Everyday Progress serves the East Hillsborough, Florida communities of Brandon, Valrico, Lithia/FishHawk, Riverview, and surrounding areas with pediatric OT and feeding support.
THE POWER OF PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Does the Simple Day-to-Day Feel Like a Struggle
(and You’re Not Sure Who’s Melting Down—You or Your Child)?
You’ve tried sticker charts, reward systems, timers, deep breaths… and maybe the occasional desperate bribe. But despite all your effort, things still feel hard. Mealtimes turn into battles. Fine motor tasks—like cutting, writing, or getting through homework—cause frustration for both of you. And what should be simple—getting dressed, brushing teeth, sitting still—feels anything but.
Occupational therapy can help.
Whether your child has been diagnosed with Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), or is simply a limited or picky eater, mealtimes can feel overwhelming. These daily challenges — along with sensitivities to textures, motor delays, difficulties managing daily routines, or constant emotional overload — don’t have to stand in the way of their confidence and independence.
Do any of these sound familiar?
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Your child gags at anything green and refuses to try new foods—even if they ate it yesterday.
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You’re stuck in a rotation of five “safe” foods, and introducing anything new causes instant tears (or total refusal).
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Getting dressed takes 45 minutes and three wardrobe changes because “it feels weird.”
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They crash into everything… or avoid everything.
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Writing homework ends in pencil breaks, crumpled papers, and one very frustrated kid (and parent).
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A teacher or caregiver is gently asking for advice on how to support your child, and you’re not sure what else to try.
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The simplest routine (like bedtime) unravels into meltdowns.
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You find yourself tiptoeing around triggers and wondering if this is just how it’s going to be.
The truth is, it doesn’t have to stay this way—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Hi, I'm Colleen.
I’m here to help your child thrive—and help you feel less overwhelmed in the process.
As a pediatric occupational therapist with extensive experience across clinical, home, and academic settings, I’ve had the privilege of working with families facing all kinds of everyday challenges. From meltdowns over getting dressed, to struggling with handwriting or sitting still in class, to mealtimes that create anxiety—I’ve seen how much effort parents pour into helping their kids, and how discouraging it can feel when progress is slow or inconsistent.
That’s where I come in.
I provide in-home therapy in Brandon, Valrico, FishHawk, and surrounding areas that’s grounded in real life, so your child can build skills where it matters most. Whether we’re working on fine motor development, sensory processing, feeding, or daily routines, I’ll walk alongside you with a plan that’s personalized, playful, and practical.
My goal isn’t just to support your child—it’s to help you feel more confident as their parent, and to create meaningful progress you can see in everyday moments. Together, we’ll look for the glimmers—the small but powerful moments of progress that remind you growth is happening, even on the hard days.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy That Fits
Your Family, Your Goals, and Your Everyday Life
Step 1: Schedule Your Evaluation
Every journey begins with understanding your child’s unique needs. You’ll complete a detailed intake form and schedule a 60-90 minute in-home evaluation. Feeding evaluations require a few additional steps, and you can learn more about that process here.
During your evaluation visit, Colleen will observe, connect with your child, and assess key areas relevant to their growth, including fine motor skills, strength and coordination, sensory processing, oral motor skills, family dynamics, and other areas that may affect their daily success.
Step 2: Receive a Personalized Plan
After your evaluation, you’ll receive a tailored plan that fits your child and your real-life routines. Whether you’re starting the Feeding Intensive or a traditional OT program, we’ll outline clear goals, simple strategies, and next steps designed to make progress feel possible.
Step 3: Begin In-Home Sessions
I come to you, bringing therapy into the place it matters most. Sessions may include sensory regulation activities, food exploration, play-based fine motor tasks, and coaching moments where you’ll build skills right alongside your child. We can even meet in the community, such as at a park or the grocery store—wherever is most fitting to help your child succeed with their goals.
Step 4: Get Ongoing Coaching & Support
Between sessions, we can connect to review recent wins, adjust strategies, and get answers to your questions. You’ll leave therapy feeling more confident, more equipped, and ready to carry progress forward.
Real Stories. Everyday Wins.
"Working with Colleen has been nothing short of amazing! She is by far the most skilled Feeding Therapist we have ever worked with. We completed the weeklong intensive session, and now we feel more equipped to handle mealtime stresses and some of our son's emotional outbursts. We're even creating good habits for ourselves, too!"
Lindsey, Parent
FREE DOWNLOAD
Top 7 Tips & Tricks for Picky Eaters
Do you feel stuck on how to help your child with eating something besides their favorite five foods? These 7 tried-and-true tricks can help make your family's meal time more enjoyable!