Helping children grow starts with understanding them.
Hi, i’m Gayle
As an occupational therapist, I've learned that meaningful support begins with taking the time to truly understand each child. When children feel seen, supported, and understood, they're better able to build confidence, develop new skills, and participate more fully in the everyday moments that matter most. Every child has their own unique strengths, challenges, and way of experiencing the world, and i’m honored to partner with families as they better understand and support their child.
My why
Growing up, I spent much of my life alongside my youngest sister, Michelle, who was born with complex medical, physical, developmental, sensory, and neurological challenges.
As her older sister, I had the privilege of watching the world through her eyes. I witnessed both her incredible strengths and the ways those strengths were often overlooked when people focused on helping her fit into the world than understanding how she experienced it.
Michelle taught me lessons that have shaped not only the therapist I became, but the person I am. She showed me that every child deserves to be known beyond a diagnosis, that growth happens on its own timeline, and that compassion, patience, and genuine connection can change everything.
She remains the heart of why I do this work today.
The roots of my practice.
Everything changed when I became involved with Acorn School. As the preschool and kindergarten transitioned to outdoor learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, I began noticing something remarkable. Day after day, I watched children seek out the movement, sensory experiences, challenges, and connections they needed. Their play told a story about who they were and what supported them. Again and again, I found myself thinking,
this is occupational therapy.
I always imagined I'd work with children. Growing up alongside Michelle, I experienced firsthand the difference occupational therapy could make in a child's life.
When I graduated from Tufts University, my career took me in a different direction. I worked with individuals across the lifespan in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation, private practice, and home health. Over time, my work naturally became centered on pediatrics, where I found both my passion and my professional home.
As my work with children grew, I found myself drawn to a more individualized, relationship-centered approach—one that honored how children naturally learn through movement, play, curiosity, and connection. I wanted to support children in the everyday environments where life naturally unfolds.
That experience expanded my understanding of occupational therapy and aligned more closely with what I knew to be true about child development. I watched meaningful growth happen through movement, play, relationships, and real-life experiences, and realized that the natural world wasn't just the setting—it had become an active part of the therapeutic process.
I became inspired to create Empowering Roots Occupational Therapy. Today, my practice brings together my clinical experience, my lifelong perspective alongside Michelle, and my deep appreciation for the healing power of connection, play, and the natural world.
My approach
Every child is unique, and therapy should be too. I approach each child with curiosity, taking the time to understand who they are—their strengths, challenges, relationships, and everyday experiences. As I get to know each child and family, patterns begin to emerge, helping us better understand the "why" behind what's happening and how to best support meaningful, lasting growth.
From there, I create meaningful opportunities for growth and partner with families to provide guidance and support that help children thrive in everyday life.
Education & Credentials
Education
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Tufts University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of New Hampshire
Licensure & Certifications
Licensed Occupational Therapist, New Hampshire
Certified, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
Certified TimberNook Teacher