Laura M, Occupational Therapist
Academics and Special Achievements Laura graduated with her Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern California in 1996. While working on her Masters in Los Angeles, she was able to complete a four-month Sensory Integration Theory and Treatment course at the Ayres Clinic in Torrance. After completing the course, she then completed the training needed to administer the SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test). Since then, she has taken more recent Sensory Integration Theory and Treatment courses and taught courses on Sensory Integration to parents, teachers and local therapists. She developed and implemented a social skills group for children, as well as a self-regulation group, while working at an outpatient clinic in Illinois.
Special Interest and Experience After graduating from USC, Laura worked at two pediatric clinics in Southern California where she worked with children in the clinic with a variety of diagnoses, as well as worked in the schools. In 1998, she and her husband relocated to the Chicago suburbs and lived there until August 2020. While in the Chicago area, she worked at a specialized school for children with Autism, Illinois early intervention, and an outpatient pediatric clinic. During her time in Illinois, she had training in many areas of treatment such as Neuro-developmental approach, SOS, Therapeutic Listening, Kiniesiotaping, ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and was part of the Early Intervention Diagnostic team.
Personal Interest Laura grew up in Southern California where she met and married her husband of 24 years. A year after they married, they moved to the suburbs of Chicago in Illinois where they have raised their four children, 3 biological and one through adoption. They relocated to Treasure Valley in August 2020 due to a new job opportunity for Laura’s husband. They are enjoying the warmer weather, no humidity and access to mountains. They added a puppy to their family in November and this new addition has added much joy to the family. Laura enjoys hiking, walking her dog, playing outside with her kids, reading books, listening to podcasts, learning new things and camping.