We had the good fortune of connecting with Erinn Askin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erinn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have 4 children, one of which we have struggled with her whole life. When we put her in public school for kindergarten it was a true disaster. After that we realized that we needed to seek an educational setting that best fit her not just what was closest to our house. After placing her in a smaller setting with more social emotional support we realized with the support of the school that she wasn’t just a difficult child, what she was struggling with was actually clinical and ultimately she was diagnosed with severe ADHD. Once I started talking to other parents about it I was made aware that there are SO many kids and families struggling at home with no idea what to do to support their child. I started utilizing my therapy tricks that I had relied on as a profession with my daughter including creating a social skills group for her and implementing biofeedback which she responded to very well. Eventually people started noticing a vast improvement in her behavior and attitude and began asking me to see their own children and that is where my business began to help other families who were struggling in the same ways as we were. What we offer in my practice is social skills training and support for kids who are doing relatively well academically but struggle with strong emotions and behavior that people outside their family don’t really see. Families usually deal with this in private and in silence so we strive to make access to help for each child and family supportive and accessible.

What should our readers know about your business?
The biggest thing that sets OTEIM apart from other clinics locally is that I have curated all of our offerings from the feedback I have gotten from the community we serve. By that I mean down to our facility space I reached out online to various forums and asked questions of parents with neurodiverse kids what they liked and didn’t like from various places they had been before. I was also very intentional in asking what types of services and programs they would be interested in participating in and those are the services and programs I developed.

OTEIM stands out further by primarily serving children aged 6-12, addressing an age group that might sometimes be overlooked programmatically at traditional OT clinics. This focus on the 6-12 age range demonstrates a specialized approach that caters to the developmental needs of these children in a targeted manner.

We see children in clinic, in their homes and in their schools for sensory processing, developmental delays, fine motor development, executive functioning, emotional regulation picky eating and social skills. We also provide early intervention for children 0-3 in their homes as a fully vendorized regional center provider.

OTEIM goes beyond traditional services by offering a therapeutic preschool preparatory program. This program, rooted in sensory and social-based approaches, showcases a commitment to early intervention and preparation for school readiness. It reflects a holistic perspective on child development, acknowledging the importance of both sensory and social elements in the learning process.

Another noteworthy aspect is OTEIM’s success in working with children diagnosed with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance). This relatively newer diagnosis is addressed with great results, showcasing the effectiveness of the interventions implemented at OTEIM. This success is something to be proud of and can be highlighted as a testament to the expertise and dedication of OTEIM in dealing with diverse pediatric conditions.

In addition to traditional therapeutic methods, OTEIM incorporates biofeedback and provides ADHD coaching. This multifaceted approach further underscores the comprehensive nature of the services offered. Biofeedback adds a technological dimension to therapy, while ADHD coaching provides targeted support for children facing attention and focus challenges.

In addition to the clinical expertise, OTEIM introduces other unique and innovative aspects to treatment including therapeutic surfing. This distinctive approach recognizes the therapeutic benefits of surfing in promoting physical, sensory, and emotional well-being. Integrating this unconventional yet effective method into the therapeutic repertoire sets OTEIM apart, offering children a dynamic and engaging way to enhance their developmental progress.

The inclusion of therapeutic surfing not only adds a fun and novel dimension to therapy but also taps into the therapeutic potential of outdoor activities. Surfing, with its combination of physical activity, sensory experiences, and connection with nature, aligns with OTEIM’s holistic approach to pediatric occupational therapy.

It was not easy to identify and implement such a vast variety of services for our clients but I fully believed in each program and committed to making each and every aspect of each one as beneficial as possible. Along the way I told myself daily to keep pushing with my ideas even when it seemed like no one was responding, eventually they did and we became a fully booked clinic.

Ultimately I want the world to know that we are a team of providers, curated by me, providing any and all services necessary for all children to live happy, healthy lives in all ways .

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Laguna beach is my absolute favorite place in orange county. I would start by having breakfast a cest la vie- walk the beach and stop by the candy barron, take the trolly to dana point and then grab some sushi at hotel laguna.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have an extensive network of women practitioners and business owners who have not only inspired me but also coached me and supported me every single second of my way. My husband is also a huge support as someone who is behind any idea that I decide to attempt at any given time.

Website: Oteim.com

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