Desert Quail Therapy

Desert Quail Therapy Every Body deserves to move, to feel good and to be a part of something bigger.

Occupational therapy for all ages.Our mission is to promote independence, participation, and engagement in daily activities through advanced occupational therapy strategies.

Using PLAY and connection to push the limits a little bit and turn a situation from “I can’t I’m scared” to something fe...
09/19/2025

Using PLAY and connection to push the limits a little bit and turn a situation from “I can’t I’m scared” to something feasible.

Here’s I’m working on normalizing the tone in my body (high/overuse in upper body to the point that it’s not always functional and mixed tone and responsivity in lower body to the point that it’s not always functional) and a young girl who has low tone, gravitational insecurity and overall anxiety. Sitting on the low pull up bar is scary for her and leaning forward in my w/c is scary for me.

Initially I grabbed her foot too hard and I immediately felt her dissociate (physically and emotionally). I used the post to help me ground, softened my grip to match her level of connection. Initially she was grabbing onto me for stability with both feet and then was able to settle a bit, bringing one foot down. It resulted in smiles and feeling accomplished all around!

Call it woo woo if you like but we affect each other. My biggest gain as a therapist (and parent) has been to hone in on what my body is telling me about their body.

I’m this course we discuss how to document these signals in an objective way for documentation. This is cool.

Thanks Ranger Rick Jr mag for showing a kid in a wheelchair! My toddler pointed this out to me and was very excited to s...
09/19/2025

Thanks Ranger Rick Jr mag for showing a kid in a wheelchair! My toddler pointed this out to me and was very excited to show me my wheelchair and the wheelchair in print.

My kids loved the wicked movie and I loved that the sister uses a wheelchair in real life 👏🏼

Does anyone have other instances of disabled peeps being represented (a good or bad example)?

Side note- I was an extra in a movie years ago and the kid from breaking bad played a quad in inpatient rehab….tom Sizemore was also in the film and grabbed my wheelchair by the frame (so I couldn’t move) and asked “do you like to get high and f$ck?” Classy….my response was “don’t we all” which threw him enough to let go of my wheelchair and I could skedattle.

Experience the power in the gathering of women. In allowing movement that is not censored. In receiving bodywork with pr...
09/18/2025

Experience the power in the gathering of women. In allowing movement that is not censored. In receiving bodywork with practitioners who lovingly hold the boundary to allow for softening. In hearing your voice and feeling the power. In being witnessed as an expression of your true essence. In creating from places within that have been dormant.

Spend two days at a small Tucson ranch with women, horses and the land. A chance to unfold and find your yes.

Link in bio for full list of offerings, pricing etc. Art by Camille. Photo in orange dress by .wingerath

Because movement is not obscene. Because despite what many systems preach this world isn’t linear 🌀. Because I need to m...
09/16/2025

Because movement is not obscene. Because despite what many systems preach this world isn’t linear 🌀. Because I need to moan. Because my pelvis and my throat are connected, oh yeah my heart too. Because I am a creator. Because sometimes we all need to squat real low for a minute. Get your back up off the wall 🌟

And at the France circus today we have meals on wheels! Getting griffin used to various objects at my house (skateboard)...
09/11/2025

And at the France circus today we have meals on wheels! Getting griffin used to various objects at my house (skateboard) and having brigit work on moving more and in different ways.

The climbing dome was a perfect cognitive and physical challenge that encouraged walking in a tight circle, head and neck movements, vision/depth perception….

Some neck range of motion for Brigit moving the food wagon. Finding ways to get her CURIOUS again and food is her biggest motivator. Giving her opportunities to move at her own pace when it’s her idea is key.

PLAY CONTINUING ED COURSE IS BACK! I did this with back in March and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it- so we are doing it...
09/06/2025

PLAY CONTINUING ED COURSE IS BACK! I did this with back in March and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it- so we are doing it again!

Barbara Collier and Jeanie Shepherd will be presenting with me again. Wonderful insights from somatic experiencing, trauma informed, natural horsemanship, occupational therapy lenses.

This course is designed for OT/COTA/PT/PTA/SLP/SLPA however is available to anyone interested in how a play state affects pain levels, movement patterns, cognition, interoception and more.

Group discounts available. Contact me for more info and to register. It will be fun 😉

Embracing the chaos! Sometimes a riding helmet AND headphones are necessary for dinner. The lemon juice added to our chi...
09/05/2025

Embracing the chaos! Sometimes a riding helmet AND headphones are necessary for dinner.

The lemon juice added to our chicken rice soup was a game changer. Everyone got to squeeze as much as they wanted. The table was sticky. We counted seeds. We made up a story about a fox who ate a lemon and made a face.

Meals can be so challenging and these lemons saved the night when everyone was already in a funk.

Risky play! A week ago I asked Michael to put me on his shoulders so I could look at a drip system up high that had burs...
08/27/2025

Risky play! A week ago I asked Michael to put me on his shoulders so I could look at a drip system up high that had burst. It was fun at first and then I quickly slides into panic mode grasping at walls, his shirt, his face and pleaded for him to put me down. All while laughing. This was not what I expected! Since then I’ve been trying out different ways to have fun with risky play involving heights and different grasping points for my hands.

Michael helped me to get up and straddle our wall which was just the right amount of risk for me.

Check out my posture, facial expression, leg length (pelvic position) and hands in the pictures. On Michael’s shoulders I deteriorate quickly into an asymmetrical position- head, pelvis.

We ALL need risky play regardless of age, ability and health. I’m doing the play course again in October! The last one in March had some great discussions on risky play for various populations. Course will be at again!

Working on some new things after finding old pieces! I need to create more. These hands were made to work.
08/25/2025

Working on some new things after finding old pieces! I need to create more. These hands were made to work.

Let’s all have more IN body experiences. I’ve had my share of out of body and I think that’s where most people are livin...
08/14/2025

Let’s all have more IN body experiences. I’ve had my share of out of body and I think that’s where most people are living these days. Imagine what happens when your mind, body and heart are all in.

For me this happens with movement, strong natural elements, community. Everything aligns and my radiance shows. My existence makes sense.

This feeling was the motivation for the women’s retreat this November.

Getting on the floor after several weeks of movement restrictions to heal up some burns. IT FELT GREATHard flat surface,...
08/13/2025

Getting on the floor after several weeks of movement restrictions to heal up some burns. IT FELT GREAT

Hard flat surface, strong sense of gravity allowed for what I call restorative activation. Parts of my body could melt into the floor/prop while other parts works on activating/building tone.

Neck tension was seriously clogging the flow leading to areas of tone imbalance (too high or too low) even further from the middle just right zone.

Props can be so helpful- my prop box was dumped on me and I was reminded on why I have so many sizes, shapes, textures, weights and even visual appeal/tracking/attention capacity.

This is what I’ve been working on with Brigit the horse too- evening out the muscle tone, smoothing out fascia and bringing on some parasympathetic moments.

After a post by about ribs holding your heart like a cathedral I’ve been thinking about what my hearts hold holds and w...
08/11/2025

After a post by about ribs holding your heart like a cathedral I’ve been thinking about what my hearts hold holds and what it wants to hold.

Any excuse to go outside and check the horses. Their rhythmic chewing and swishing. Un******ng a cabbage and noticing our similarities; being intimate with our food- what it looks and feels like. Where it came from and who tended to it. What does it offer to me.

I like that.

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7831 E Wrightstown Ste. 103
Tucson, AZ

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