Kaitlin P

What got you interested in working as an occupational therapist?

I first became interested in occupational therapy in high school when I was talking to my mom about how I wanted to work with kids one on one with various medical challenges. She told me to reflect on my own experience with the different therapies I had as a child, and as I thought more about my time receiving occupational therapy, I remember working on a clay pot over various weeks and the other fun activities I would do. I got to shadow an OT and learned about all the variety of settings and ways to work on meaningful occupations and I knew I found the right fit!

What do you love most about working as an occupational therapist?

One of my favorite things about being a pediatric occupational therapist is getting to work alongside families and celebrate kids meeting their goals. Getting to see them grow, meet new milestones, and creatively problem solve challenges to allow for better success in what matters to them.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love going on family adventures in the mountains, hiking, baking, puzzles, photography, crocheting and all sorts of crafty things.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Something people may not know is that I grew up with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and received physical and occupational therapy as a kid, so I have the unique perspective of receiving therapy and it has helped shaped how I facilitate my therapy sessions.

What is your favorite activity to encourage learning and growth with kids?

I love to tell families to get on the floor and play! Even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, it’s a great way to bond with their kids and build engagement. It can be doing a puzzle together, building an obstacle course out of the furniture, or cooking together to explore new foods.