Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Dang and Emma Wilking.
Diana and Emma, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We are pediatric occupational therapists and were colleagues for a few years before deciding we wanted to bring something special to the pediatric therapy community in Houston. Time and time again we found there was a missing link between health professionals (including ourselves!), parents, caregivers, teachers, and the children themselves and wanted to fill that void by creating an environment where integrative and individualized care is prioritized. Currently, our clinic provides occupational and speech therapy services for children and their families.
Our approach with children is based on the Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based (DIR®) Floortime™ Model. This intervention model involves developing trusting relationships in a playful, respectful, and joyful manner to promote development in all areas. We value addressing social-emotional skills which are foundational to mental and physical functioning in our social world. Our therapists take the time to understand what a child loves, which enables therapy to become a more meaningful and motivating experience for a child, creating lasting effects.
We are unique in our approach as we combine our knowledge and practice of DIR®/Floortime™ with a wide variety of specialized training and continuing education experience. Additionally, our therapists use a highly collaborative approach amongst ourselves and any other members of a child’s team.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not, but as John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” The first struggle was determining how we could bridge our love of being therapists to being new business owners. This ended up being one of the easier humps to get over, as we balance each other out and work well as a team. The next ten thousand and one struggles involved finding the perfect space, navigating start-up business details (which we had no schooling in!), how to prioritize sleep, and assuming roles beyond occupational therapists and business owners. After these initial struggles, the fun part of designing our space, filled with swing hooks, a giant rock wall, a ball pit, a slide, specialized treatment rooms, and a comfortable waiting room, paved the way for a smoother road. Even then, we didn’t make it easy on ourselves as we both decided to plan our weddings and get married within six months of opening Foundations Pediatric Therapy.
Foundations Pediatric Therapy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Foundations Pediatric Therapy is a holistic pediatric therapy clinic offering occupational and speech therapy services based on building relationships to support social-emotional development, facilitate sensory integration, improve gross and fine motor coordination, and decrease anxiety. We treat a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, dyspraxia, apraxia, articulation, expressive and receptive language disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders. Torticollis, down syndrome, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, emotional/behavioral problems, and learning disabilities. But to us, children are more than just a diagnosis. We strive to understand how their nervous system functions, how they are impacted by sensory experiences, and how their motor abilities support or inhibit them in daily activities.
It brings us pride and humility to be able to make a difference in children’s everyday lives, support the family system, and appreciate all the changes along the way. We truly believe this is what sets us apart from other clinics as we emphasize the power of relationships, utilize various evidence-based treatment modalities that are not typically offered, and tailor treatment to each child and their family. We recognize that children are part of a greater unit, the family, thus strive to improve quality of life for everyone.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for us is quite simple. Seeing the gleam in a child’s face after overcoming a challenge, hearing a parent’s sigh of relief, facilitating children problem solving, and enabling independence are all manifestations of success.
Contact Info:
- Address: Foundations Pediatric Therapy
3312 Marquart St. Suite 101
Houston, TX 77027 - Website: www.foundationspediatrictherapy.com
- Phone: 713-999-5358
- Email: office@foundationspediatrictherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundationspediatrictherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foundationspediatrictherapy/
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