I have never seen a butterfly emerging from a cocoon after a period of dormancy, but I have seen a child blossom after struggling to find himself. So when I saw the butterfly on Emerge's sign, I knew that they truly understood the impact of their therapy. Emerge - A Child's Place is a well respected pediatric occupational and speech therapy clinic conveniently located right here in southern Durham. Their mission is to enhance the lives of the children they serve and the families who love them by providing a fun, nurturing and supportive therapeutic environment. Emerge evaluates and treats a wide variety of children, from infants to teens, whether their needs are simple or complex. Common areas addressed in therapy are:
One thing I really appreciate about Emerge is how they not only have one-on-one therapy, but also offer group sessions. My own child was in a feeding group and I saw it's impact firsthand, so I know how not only how valuable they are, but how much the kids love them. Just some of the therapy groups Emerge has include: "Social Sleuths to help older school-aged children (8-12 year olds) build awareness for social cues and navigate social situations", "Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders uses the Sequential-Oral-Sensory approach to safe food exploration in a comfortable and sensory supportive social environment", and "Cool Cats to develop coping strategies for children with anxiety". (Groups offered depend on demand and season, with summertime being the most popular. Go here for the full listing and info on how to apply.) Both group and individual therapy utilize specialized services and customized programs, like Interactive Metronome® and Visualizing and Verbalizing®.
- Improving sensory modulation and integration
- Developing motor skills and coordination
- Improving communication skills
- Improving handwriting skills
- Addressing feeding concerns
- Enhancing social skills
- Improving self-esteem
- Facilitating success in school
- Improving focus, attention and organization
- Fostering independence in self-help and play skills
One thing I really appreciate about Emerge is how they not only have one-on-one therapy, but also offer group sessions. My own child was in a feeding group and I saw it's impact firsthand, so I know how not only how valuable they are, but how much the kids love them. Just some of the therapy groups Emerge has include: "Social Sleuths to help older school-aged children (8-12 year olds) build awareness for social cues and navigate social situations", "Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders uses the Sequential-Oral-Sensory approach to safe food exploration in a comfortable and sensory supportive social environment", and "Cool Cats to develop coping strategies for children with anxiety". (Groups offered depend on demand and season, with summertime being the most popular. Go here for the full listing and info on how to apply.) Both group and individual therapy utilize specialized services and customized programs, like Interactive Metronome® and Visualizing and Verbalizing®.
What sets Emerge apart?
"It is our dedication to parent education." says Brittni M. Winslow, Clinical Director of Occupational Therapy at Emerge (and SoDu member). "We offer parent interpretive conferences to discuss evaluation findings in great detail and to educate and involve parents as a critical part of the treatment team. Our therapists always make the time to correspond with parents regarding treatment plans and recommendations for their child. Therapy is tailored to not only the client’s needs, but the family’s needs as a whole. We understand that therapy is only a small fraction of your child’s week and ultimately success across all of the child’s environments is the goal. Emerge also has a commitment to early intervention and working with young children. We accept clients from birth through 21 years old, with a large majority of our clientele being 5 years old and younger. We have treatment spaces dedicated to working with younger children who may be overwhelmed by larger spaces. The 0-3 years are critical for brain development. Facilitating development thru therapeutic intervention when children are young can yield the greatest outcomes."
I love how our therapist really keeps us in the loop about therapy goals and progress, and I also really appreciate what the clinic does to empower us with information. The website is full of resources and links for parents. One particular blog post of theirs that might be helpful at this time of year is a list they created of great holiday gifts for children. They have fun and educational toys sorted into the categories of fine motor, visual perceptual, cooperative, gross motor, sensory, language enrichment, imaginative play, and infant/toddler. This added bonus isn't something you'd get just anywhere, but going above and beyond is par for the course at Emerge.
"It is our dedication to parent education." says Brittni M. Winslow, Clinical Director of Occupational Therapy at Emerge (and SoDu member). "We offer parent interpretive conferences to discuss evaluation findings in great detail and to educate and involve parents as a critical part of the treatment team. Our therapists always make the time to correspond with parents regarding treatment plans and recommendations for their child. Therapy is tailored to not only the client’s needs, but the family’s needs as a whole. We understand that therapy is only a small fraction of your child’s week and ultimately success across all of the child’s environments is the goal. Emerge also has a commitment to early intervention and working with young children. We accept clients from birth through 21 years old, with a large majority of our clientele being 5 years old and younger. We have treatment spaces dedicated to working with younger children who may be overwhelmed by larger spaces. The 0-3 years are critical for brain development. Facilitating development thru therapeutic intervention when children are young can yield the greatest outcomes."
I love how our therapist really keeps us in the loop about therapy goals and progress, and I also really appreciate what the clinic does to empower us with information. The website is full of resources and links for parents. One particular blog post of theirs that might be helpful at this time of year is a list they created of great holiday gifts for children. They have fun and educational toys sorted into the categories of fine motor, visual perceptual, cooperative, gross motor, sensory, language enrichment, imaginative play, and infant/toddler. This added bonus isn't something you'd get just anywhere, but going above and beyond is par for the course at Emerge.
Can I also mention how great their facility is? The 2,000 square foot open gym space they have for gross motor therapy is larger than any I have ever seen - it's pretty impressive, and according to kids I know that attend Emerge, it's super fun! The waiting room is also pretty spacious, and unlike many, has things to occupy siblings not in therapy, like a train table and play kitchen. Things like that really set Emerge apart - a thoughtful approach to everything. Take a tour in the video below and see what I mean.
All of Emerge's therapists are licensed with training in physiology, neurodevelopment and psychology. They participate in ongoing advanced-level continuing education each year so they are able to bring the best in therapeutic practices when working with your child. They truly work as a team, making sure each child has the help they need. I know they deeply care about kids because I spent an hour on the phone with Bonnie Hacker, the Executive Director (another SoDu member!), way before we even became clients. She took time out of her day to help a stranger lost at sea, and pointed me in the right direction. Truly great people here. To find out about the therapists and staff, and see the cute childhood picture each of them chose to go with their bio, read more here.
I truly think Emerge is a a place that changes lives, but don't just take my word for it. Here are some words of praise from just some of the families they have helped (and even more in this link to testimonials on their website):
"My two boys have seen tremendous improvements since they started working with the Occupational Therapists at Emerge - A Child’s Place. My oldest son used to sit alone at lunch and play by himself on the playground. Since learning new techniques from his therapist, he has been able to make friends and plays much more easily with others. As a parent, seeing this kind of a change means the world to me!"
"Emerge has also made a huge impact on my life. My son’s therapists have helped me understand why my children react in certain ways, and the therapists have given me a new perspective on how to deal with difficult situations. Their innovative ideas have helped me address every day occurrences in new ways. The support my family has received from Emerge has made life a lot easier for us all."
"I full-heartedly recommend Emerge - A Child’s Place for families. Every member of their staff is AWESOME, and they have the expertise to address all kinds of challenges for children including autism, ADHD, communication difficulties, behavioral problems, and even picky eaters!"
"My two boys have seen tremendous improvements since they started working with the Occupational Therapists at Emerge - A Child’s Place. My oldest son used to sit alone at lunch and play by himself on the playground. Since learning new techniques from his therapist, he has been able to make friends and plays much more easily with others. As a parent, seeing this kind of a change means the world to me!"
"Emerge has also made a huge impact on my life. My son’s therapists have helped me understand why my children react in certain ways, and the therapists have given me a new perspective on how to deal with difficult situations. Their innovative ideas have helped me address every day occurrences in new ways. The support my family has received from Emerge has made life a lot easier for us all."
"I full-heartedly recommend Emerge - A Child’s Place for families. Every member of their staff is AWESOME, and they have the expertise to address all kinds of challenges for children including autism, ADHD, communication difficulties, behavioral problems, and even picky eaters!"
If you are considering occupational or speech therapy for your child but you are not sure if your child needs it at this time, do what I did. Simply call and speak to one of the therapists at Emerge. They will take the time to understand your challenges and offer ideas about how they can help. They also welcome prospective parents to come and check out our clinic space and see the services they offer in person.
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Help your child emerge from their cocoon - it may one of the best parenting decisions you ever make.
https://www.facebook.com/Emergeachildsplace
http://emergeachildsplace.com/
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Help your child emerge from their cocoon - it may one of the best parenting decisions you ever make.
https://www.facebook.com/Emergeachildsplace
http://emergeachildsplace.com/
FTC required disclosure: The above post is a sponsored advertisement. Some of the content, such as the images, are provided by the pardner for my use. I give permission for this blog post to be used in perpetuity by the pardner as they wish. May seem silly, but legally I gotta say it. Congrats for reading the fine print!
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