Congratulations! You're in the right place if:

✅You're and Occupational Therapist or Assistant and you've recently started your first Early Intervention position and there's limited or no mentorship.

✅You're a new grad and want to land a job in Early Intervention.

✅ You're feeling overwhelmed about how to conduct effective therapy sessions.

✅You're passionate about making a difference in the lives of young children and their families.

✅ You dream of building strong connections, enjoying confidence in your practice, and avoiding burnout and overwhelm.

The Power of Mentorship

Early Intervention Occupational Therapy Professionals often face unique challenges. Balancing the needs of young children, concerned families, and the demands of a dynamic field can be overwhelming. Burnout and self-doubt are common hurdles.

But guess what?

You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

Mentorship is the key to unlocking your full potential as an Early Intervention OTP. Imagine having a seasoned professional by your side, guiding you through the intricacies of your practice, sharing wisdom, and providing the tools you need to flourish.

What Can You Achieve with Group Mentorship?

🌟 Confidence: Gain the self-assurance you need to make decisions confidently. Strengthen your clinical reasoning and knowledge base.

🌟 Impactful Practice: Transform your therapy sessions into powerful experiences for both children and their families. Achieve those IFSP outcomes more consistently!

🌟 Prevent Burnout: Learn proven strategies to manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

🌟 Effective Communication: Master the art of communication and collaboration with families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals.

🌟 Holistic Development: Early Intervention is not just about the child, but the entire family unit. Enhance your knowledge on evidenced-based practices across developmental domains.

🌟 Personal Growth: Develop as a professional and as an individual. Set and achieve your career goals with purpose and intention.

The Details

In 1995, I embarked on my official journey as an Occupational Therapist. However, even before starting OT school, I knew I wanted to work with young children. It was a calling I couldn't ignore, a passion that spoke to me from the time I was little (even though I had no idea what OT was back then). I had the privilege of shadowing a young OT working in EI when I was just 14 and I went home that day and told my parents I was gonna be an OT when I grew up! (That was over 30 years ago and I'm still waiting to grow up 🤪).

My first OT job provided me with the opportunity I had dreamed of: working with young children. Yet, I quickly found myself feeling like a fish out of water, overwhelmed, and disheartened. In hindsight, I believe the root of my struggle lay in the training I had received (and also the training I didn't receive 😧). My OT school had focused heavily on a deficit-based treatment model, and I entered my first job believing that I needed to fix every child I encountered.

This misconception led me on a wild goose chase, believing that I had to possess all the answers to every problem a child or parent faced. The relentless pursuit of knowledge, often through costly continuing education courses, became my norm. It was a path fueled by self-doubt and the fear of failing the children and families who depended on me. It also led me to feel isolated, burnout, and the pull to be around more experienced practitioners to learn from.

Thankfully, this opportunity came a few years into my career when I became employed at a local hospital to work on a pediatric brain injury unit. There, I was surrounded by experienced professionals who had weathered the challenges I was now facing. I realized that I didn't have to bear the weight of the world on my shoulders. Instead, I could rely on the wisdom and support of those who had walked this path before me.

This shift in perspective was transformative. It marked the beginning of a journey to rediscover my passion for Occupational Therapy with renewed confidence and purpose. It taught me that it's okay not to have all the answers, and that true impact is often achieved through collaboration, not isolation.

It wasn't until many years later, I experienced a pull back to Early Intervention after the birth of my first son. He was born premature and required some Early Intervention support his first few years. I also accepted an Early Intervention position around the same time at an agency that was pioneering the way towards a coaching model of practice. In addition, I was able to be a part of an in-house transdisciplinary team that met weekly to discuss our caseloads. I cannot express enough how crucial this position and team were in my growth and resilience within this complex field. After 20 years, I was finally starting to feel proficient and effective.

I share my story with you in hopes that it will inspire you to not give up on your "why you became an OT" vision. It's my mission now to use my 23 years in the field to help guide you through those pitfalls and challenges, and to help you avoid burnout while making a profound impact on the lives of young children and their families in much less time than it took me. My mentorship isn't just about clinical skills; it's about empowerment, resilience, and a career that leaves you fulfilled and confident. After all...isn't that why you entered this field?

Join me on this journey, and together, we'll ensure you thrive in your Early Intervention Occupational Therapy practice, just as I have learned to do.

We are better together!

My promise to you:

It's my mission to help you transform from an overwhelmed newbie to a confident practitioner who is ready to step into your clients' lives knowing where and how to start making an impact.

The choice is now yours. Becoming a confident therapist doesn't happen overnight but having validation that you're on the right track and support from an experienced OT who has walked in your shoes will lessen your overwhelm and help you to become more impactful in your practice.

I know you've already spent countless dollars on your education but investing in mentorship will allow you to apply that education on a deeper level in a shorter timeframe and will ensure that all your hardwork so far translates to the outcomes you desire.

The next group starts April 5th, 2024. The group size will be limited (no more than 8 participants). Join the waitlist below by subscribing to the Growing Little Brains VIP list). Weekly feedback will be expected from all participants in order to meet the learning needs of this and future groups.

I'm excited to be a part of your OT journey and look forward to meeting you soon!

Hear what past participants have to say:

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program for?

This program was specially designed for Occupational Therapy professionals who are new to the Early Intervention field or for those wishing to transition into Early Intervention. This program is targeted at an intermediate level.

When does it begin?

The next group is tentatively scheduled to begin in August 2024. We will meet live on Zoom every Friday from 12-1 EST for 7 consecutive weeks.

When do I get access to the lessons?

New lessons will be released each week on Friday. You will have a full week to view the lessons before the group call on the following Friday. This is when you can ask any questions about the lessons and apply the learning to your caseload. You will have lifetime access to this version of the program.

When does registration close? 

The program will close once registration is full (8 participants).

Will I get PDU/CEU credits? 

Yes, this program is AOTA approved at 12.5 contact hours (1.25 CEUs).

What if I can't make the live group coaching calls?

The live calls are what sets this program apart from just taking a self-paced course so I hope you'll try to make each of them. However, I know life gets in the way sometimes so each call will be recorded and posted in your membership area shortly afterwards for you to watch at your convenience. In order to be eligible for AOTA CEUs, you must watch the recorded call and pass the quiz at 80% or higher. You may also submit your questions via email before the live if you'd like the group to discuss.

How long will I have access to the material? 

You will have lifetime access to the weekly lessons. You will be able to download all the parent handouts and therapist resources for lifetime use with your caseload only. Handouts are copyrighted and not to be reproduced, utilized, or distributed without permission.

What happens after the 6 weeks? Do you offer additional mentorship?

You will feel more confident and ready to take on new cases! However, since we are all lifelong learners in this field (and frankly, we do much better when we are surrounded by like-minded OTs) I would love for you to join The Therapy Village for continued support and access to many new resources (created and to-be created). You will receive a special discount on the yearly membership for completing this program. You can read more about The Therapy Village here: https://growinglittlebrains.teachable.com/p/the-therapy-village

Do you offer refunds?

Due to the nature of this mentorship, no refunds will be issued after the group begins. If a participant is not able to complete the 6 week program, they may notify Melanie in writing to be considered to join a future group at no additional cost.

Can I schedule a 1:1 with you? 

Sure! 1:1 mentorship can be extremely beneficial to discuss your specific caseload questions, learn new skills, and seek support with any other practice concerns. If you would like additional mentorship either during or after our group timeframe, I offer a 50% discount ($45/hr) to group members (normally $90/hr) for up to 3 months after commencement of the 6-week mentorship program.

Have more questions? Want to make sure this group is the right fit for you?

Email me at: [email protected]