
  • Certified Educator of Infant Massage
Occupational Therapist

Jasmine O., MA, OTR/L

Director of Occupational Therapy

FUN FACT

I didn’t learn to (sort of?) swim until I was in my mid 20’s. 

 

MY WHY

coming soon.

Jasmine was born and raised in San Francisco. She received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California.

Prior to occupational therapy, Jasmine has worked in infant cognition research, business management research, and early childhood education.

Jasmine also has experience in hand rehabilitation in urgent care, acute care at a tertiary care academic hospital, and mental health wellness with veterans transitioning out of homelessness.

When she’s not in the clinic, Jasmine is probably visiting a national park, collecting house plants, or traveling.

 

TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS

  • SOS Approach To Feeding
  • Handwriting Without Tears
  • The King of Swings Sensorimotor Workshop
  • Astronaut Training – A Sound Activated Vestibular-Visual Protocol
  • DIR-Floortime Approach

Valerie Y., MS, OTR/L

SOS Approach To Feeding

FUN FACT

I have been skydiving in New Zealand!

MY WHY

I love helping kids and their families learn, grow, and explore their environment in fun, creative ways.

Valerie is a native Californian.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from UC San Diego and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University.  Valerie has experience with adults and pediatrics and has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, pediatric clinics, schools, and in-home early intervention.

In her free time, she loves traveling around the globe with her husband and 2 kids, surfing, and being in nature.
Trainings + Certifications
  • SOS Approach to Feeding
  • AEIOU Systematic Approach to Pediatric Feeding
  • Feed the Peds: Foundations of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It can sometimes be difficult to know if a service is needed for your child. That’s why at Milestone Pediatric Therapy we offer free consultations to help guide you to the best treatment for your family. Our therapists’ goal is to get you the help you need and for your family to be empowered to make the next best choice for your child. Additionally, speaking with your doctor is also helpful to decide if therapy is needed.

    • Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
    • Auditory Processing & Reading Difficulties
    • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
    • Cerebral Palsy (CP)
    • Developmental Delays
    • Down Syndrome
    • Feeding Difficulties & Aversions
    • Genetic Conditions
    • Gross and Fine Motor Delays
    • Hypotonia/Hypertonia
    • Neurological Conditions
    • Sensory Processing Disorder 
    • Social Skills Deficits
  • At Milestone Pediatric Therapy, we believe a child’s occupation is to PLAY! And playing is exactly what we plan to do during our OT sessions. We use a wide variety of therapy equipment (swings, slides, climbing structures, and crash mats to name a few) to make the experience fun and engaging for your child and family. We use your child’s interests and goals to structure each session. The OTs will provide parents and caregivers with resources and skills to incorporate into your daily routine, adapt activities to allow for maximum independence, and shape the environment for engagement and participation across settings.

  • Yes, we do!  It’s our goal at Milestone to excel in bringing the latest OT research and techniques and providing them to your family.  We currently have 5 OT specialties and are always adding!

    • SOS Feeding Therapy: A no-pressure approach to expanding foods in your child’s diet
    • Handwriting Without Tears: A child-centered approach to developing handwriting skills
    • Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT): A holistic approach to movement
    • Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT): A form of rehabilitation therapy that can improve the use of a child’s upper extremities caused by a stroke or other central nervous system damage.
    • Developmental Individual-Differences Relationship (DIR) Floor Time Approach: This is a developmental model for assessing and understanding any child’s strengths and weaknesses.  It has become particularly effective at identifying the unique developmental profiles and developing programs for children experiencing developmental delays due to autism, autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disorders.

Let’s Connect

We would like to meet with you and your family to determine how we can help.

Book a call