How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have one son named Malcolm and he is three years old!
How long have you lived in the Columbus area and what brought you here?
I am originally from Cleveland, but I have lived in the Columbus area since 2012. I received my Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!), and I moved to Upper Arlington in 2020.
What does your family enjoy doing together in your spare time?
Spending time outside with my husband and son is how I fill my cup. We love to go on hikes with our dog, play in the creek in our backyard, and have family pizza and movie nights.
Tell us about your business, WildChild Pediatric Occupational Therapy.
WildChild Occupational Therapy is a sensory-focused, play-based practice that offers sensory play classes for families with young children. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I’ve always loved running social skills groups for kids of all ages and abilities in various clinic settings. During OT school, my doctoral capstone focused on social skills intervention, which sparked a deep passion for helping kids connect and thrive. Since then, I’ve become more specialized in sensory integration therapy and saw an opportunity to combine these experiences in a more accessible, community-based setting.
I started WildChild OT in January 2025 to offer inclusive sensory play opportunities outside of the traditional clinic model. I wanted to create a space where all children and families feel welcome—because sensory play benefits everyone. Stepping into public spaces with these groups helps demonstrate that neurodivergent children—such as those on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing challenges—belong in community environments and benefit from building relationships with neurotypical peers, and vice versa.
While I’m currently the only therapist in the business, my husband helps run the business side of things, and I’m supported during classes by amazing student volunteers from The Ohio State University. Together, we’re building something joyful, inclusive, and grounded in meaningful play.
What made you decide to be an Occupational Therapist?
In college, I majored in health sciences and psychology, which sparked my interest in understanding both the body and mind. I’ve always loved working with people, and when I discovered occupational therapy, it felt like the perfect fit.
What drew me in was how creative and dynamic the field is. As an OT, no two days are the same—you’re constantly adapting, problem-solving, and using playful, meaningful activities to help people reach their goals. And for me, the biggest pull has always been working with children. I’ve always had a passion for helping kids grow and thrive, and OT gives me a chance to do that in a fun, impactful, and individualized way every single day.
Tell us what you currently offer to families in the area and what a play class looks like.
At WildChild Occupational Therapy, we offer 4- to 6-week sensory play class sessions for young children and their caregivers. These sessions provide a fun, structured way for kids to explore sensory activities, build motor and social skills, and connect with peers in a supportive environment. We’ve been running classes out of a local church in Upper Arlington, and you may see us pop up in other event spaces within UA and surrounding communities.
Our classes are geared toward children ages 18 months to 5 years, with small group sizes to keep things calm and personalized. Each class includes a gross motor activity, themed sensory play stations, and group circle time with movement songs and interactive games. The setup helps kids practice group routines and social skills, while still having their caregiver right there with them—which many families say is a great, low-pressure intro to preschool-style structure.
Parents and caregivers also walk away with sensory strategies and developmental tips they can use at home, which adds even more value to the experience. We also host free sensory play events at local libraries to make these opportunities accessible to more families. As we grow, we hope to expand to include more age groups, while staying focused on playful, inclusive support for kids and their caregivers.
What do you love about your business and what you do?
I literally get to PLAY and embrace my inner child for a living- not many people are lucky enough to say that! I love meeting new families and helping kids learn and grow! Sensory-based strategies are incredibly effective in helping children learn emotional regulation, and when kids develop these skills, it brings more peace to the entire family—so being able to teach these strategies and see them make a real difference in a family’s daily life is deeply rewarding.
How do you juggle your work and being a mom?
My career life has adapted and evolved over the years in order to accommodate my family life, and vice versa. When my son was born I found working full-time for a hospital-based clinic was not conducive to how I wanted to raise him, and so I found a way to work part-time at a much more flexible, smaller clinic. As my son has become more independent, I have been able to pour more of myself into my career, and start WildChild. Malcolm is my little helper at WildChild classes, acting as the guinea pig for all of my activity ideas, and a peer to other kids in the group! He loves joining mom at work, and adds value while having fun. Another huge reason I am able to balance the workload of mom, OT, and business owner, is because I have an extremely supportive husband to share the mental load with- this is HUGE!
What does a typical day look like for you?
On a “WildChild day,” I load my car to the brim with play equipment, drive with my son to the class, set up for class (with the help of my lovely student helpers), have an absolute blast with all the families, then clean up, lug everything back, attempt to get my son down for a nap, and then start planning and building new sensory bins for the following week! Usually lots of playing in the backyard follows, walking the dog, etc!
In addition to WildChild, I treat individuals at an OT clinic in Powell, so I spend my “work” days treating kids with a variety of ages and abilities, working on skills ranging from emotional regulation to self care skills and handwriting. On my days off, you can find me exploring the parks and libraries of Columbus!
What is one piece of advice you would give to a new mom?
As a mom, my biggest piece of advice is to give yourself grace. During those early years, your house might be messy, texts may go unanswered, and some days it might feel like you got nothing done—and that is completely normal. If you showed your child love today, then you’ve done something truly meaningful.
As an occupational therapist, I encourage new parents to let their child explore and get messy. Kids learn and grow by engaging with the world around them. Before stepping in to prevent a mess—or even a fall—pause and ask yourself: Are they safe? Are they happy? If the answer is yes, let them go for it. That kind of exploration is where so much important development happens.
You can find out more about WildChild OT on Instagram here!
