What to Expect on a Virtual OT Visit at School Skills and Beyond Occupational Therapy

Telehealth occupational therapy provides an engaging, convenient way for your child to meet their therapy goals right from home. Here's what you can expect during a virtual session with School Skills & Beyond Occupational Therapy.

How Sessions are Structured

Depending on your child’s needs and goals, they may join the session independently or with parent assistance. Before each session, I will send a list of any necessary supplies or worksheets in advance, giving you plenty of time to prepare.

One of the most important tools I use in virtual OT is a visual schedule. At the beginning of each session, I provide a digital schedule with visuals for each task, so your child knows what to expect and can easily follow along. This structure supports children’s comfort, reduces anxiety, and helps in keeping them engaged.

Step-by-Step Learning

My sessions are built around the structure of show, tell, wait, demonstrate, and then do together. This process supports executive function development by encouraging your child to listen, process information, and take their time.

If your child has ever become upset after starting an activity too soon or doing it incorrectly, this structure will help shape their ability to pause, ask questions, and work through challenges step by step.

A Collaborative Approach

Throughout our sessions, I encourage student participation. Allowing your child to make choices and co-create parts of the lesson not only builds confidence but also helps them develop critical thinking and self-advocacy skills. When children feel empowered, they are more willing to take developmental leaps in and out of OT sessions.

Flexibility in the Process

Parents often wonder how they can best support their child during a telehealth session. While your involvement is welcome, it’s important to know that I will handle all task corrections and support. Therapy is a learning experience for both your child and me, and there’s no pressure to get things perfect. I adapt my approach and prompts based on how your child interacts with the activities, fostering an environment of patience, learning, and growth.

At the end of the day, my goal is to help your child make meaningful gains toward their goals, all while developing real-world, generalizable skills that will serve them in their daily lives. 

If you are interested in online occupational therapy sessions, you are also welcome to explore my teletherapy page or contact me to see if I might be able to see if my virtual OT services might be a good fit for your needs.