NEW TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

HERE IS WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Wear Comfortable Clothes, No Jeans
  • Payment is Due At Time of Service, Cash or Credit Accepted

FAQsFOR CHILDREN

Charleston OT is the only provider of specialized manual therapy techniques in the area. We work using a bottom up approach, targeting function at the most basic neurological level, and then building skills on this stable foundation. We have found that by implementing these hands-on therapies with kids, we are able to meet their developmental goals at a much faster rate than using just traditional occupational therapy methods.

We will do an assessment with your child during the first session to see how they are functioning compared to their same age peers in the following areas: fine motor coordination, hand eye coordination, sensory processing abilities, feeding/oral motor skills, handwriting, emotional regulation, attention. We will also assess for evidence of retained primitive reflexes, which greatly impact function and behavior.

Based on the assessment we will identify areas of weakness that will be targeted during therapy. Your therapist will review this treatment plan with you during the second visit.

It is our strong opinion that all children can benefit from manual therapy to support development. Children with the following conditions can especially benefit:

  • Prematurity
  • Medically complex
  • Autism
  • Down Syndrome
  • Genetic Disorders
  • Developmental Delay
  • C-section/complex birth
  • Physical/Emotional Trauma (foster care, loss, unstable environment)
  • Feeding issues/Tongue and lip ties
  • Toe-walking
  • Sensory processing disorder
  • Many more!
In children, common improvements are seen in:  motor coordination, behavior, emotional regulation, sensory processing abilities, attention span, feeding difficulties, speech and language delays, neurodevelopment.
It usually takes about three months to see large changes in a child, however, smaller or more subtle changes are seen before that time.
We provide treatment in clinic setting, and in the natural environment (home, school, daycare) for children under three years old who are in Babynet.
Charleston OT is in network with most major insurance companies. We work with a small private company, EZ RCM Billing Services, LLC, to submit claims to your insurance company. It is your responsibility to find out if your insurance company covers occupational therapy services. Co-pays and out of pocket payments are due at the time of service. Health spending accounts may be used for payment.

Call our office at: (843) 277-2411
Or email us at: nicole@charlestonot.com

FAQsFOR ADULTS

Our bodies have an innate capability to heal themselves.  By activating specific areas on the body through touch, we are inviting your body to use this innate wisdom.  There are a lot of different theories about what specifically happens, physiologically.  Ultimately, manual and movement therapies help to release traumas, emotional and physical, that are stored in our bodies as tension.  This is done by flushing excess stress hormones and toxins from the muscles and connective tissue, re-organizing pathways in the brain, and regulating the body’s automatic response to stress (fight or flight).
Everyone experiences different outcomes from the therapies. The following improvements are commonly seen: Postural alignment, muscle activation, motor coordination and control, muscle health, immune health, mental clarity, sleep, digestion, flexibility, shock absorption. 
Manual therapies are beneficial for anyone who has physical pain or tension throughout their body. Specific conditions include: orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, autoimmune conditions, mental health disorders, and many more
The fascia system within the body is somewhat like a web, where everything is intertwined and connected.  Sometimes the area where you have pain isn’t actually the area where the tension is located.  Other times, the area that’s causing you pain IS holding tension, but it is at a deep fascial layer, and the more superficial layers need to be released first.   
Charleston OT is in network with most major insurance companies. We work with a small private company, EZ RCM Billing Services, LLC, to submit claims to your insurance company. It is your responsibility to find out if your insurance company covers occupational therapy services. Co-pays and out of pocket payments are due at the time of service. Health spending accounts may be used for payment.

While improvements are generally felt after the first session, several sessions may be required to reach the deeper fascial layers, or for long-term issues.  We can make a recommendation after your first session, however, typical recommendations are as follows:

  • Minor injury/pain: 1-5 sessions
  • Moderate injury/pain: 5-10 sessions
  • Chronic injury/pain: 10+ sessions
Clothes are kept on during treatment sessions.  The best clothing options are basically anything you would wear to the gym (t shirt, tank, leggings, shorts).  No jeans PLEASE.
You may experience some slight discomfort during treatment sessions.  This can be caused by muscle tension or trigger points, or your body can be over-reactive to touch in certain areas. You may be encouraged to use your breath to work through any discomfort.  If you do not feel like you can tolerate a specific technique during the treatment session, we will respectfully and without judgement move on to another.

Everyone responds to the therapies differently.  Due to the amount of toxins and stress hormones that are released from the tissues, you may feel tired or lethargic immediately following a treatment session.  You may also feel some muscle soreness the next day.  To reduce soreness and fully flush toxins, you may choose to drink alkaline water and/or soak in Epsom salts.

It usually takes several days for the work to full integrate, so expect some changes during that time (decreased pain, increased range of motion, better sleep, etc).

Many of the athletes Nicole has worked with report feeling a definite improvement in specific muscle activation and mobility on their next workout.

After a session we recommend drinking lots of water, an Epsom salt soak, and some light yoga the next day.

Call our office at: (843) 277-2411
Or email us at: nicole@charlestonot.com