Occupational Therapy

Whether you are navigating chronic pain or chronic illness, adjusting to life after the birth of a baby, or want strategies to support different ways of thinking and learning (e.g. ADHD, Autism, learning disabilities, sensory processing differences), occupational therapy might be for you.

Occupational therapy is all about helping you engage in the activities you want and need to do in your day-to-day, so you can feel better and live a deeply fulfilling life. Occupational therapists look at all the factors that contribute to your life and help you overcome the obstacles that get in the way of you participating fully. Think of "occupation" as the stuff that fills our days – from brushing our teeth to pursuing hobbies. By diving into these everyday activities, we learn, grow, connect with others, and find meaning in our lives.

You or your child may benefit from occupational therapy if you or they are struggling to:

  • Meet the demands of daily activities such as making and eating meals, getting dressed, completing personal grooming/hygiene tasks, doing household chores and errands, or attending necessary appointments

  • Participate in play, leisure, and social activities in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling

  • Carry out the duties required of work, school, volunteer, caregiving, or parenting roles

  • Achieve or maintain functional sleep routines

  • Find balance between rest, productivity, and play in day-to-day life

Our occupational therapy services are highly individualized, family-centred, collaborative, and client-led. Services may include support with education and skill-building, lifestyle changes, environmental adaptation, task accommodation, compensatory techniques, and creative problem solving.

Occupational Therapy Services

  • Our OT will work with you and your child to facilitate healthy development and participation in daily activities such as eating, toileting, self-help, sleep, movement, leisure, and play.

    Through a mix of activity-based sessions with your child at Maliya and in your home, you will learn and practice strategies to better support you child’s individual needs.

    You will also receive one-on-one education and consultation sessions for parents to explore questions and challenges that arise.

    This family support program is designed to build on your child’s strengths and relate to their interests. Our OT will work closely with you and your child to tailor therapy to your family’s specific goals and hopes.

  • Our OT will work with you to adjust to your new roles and routines after welcoming a child, and to regain a sense of balance and competency.

    • Learn strategies to prevent and cope with sensory overwhelm and over-stimulation

    • Receive holistic sleep support for the mother/infant dyad

    • Engage natural support networks and build routines that prioritize rest, self-care, and bonding time with baby

    • Practice techniques for movement and positioning that protect the integrity and functioning of your physical body

    • Our OT will also be able to screen for mental health and feeding challenges that require specialized support, and to connect you with local resources as needed.

    Program plans typically include a mix of in person activity-based sessions at Maliya or in your home, along with education and consultation sessions. You will be encouraged to articulate your own therapy goals.

  • Our OT will guide you in developing a better understanding of yourself, your needs, and your unique way of experiencing the world. You will be supported to:

    • Recognize and prevent burnout and over- or under-stimulation

    • Use individualized regulation strategies

    • Advocate for yourself at home and in the community

    • Make changes to your activities, routines, and environments that support your way of processing information and sensory input

    • Learn to use visual aids and organizational tools to support functioning

    • Explore feel-good activities that promote positive sense of self and holistic wellness

    Program plans typically include a mix of in person activity-based sessions at Maliya or in your home, along with education and consultation sessions. You will be encouraged to articulate your own therapy goals.

  • Our OT will work with you to navigate day-to-day life in a way that is sustainable and that supports your well-being. You will be supported to learn:

    • Strategies for energy conservation

    • Strategies for activity pacing

    • Pain self-management

    • Nervous system regulation

    • Practice techniques for movement and positioning that reduce pain, strain, and overexertion

    • How to engage natural support networks and build routines that prioritize self-care and participation in activities that bring joy and meaning to your life

    • Address sleep difficulties

    • Regain a sense of balance and agency as you are empowered to know yourself and your body more deeply, to take ownership over your own wellness, and to give yourself grace and compassion along the way

    Program plans typically include a mix of in person activity-based sessions at Maliya or in your home, along with education and consultation sessions. You will be encouraged to articulate your own therapy goals.

Occupational Therapist

Jane Brownridge

Jane is a registered Occupational Therapist with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists. She holds a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta. In her work she draws upon her varied professional experience supporting families in home, school, and community settings, as well as her personal experience with navigating motherhood. Jane works with people of all ages and all abilities. She has extensive knowledge and experience related to neurodivergence, and a deep appreciation for the many valid, unique, and beautiful expressions of human diversity that exist in the world.

As an occupational therapist, Jane holds a core belief that our health, well-being, and sense of self are profoundly interrelated with our capacity to participate in the activities we find meaningful, our ability to fulfill the roles that shape our identity, and the degree to which we feel a sense of belonging and purpose in our community. Her goal is to enable and empower her clients to participate in the daily activities that they need and want to do, as a vehicle to discover personal growth and enriched quality of life.

Jane’s work is rooted in care, connection, and collaboration. She partners with her clients to create personalized program plans that take into account each individual or family’s unique goals, strengths, values, interests, and perspectives, as well as the complex interactions between people and the environments in which they live. You can trust that Jane will meet you with an open heart, a listening ear, and a deep respect for you and the journey you are on.