Occupational Therapy Services

At a young age I helped care for my grandmother and those memories will forever solidify why I chose this line of work. This is likely what most healthcare providers say, but I can relate, I truly just want to help people! Why I continue to pursue this profession is for the connection that I make with my patients and to have the opportunity to provide them with the education and safety so that they can be their best advocate. Being able to connect with someone at their most vulnerable state and find ways to adapt and strengthen meaningful areas of their life no matter what the stage of their diagnosis is very important to me.

Occupational therapists have the ability to help address functional decline in many areas of a patient’s life as they are adapting and experiencing a cancer diagnosis. It is crucial to address weakness, deconditioning, low endurance, neuropathy, fall prevention, and cognitive impairments associated with cancer treatments. By addressing these challenges a patient is able to have greater stamina to fight their cancer and are also provided the tools to cope, function, and adapt their environment as these challenges associated with treatment occur. Occupational therapists view their patients holistically and take great effort to see all aspects of their life and how cancer can negatively impact these areas. I do not just look at strength and dysfunction, but how these deficits impact what matter most, being independent with self-cares, spending time with family, working, cooking, enjoying leisure activities, and being able to function in the community.

I earned my degree from College of Saint Mary. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Studies and my Master’s in Occupational Therapy. My graduate level courses consisted of, Community Based Therapy, Neuro-Rehabilitation, OT Management, Clinical Reasoning, OT Leadership and Advocacy, Therapeutic Modalities, and OT Research as well as two 12 week fieldwork experiences.

Building relationships is by far the most rewarding part of what I do. A patient’s success is my success. All goals are uniquely constructed by the patient and myself to address the barriers that they are experiencing, whether this is low endurance hindering participation in leisure activities, diminished strength impacting ability to garden or play with children or grandchildren, loss of function due to neuropathy making meal prep and fine motor skills challenging, or lymphedema that has altered body image and quality of life. There are interventions to improve or adapt these deficits impeding a patient’s ability to function. I enjoy the challenge of finding ways to address these deficits with my patients. It is exciting to research areas of OT that are helping to support this population!

I love cooking! I am usually always planning some kind of menu for family and friends. I enjoy playing, snuggling, and singing with my 2 little boys and going on walks with my family. If my coffee will stay hot enough after chasing my toddler around on a Saturday morning, I enjoy that too!

I love the fall. I like how the air smells, all the colors, comfy sweatshirts, and hay rack rides!

Southern Spain, Costa Del Sol, warm weather and beautiful water! I loved the paella and all of the quaint markets with the most unique and colorful pottery. The Cayman Islands is a close second!