Leah was drawn to the field of occupational therapy by its holistic approach, which involves diving deep to comprehend the whole child, their family, and the various environments in which the child interacts. She has had opportunities to observe occupational therapy practitioners in different settings, which solidified her decision to pursue this profession.
Leah first learned about OT as a junior in college and strongly connected with its values and holistic approach. Her four years of experience as a COTA furthered her passion for OT, motivating her to pursue her graduate degree. Leah’s experience as a certified occupational therapy assistant includes working with adults in medical and home settings to working with children in a therapeutic preschool and kindergarten.
Her experience as a Level II OT student at AZ + A confirmed her connection with a relationship-based, child-led approach. She enjoys how supportive her fellow AZ+A therapists are and how available we are to collaborate while pushing her to be the best therapist she can be.
She anticipates continuing to develop and deepen relationships with kids and families through play and collaboration. Her favorite part of being an OT is playing various games and ideas in one day–kids are so creative!
Leah enjoys reading, paddle boarding, bike riding, making pizza, and exploring independent bookstores in her free time.
Education:
Occupational Therapy Assistant (Associate in Applied Science)–Greenville Technical College
Interdisciplinary Health Studies (Bachelor of Science)–Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Certifications/Experience:
– Continued learning on sensory processing through the STAR Institute.
– Currently, Leah is expanding her learning to include DIR and primitive reflexes training
