Nurturing Growth with Paediatric Therapy Services in the Heart of the Comox Valley
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If you are an Occupational Therapist interested in joining our team, please contact us!
Discover the benefits of our care.
Why choose West Coast Kids Therapy Group?
Personalized Care
Every therapy plan is tailored to fit your child's individual needs.
Experienced Team
Our skilled professionals are dedicated to nurturing your child's development.
Holistic Approach
We consider all aspects of your child's well-being.
At West Coast Kids, we empower children with skills to bring them confidence, resilience, and independence.
Areas of Practice
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ASD is a developmental condition with symptoms that generally appear before school age. Individuals with ASD tend to learn, communicate, and interact with their environment in different ways than their peers. They often need support in developing their independence, processing sensory information, reducing anxiety, managing emotional regulation, and building motor coordination skills. Early intervention by autism-informed therapists has shown to improve a child's overall development.
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
DCD is a chronic motor skill disorder. Children with DCD struggle to learn basic motor tasks, such as doing up zippers and buttons, throwing and catching a ball, printing at school, and learning to swim or ride a bike. Effective assessment and treatment should be provided across the lifespan for all children with DCD to improve adaptive functioning (e.g., greater independence, acquisition of motor skills, and to enable participation in play and leisure activities), which can have a positive effect on the child’s self-esteem and mental health. (Zwicker, J., et.al. (2017). DCD Advocacy Toolkit.)
Torticollis & Plagiocephaly
Torticollis is a condition in which a child’s head persistently tilts to one side as a result of a neck muscle imbalance. Congenital muscular torticollis responds very well to physical therapy, especially when started early. Sometimes torticollis is associated with plagiocephaly, a condition in which there is asymmetry in the shape of the head and face. This is often the result of a baby consistently sleeping in the same position because of their torticollis.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Sensory processing refers to how we use sensory information to make sense of the world around us, and it underpins every aspect of human functioning. Our sensory systems provide vital information that we use to be successful. Sensory processing and integration are foundational to healthy development, function, participation, learning and psychological well-being. Disordered sensory processing has the potential to derail or disrupt human development in many ways. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behaviour, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and many other problems may impact those who do not have effective treatment. (Star Institute Foundation. (2021). About SPD.)
Neuromuscular Conditions
Neuromuscular disorders affect the muscles and nerves of the body, which can in turn impact strength, movement, overall development as well as participation in daily life activities. Complex orthopaedic issues are common with neuromuscular disorders. Children often require specialized equipment and support to maximize their independence and minimize secondary complications.
Feeding Disorders
Feeding disorders limit participation at meal times and hinder nutritional intake. Feeding disorders associated with Autism include sensitivity to textures, picky eating, oral-motor difficulties, obsessive eating patterns, intense cravings, and inappropriate eating pace. Occupational therapists specializing in feeding disorders work to expand a child's food repertoire and target sensory-related behaviours.
Chronic Pain
Chronic and complex pain may be continuous or intermittent and can significantly limit a child's ability to participate in their daily activities. This pain is often difficult to treat and requires a specialized medical team to support the child and their family.
“West Coast Kids Therapy Group is a delight to work with. Compassionate, skilled, and professional every step of the way while being very responsive, accessible, and flexible to the ever-changing needs of our child and family. Their strong advocacy has provided us access to services and goods that are critical to our child’s overall health, development and well being. They celebrate our child and support our whole family. We LOVE working with them.”
