Occupational Therapy Team

Occupational Therapy Team

 

Melissa Idelson Occupational Therapist

 

Melissa Idelson – M.A., OTR/L is CSC’s Director and leads our Occupational Therapy program. Melissa understands first-hand the learning struggles children may have. As a child she experienced difficulties learning to read and spell, and now she is guiding her own two children through the development and learning journey. Her unique perspective of having been the struggling child and now a concerned parent, gives her the understanding and compassion which compels her to help other children be successful in dealing with life’s challenges.

Melissa began her career as a pediatric Occupational Therapist in 1990. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, where she was first introduced to sensory integration in college, she moved to California in 1995 to complete graduate studies in Ayres Sensory Integration* (ASI) theory and practice at the University of Southern California.


Child Success Center

 

Sarah – M.A., OTR/L graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Since the completion of her degree, she has devoted her skills to providing evidenced based therapy for the pediatric population. Prior to the Child Success Center, Sarah worked as a provider of school-based therapy in Los Angeles. She had the opportunity to collaborate directly with teachers in the classroom, and provide classroom based and clinic-based therapy for children.

Since 2006, Sarah has worked as part of the multidisciplinary collaborative team at Child Success Center. She is a trained and certified Sensory Integration (SI) therapist, earning her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification through an intensive course provided by lead clinicians and researchers in the field of SI. She is also a certified provider of Therapeutic Listening, The Listening Program, and Interactive Metronome. She has experience treating children from toddlers to adolescents with a variety of disorders, including developmental delays, Autism Spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and sensory processing disorder. She is experienced in the treatment of dysgraphia (handwriting difficulties), and in the provision of handwriting programs such as Handwriting Without Tears. She continues to further her knowledge by attending courses with the most recent and evidenced based information on child development and therapeutic programs to support the success of children with special needs.


Taraneh – M.A., OTD, OTR/L has been a member of the CSC team since 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Master’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). She received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from USC in 2016 where she specialized in Sensory Integration. She has been certified from USC’s Sensory Integration Continuing Education program, which forms the basis of her treatment and intervention along with using a relationship-based approach. She has received specialty training in DIR/Floortime and in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT). She is also a certified provider of Therapeutic Listening Program. Taraneh’s passion has always been in pediatrics and believes very strongly in providing a “holistic-child” approach and supporting each of her families with their individualized needs.


Katie - Pediatric Occupational Therapist - Child Success CenterKatie MA, OTR/L, graduated in 2008 from the University of Southern California with a Masters in Occupational therapy and has spent her career working in both the pediatric clinic and school-based settings. She’s been supporting children and their families at Child Success Center since 2011, and is a trained and certified Sensory Integration therapist through the USC/WPS Sensory Integration Certification Program. Additionally, she received a certificate in educational assistive technology through the Assistive Technology Core Certificate Program (ATCCP) to support children with fully accessing their educational programs at school. Further, she has received specialized training in the Handwriting Without Tears program, NDT, and Low Vision in the pediatric population.”


Emily - Occupational Therapist at Child Success CenterEmily, OTR/L, earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders with a minor in early childhood education at the University of Massachusetts in 2011. She went on to graduate with her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern Maine in 2015.

Emily began her career in the clinic setting on the North Shore of Massachusetts where she focused on reflex integration, sensory integration, and visual motor skills. She has experience with sensory based feeding, Handwriting Without Tears, the Astronaut Program, Therapeutic Listening Program, Alert Program, and Superflex social thinking. She has a strong passion for working with children of all ages and providing them the necessary tools for development. She is excited to now call Santa Monica home where she brings her enthusiasm for each child’s success and growth to Child Success Center.


Christine-Occupational Therapist-Child Success CenterChristine, OTR/L, is a Canadian-trained occupational therapist with a passion for providing play-based and family-centered care. She completed an Honors Specialization in Rehabilitation Science at Western University followed by a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Christine has experience working with children in a variety of settings including hospitals, private clinics and in-home. Her practice has included working with children with a range of diagnoses, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Christine prioritizes evidence-based practice and professional development, with relevant certifications including Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding, DIR Floortime, and Handwriting without Tears. She has experience with teaching the Social Thinkers curriculum, Zones of Regulation, The ALERT Program, and Get Ready, Do, Done. Christine is excited to work with families to support children in meeting their meaningful goals.


Megan, OTR/L,  is dedicated to supporting the holistic health, safety, and meaningful development of each child she serves. After receiving her Masters of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science from the University of Southern California, she continued her studies with an emphasis in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI). Megan has used evidenced-based practices throughout her experience working with children, adults, and seniors. She has worked across multiple settings including private practice, public schools, Early Intervention, and hospitals. With a focus in neurobiology and neurodevelopment, Megan understands that learning and development is optimized through the subtle craft of skill-directed play. In her practice, Megan embraces skilled play as a means to guide each child towards exploring their world and learning how to optimally function within it. Megan values collaboration as essential for productive and effective pediatric therapy. It is her priority to form a strong bond with the children she serves, their caretakers, and their overall supportive networks, that is built on trust and compassion.


Iana - Occupational Therapist - Child Success Center - Los AngelesIana, MA, OTD, OTR/L, completed her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Christian Medical College, India and has been a practicing OT for over 3 years with experience in both pediatric and adult populations. She completed her Post Professional Masters and Doctoral education in occupational therapy at the University of Southern California, and an intense 1-year advanced clinical residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She also has her certification in Sensory Integration from USC. Her passion lies with working with children, especially younger infants focusing on early intervention. She prefers using a holistic approach and family-centered care to help children be their best selves!


Occupational Therapist at Child Success Center in Los AngelesJasmine, M.S., OTR/L, graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2017 with a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy and Sciences. She has experience and interest in supporting marginalized communities, presenting at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity and the American Occupational Therapy Association on culturally competent care and the impact of co-occupation with families. Jasmine has practiced in Seattle and Los Angeles as a school-based therapist, treating children with ADHD, Autism, sensory processing disorder, and handwriting (dysgraphia) challenges.  She has advanced training in Zones of Regulation and Handwriting Without Tears® and is experienced in developing executive functioning skills.


>Visit the Occupational Therapy Page

Child Success Center
2023 S. Westgate Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Call 310-899-9597 to access our “warm” line.
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