What is Nature-Based Occupational Therapy?

Nature-based occupational therapy is one-on-one therapy with the goal of helping your child improve age-appropriate social-emotional skills, motor skills, self-care, balance, coordination, sensory processing, and work toward any other goals that are relevant for the child and family.

We use the natural world as the clinic.

In nature, children are free to explore, play, jump, bounce, splash, climb, and work toward their developmental goals and milestones.

As an occupational therapist, I have worked with many children who struggle intensively with indoor clinics and school, including those who have difficulties sitting for long periods, communicating or being nonverbal, and difficulty regulating their emotions, and show verbal or physically aggressive behaviors. An outdoor setting can be a better fit for their sensory needs than indoors, and promote an overall sense of well-being and tranquility in a way that is incredibly powerful and healing. I have watched children with extremely difficult behaviors shift significantly in mood and disposition over the course of a few hours outside, and seen growth over years of outdoor activities.

In this modern world, it is often difficult to carve aside time for nature activities. For this reason, I have built my clinic in the great outdoors, providing sessions at parks and outdoor spaces in Decatur and the surrounding areas. I also provide sessions at home if there are adequate outdoor areas nearby. I look forward to working with your family and sharing the gift that is nature-based occupational therapy.