Emma, OT/L

Emma has experience working with children of all ages and varying diagnoses. Though much of her pediatric OT experience has been in outpatient settings, she has also provided OT services in the outdoor and equine environments. Emma is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care and play-based sessions that incorporate each child’s unique interests and strengths. Emma uses play, art, and movement-based activities to encourage skill development. She believes every child deserves to be both supported and challenged through play in order to build self-confidence and promote independence.

Emma was born and raised in Raleigh and loves to travel around her home state of NC (the mountains are her favorite!). After attending college at Furman University, where she studied Psychology and Child Development, Emma came back home to the Triangle to attend OT school at Duke University. Throughout her OT education, Emma enjoyed working with pediatric populations and finds joy in helping her young clients unlock new skills and conquer their goals through play-based therapy interventions. Her experiences include, but are not limited to, working with children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, sensory processing disorder, feeding difficulties, and Down syndrome.

Emma is a lifelong equestrian and loves being outside either with her horse, gardening, or taking a walk. She has had several opportunities to provide OT using horses and nature as a therapeutic and motivational tool for children. Now working indoors, she strives to incorporate the sensory-rich, balanced, and movement-based elements that make nature and horses so special to all of her clients.