Why Occupational Therapy Can Make a Big Difference
Children with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs often benefit from occupational therapy (OT) to support many areas of their development. Occupational therapy is often thought of as focusing mainly on fine motor strength and coordination. However, it also supports many additional aspects of a child’s growth and daily functioning.
The benefits of occupational therapy for children with special needs are numerous. Occupational Therapists are skilled in using a variety of strategies to support motor development, self-regulation and sensory needs in sensory-friendly environments tailored to each child’s goals. Additionally, they work on social participation, adaptive skills, and everyday life skills—think activities like brushing teeth, toileting, opening containers, writing, and getting dressed.
Occupational Therapy at Healing Haven
Healing Haven was founded in 2010 as a space where parents of children with special needs could learn strategies to manage their stress. We gradually added services, with ABA Therapy for older children first. As the need for our ABA services grew, we added speech and occupational therapies to holistically support our client’s development while providing families with one service location. Our multidisciplinary approach means occupational therapists collaborate closely with behavior analysts and speech-language pathologists. This reinforces shared goals and creates a well-rounded, cohesive therapy experience for each child.
Occupational therapy at Healing Haven is rooted in the belief that children learn best through their natural “occupation” of play. The goal is for their therapy “work” to be fun. Therapists use a wide variety of play-based materials, such as yoga balls, obstacle courses, swings, animal walks, and sensory circuits, to build gross motor and sensory regulation skills. OTs also use board games, crafts, and manipulatives to strengthen fine motor coordination. Through ongoing assessment and treatment embedded within engaging, child-centered activities, children build and advance their skills in a developmentally natural progression.
Our OTs and COTAs design individualized sessions that blend structure with play to help children build skills like balance, core strength, body awareness, sensory regulation, executive functioning, attention, and greater independence with participation in school and self-care activities.
A particularly important area of support through our Occupational Therapy services is Feeding Therapy. We use the SOS Approach to Feeding. This approach helps picky eaters feel comfortable with food by moving at the child’s pace—from tolerating food nearby, to touching, smelling, tasting, and eventually eating—building confidence and skills with a variety of foods while keeping mealtime enjoyable and supportive. The SOS Feeding Therapy Approach is also incorporated into our ABA Therapy when appropriate.
Our Occupational Therapy Foundation
Our first OT on staff has a long history of working with our Founder, Jamie McGillivary. Long before she ever considered studying to become an Occupational Therapist, Julie Rauch, MOT, OTR/L, worked alongside Jamie at The Ted Lindsay Foundation HOPE Center, where she served as the Motor Room Expert in the Parent Training Program. She later went on to manage the summer programs in the early days of Healing Haven.
Julie met Jamie through a family she worked with over 25 years ago while providing in-home therapy and respite care. This experience inspired her to work full-time with individuals with autism and their families. As a result, Julie went on to study to become a BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst). After several years working in ABA therapy, she decided to further her education and pursue a career in occupational therapy.
Returning to Healing Haven as an Occupational Therapist
Julie rejoined Healing Haven in January 2018 after earning her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Eastern Michigan University. Her years of experience in ABA, combined with her education and training as an OT, make Julie a true force in her field and at Healing Haven.
Julie describes being an OT at Healing Haven as her “dream job.” She often references the saying, “When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” and has seen this truth lived out in her work. Each child is unique, and Julie loves the challenge of discovering what motivates them. She also appreciates how the staff acknowledges one another’s hard work. “I could not ask for better people to surround me each day,” Julie shared.
Expanding Our OT Services
As the request for our therapy services grew, we recognized the need to also grow our Occupational Therapy services. Over the past eight years, we’ve added several highly-qualified and passionate Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants to our team. Their breadth of experience is a tremendous asset to our clients.
Tess
Tess Carolan, MSOT, OTR/L, is our Occupational Therapy Director who joined our team in June 2025. She graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in December 2020 with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Tess’ passion for pediatrics began back in high school, where she worked as an OT tech and Handwriting Without Tears Camp Leader. With experience supporting children from birth through childhood, Tess brings a well-rounded and compassionate approach to care.
What Tess loves most about her work is that “no two days are ever the same” and that she gets to help kids grow in independence.
Alexys
Alexys Anderson, MSOT, OTR/L, joined our team in April 2024 shortly after graduating from Saginaw Valley State University. With experience gathered in both school-based settings and inpatient rehabilitation, her role at Healing Haven is one of the first in her occupational therapy career.
The creativity involved in pediatric occupational therapy is what fuels Alexys’ passion for the work she does. “I am constantly learning new things, and the kids make each day a little brighter,” she said.
Jacey
Jacey Lacanilao, COTA/L, joined our team in November 2021. She graduated from Macomb Community College with an Associates of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy degree. Healing Haven is her first place of employment in her COTA career.
Jacey has always had a passion for working with children with special needs. She emphasized that no two kids are the same and that each comes with their own fun personality. “Being a part of the journey that helps our kids grow into independent individuals is one of the best feelings,” Jacey said.
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Lay, COTA/L, joined our team in February 2022. She graduated from Macomb Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program in 2021 after earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wayne State University.
Kaitlyn is passionate about what she does. She said she loves “to create a challenging and nurturing environment for kids to inspire confidence and build the skills needed to meet their goals.”
Angie
Angela Davis, OTD, OTR/L, joined our team in October 2024. She studied Exercise Science at Adrian College prior to going to U of M Flint for her occupational therapy degree. After college, Angie completed an outpatient pediatric clinical rotation at an ABA clinic.
Angie loves that being an occupational therapist allows her to build relationships with clients and their families. “I take pride in creating individualized treatment plans that are meaningful and engaging for children,” Angie said.
Lacey
Lacey Phillips, COTA/L, joined our team in February 2025 after graduating from Macomb Community College in Spring 2024 with her COTA degree. Through her schooling, she attended an interprofessional summer camp where she gained experience working with individuals with autism in a variety of settings.
Lacey has always wanted to work in pediatrics. “Watching children reach new milestones and gain independence through play, all while building a relationship with them, is one of the most rewarding parts of occupational therapy and is what led me to the field,” said Lacey.
Mikayla
Mikayla Rose, MOT, OTR/L, joined our team in February 2025, shortly after graduating from Eastern Michigan University. With experience gathered from an ABA clinic and outpatient neuro rehabilitation, she’s a great addition to our Healing Haven team.
Mikayla loves that her career allows her to “play all day with kids” and “use creativity to make play therapeutic.”
Olivia
Olivia Patterson, COTA/L, joined our team in August 2025 after graduating from Owens Community College with an Associates of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy degree.
She has always had a passion for working with children, specifically those with special needs. Olivia enjoys the creativity and problem-solving involved in tailoring interventions to each child’s specific needs and desires. “It is incredibly rewarding to watch their confidence grow as they overcome challenges, no matter how big or small,” Olivia said.
Sarah
Sarah Austin, COTA/L, joined our team in November 2025. She was inspired to pursue her Occupational Therapy Assistant degree after watching her son flourish through his own OT journey.
Sarah’s passion for the special needs community was shaped by her personal experience as a parent of children with diverse developmental needs. Her favorite part about working in occupational therapy is having the ability to “make life experiences more accessible to clients so they can live full and flourishing lives.”
Emma
Emma Baker, OTR/L, joined our team in January 2026. She attended Western Michigan University, where she graduated with her Master of Occupational Therapy degree in December 2020. Emma began her OT career in a school-based setting, where she worked for over 4 years.
Emma’s favorite part of her career is the creativity it allows. “I genuinely enjoy using play to help kids reach their goals in meaningful ways,” she said.
Erin
Erin Cueter, MSOT, OTR/L, joined our team in October 2025. She graduated from Baker College in May 2025 with her occupational therapy degree.
Erin is passionate about helping children build confidence and independence. Her favorite part about being an OT is “finding creative ways to support each child’s unique strengths and celebrating their progress along the way.”
Getting Started With OT
Healing Haven offers Occupational Therapy for kids with autism and other special needs at our three Metro Detroit locations. This provides one service location for parents seeking behavioral, speech, and occupational therapy for their child. Additionally, OT services are open to individuals who are not participating in our behavior-based therapy programs. If your child needs occupational therapy, reach out to us! Fill out our Contact Us form, or give us a call at 248-965-3916.