Mindful OT

Mindful OT Kids Clinic. Programs for Autism, Handwriting, Self-Regulation, Feeding. We offer Assessment and Treatment for Kids, Teens and Adults!

We are a private Occupational Therapy Children's Treatment Clinic located in Newmarket, Ontario. We work with babies, toddlers and school age kids, including kids with Autism on self regulation, fine and gross motor skills, visual motor skills, feeding, sensory integration and primitive reflex integration. Our teen programs include social-emotional learning, handwriting, executive function (planning & problem solving), and art therapy. Our adult therapy programs include services for complex disabilities including acquired/traumatic brain injuries, orthopaedic injuries, chronic pain, amputation, and mental health.

11/21/2025

The shift in this teen’s drawing and handwriting is commendable. His figure once leaned to one side, but now he stands upright, showing a clear rise in confidence. There’s stronger body awareness, reflected in the way he now differentiates his upper and lower body through details in his shirt, pants, and feet. His emotional growth comes through in the brighter facial features and the way he places himself confidently at the center of the page.

These changes point to stronger visual-motor planning—better structure, proportion, and spatial organization. They also signal growth in executive functioning, especially in planning and attention to detail. His handwriting shows the same progress, with clearer organization and more deliberate control. His increasing confidence is evident as he learns to express himself and stand more firmly in who he is.

11/17/2025

A Year of Growth

Then:
Limited body awareness in her self-image drawing.
Writing endurance was low, making it difficult to write more than a word.
Struggled with visual-motor integration, affecting sentence formation.

Now:
Her self-drawing is more detailed and organized,
Showing better awareness of her arms, hands, feet, and facial features.
Improved writing endurance, allowing her to write more words and sustain attention.
Stronger visual-motor skills, helping her integrate information to form complete sentences.

With consistent OT support, she has not only developed better fine motor and writing skills, but also emotional maturity, reflected in her more structured and confident self-image.

11/15/2025

Teen Super Club – What’s Cooking This Week?

We’re making tortilla pizzas—easy, tasty, and fun. The teens headed out for a quick grocery run, then stroll back in the cooler evening air.

Once we’re back, it’s all hands on deck: chopping toppings, cooking on the stove, assembling their own creations, and settle in to enjoy their creations.

We’re going all-in on cozy comfort: Tortilla Pizzas, Hot Chocolate, whipped cream, and marshmallows.

Warm drinks, good food, and an easygoing night together.

Between ages 3 and 5, our client has made some amazing strides! His drawings have gone from simple scribbles to basic sh...
11/14/2025

Between ages 3 and 5, our client has made some amazing strides! His drawings have gone from simple scribbles to basic shapes — a circle for a head, lines for arms and legs — showing real growth in body awareness. This progress happened between 2024 to 2025.

His handwriting skills have also taken off. He’s now forming pre-writing shapes and can write his name — a huge leap in just 1.5 years!

Other wins include better attention to tasks and following multi-step directions — key early writing and life skills.

✓ Pre-printing → early writing skills (big leap in 1.5 years!)
✓ Drawing shows developing body awareness (scribbles → emerging person)
✓ Attention and task completion improving

11/13/2025

Processing experiences through art

In our 1:1 art therapy session, our client reflected on their experience in the Ruff-Ruff Academy dog training group — turning memories, emotions, and lessons learned into art.
A beautiful reminder that growth happens when we pause, feel, and create. Sometimes reflection doesn’t need words, it needs space, color, and presence.

We often feel judged when our child gets too close or invades someone’s space on the playground. But this isn’t bad pare...
11/12/2025

We often feel judged when our child gets too close or invades someone’s space on the playground. But this isn’t bad parenting—it’s simply a different developmental path. We’re working on social skills with support, but please understand—he’s not being rude or aggressive. His brain processes space, safety, and connection differently.

11/11/2025

Working on Magic C letter formation, we show how a simple 'c' can transform into a g, a, d, or o—all while throwing a dash of fun distractions and a good dose of humour. Because learning is better when you're having fun!

“But what if he ends up being weird?”Weird isn’t the enemy—rejection is. Our job isn’t to make kids blend in; it’s to he...
11/10/2025

“But what if he ends up being weird?”

Weird isn’t the enemy—rejection is. Our job isn’t to make kids blend in; it’s to help them feel secure in who they are. The goal isn’t sameness—it’s self-worth and belonging. When a child feels safe to be themselves, growth follows naturally.

11/07/2025

Teen Super Club: From Grocery Run to Mochi Fun!

This week at Mindful OT’s Teen Super Club, we took things from store to stove — and had a great time doing it. We visited a new grocery store, got some fresh air on a November walk, and practiced real kitchen skills — from safely cutting chicken to getting that perfect crispy fry. Then we put it all together: crispy fried chicken, fried rice, sauce, teamwork, and a good dose of laughter. We finished with clean-up, games, and of course — mochi balls for dessert.

Building independence, one delicious skill at a time.

A common mindset shift in therapy begins with letting go of the idea, “I want you to fix my child.” Autistic children ar...
11/06/2025

A common mindset shift in therapy begins with letting go of the idea, “I want you to fix my child.” Autistic children are not broken—they don’t need to be fixed. What they need is to be seen, understood, and supported for who they are. When parents shift from focusing on “fixing” to embracing connection and understanding, it opens the door to growth, confidence, and authentic progress.

11/05/2025

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at a Women in Business breakfast event. Stepping into that space was both exciting and unfamiliar. I’m used to presenting on occupational therapy topics, leading workshops, or teaching in more structured environments—settings where the focus is on education and practice. A panel discussion, however, invites something deeper. It calls for openness, vulnerability, and genuine connection.

I felt truly honoured to be part of this inspiring community of women, each walking their own entrepreneurial path. During the discussion, I shared some reflections that have shaped my journey in business. One of the key messages I spoke about was the importance of knowing your values. Our values are not just abstract ideas; they serve as the compass that guides every decision we make. When choices align with those values, they tend to feel right—authentic and sustainable. When they don’t, conflict and discomfort often follow.

I also touched on the value of knowing your strengths. In business, it’s easy to focus on what we lack or where we fall short, but real growth happens when we lean into what we do best. Recognizing our strengths allows us to delegate, collaborate, and share responsibilities effectively. None of us can do it all at once, but over time, with the right partnerships and systems in place, it begins to look like we can.

The experience reminded me that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about clarity, authenticity, and connection. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

Address

130 Davis Drive, Unit 211 PO Box 68
Newmarket, ON
L3Y2N1

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 7pm
Thursday 9:30am - 6:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 7pm

Telephone

+14168887445

Website

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