Occupational Therapy for Children & Young Adults

If You Want to Learn the Tools to Help Your Child Get Better —

I'm on your team. I don't just treat your child — I teach you what to do between sessions so your family sees real, lasting progress every day at home, in school, and in everyday life.

Every plan starts with a careful evaluation and can include home and school strategies designed to help children and young adults succeed with more confidence, coordination, and independence.

30+ Years Experience
100s Children Helped
OTR/L Licensed Therapist
Laura O'Brien with a child
🆕 Sensory Integration Certified
Laura O'Brien, OTR/L with a child

Meet Laura

A Therapist Who Teaches

Laura O'Brien is a licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) with over 30 years of pediatric experience. She works with families who don't just want to drop their child off — they want to understand what's happening and learn how to help.

Laura's vast experience in clinical and school therapy empowers parents to build a home practice that drives progress. Her families don't just see results — they understand why their child is getting better.

Her background includes sensory integration, yoga for the special child, mindfulness, brain training, fitness, and wellness. Laura works to create therapeutic environments that support each client's strengths while helping families work through challenges with clarity and steadiness.

She has experience supporting autism, Asperger syndrome, social and emotional needs, and the day-to-day developmental demands that show up at home, at school, and in community life.

  • Licensed OTR/L
  • Yoga for the Special Child Certified
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Teaches Anxiety Management Skills
  • Sensory Integration Certified
  • Teaches Reflex Integration
  • Clinical and school therapy experience
  • Mindfulness, brain training, fitness, and wellness
Get in Touch

Areas of Focus

Support for Home, School, and Everyday Life

Laura works with children and young adults on the skills that shape day-to-day participation, independence, regulation, and confidence.

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Sensory Processing

Helping your child's nervous system respond in a more organized way to sensation, movement, and environmental demands.

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Motor Control & Body Awareness

Building coordination, balance, movement planning, and the mind-body awareness needed for everyday tasks.

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Fine Motor, Handwriting & Executive Function

Supporting handwriting, dexterity, problem solving, focus, and the cognitive organization that helps children work with more ease.

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Self-Help Skill Management

Improving dressing, feeding, self-care routines, and the practical skills that build greater independence.

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Self-Regulation & Social Participation

Developing emotional well-being, regulation, school participation, and social confidence in daily life.

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Young Adults & Special Needs

Supporting life skills, transitions, practical independence, and the routines that help young adults prepare for life with more steadiness.

What I Offer

Services for Every Child

Each program begins with a thorough evaluation and is built around your child's unique needs — with home and school support when needed, so progress carries into home, school, play, and daily routines.

See a full range of parent-oriented short videos by clicking on the following YouTube link: youtube.com/@otlaura955/shorts

Screening & Next Steps

Start with the Right Next Step

Most families begin with a free OT screening. If you arrived here through older Wix pages about assessments, get in touch and Laura can point you toward the right next step for your family.

Free OT Screening

Begin with a basic look at fit and need

An occupational therapy screening is a basic look at your child's fine motor coordination and independence with self-care skills to help determine whether a fuller evaluation would be useful.

  • Available as an early first step for families who want clarity
  • Can help guide whether a fuller evaluation is needed
  • Built to make the first conversation more useful and specific
Start with the Screening Form

Assessment Questions

Use contact for older assessment links or broader questions

Some older Wix pages referenced psychotherapy and assessments, but those pages were part of the old site structure rather than an active offering. If you have questions about screening, referrals, or what kind of support would make the most sense, reach out directly.

  • Best for families arriving from older assessment-related links
  • Useful when you are unsure whether OT is the right starting point
  • Designed to route families toward a clear next step instead of a dead end
Contact Laura

My Process

How We Work Together

01

Deep Evaluation

We start with a thorough assessment of your child — and a conversation with you. Understanding your goals and your child's world is just as important as the clinical picture.

02

Teach, Don't Just Treat

Every session, Laura works with your child and coaches you — explaining what she's doing and why, and building a home practice you can start using immediately.

03

Progress You Can See and Feel

Because therapy continues at home between sessions, families consistently see faster, deeper gains — and the confidence that comes from truly understanding their child.

Get in Touch

Ready to Be a Partner in Your Child's Progress?

If you're looking for a therapist who will teach you the tools to help your child between sessions — let's talk. Call or email and tell me about your child and I'll be in touch within 1–2 business days.

If you are starting with a screening, the form is the fastest way to share the fine motor, self-care, school, or regulation concerns you are seeing right now.

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Start with a Screening Form

To help me understand your child before we speak, please fill out the intake form. It takes about 10–15 minutes and gives me everything I need to make our first conversation count.

Fill Out Screening Form →

Takes about 10–15 minutes · Secure · No account needed