OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTANT, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTElana Cohen
Occupational Therapy and Consultation Services
With 20 years of experience working alongside disabled communities, I am proud to offer therapy services, opportunities for education, cultural shifts, and mentorship.
My work has been in Portland, OR, and in Wellington NZ with newborns through to elders. Settings include: hospital, outpatient clinic, mental health service, home-based, and school.
Services
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Consultations
Be empowered to action your goals of becoming neurodiverse-affirming, accessible, and inclusive spaces. Consultation and guidance available for:
Companies
Daycares
Schools
Pediatricians
Medical institutions
Nonprofit/community agencies
Any organization serving children or people with disabilities
Mental health agencies
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Workshops
Tailor-made experiential workshops for your team. Topics include:
Supporting neurodivergent play
Improving interoceptive awareness
Supporting sensory processing and Integration
Trauma- informed therapy practice
Tending to the healers: relationship to yourself as a practitioner (boundaries, personal practices, burnout prevention)
Relating with colleagues in the workplace (authenticity, courageous honesty, non-violent communication
A holistic view on infant and toddler development
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Infant + Toddler Occupational Therapy
Become empowered to support your baby in all areas of development. Therapy occurs through play, movement, and gentle conversation. It takes place in the context of your daily life- in your home or a community space of choice, such as a library or a nearby park. Whenever possible, we incorporate aspects of nature and the outdoors into our work.
Testimonials
Rachel, parent, Portland, OR
“My son was diagnosed with SPD at 18 months and ASD at age 2. Elana was our first experience with Occupational Therapy and it was life changing. Her patience and kind/calm demeanor created a reassuring atmosphere, setting the stage for an amazing therapeutic journey. It was immediately obvious that she had a wealth of knowledge and a true passion for helping children.
We were lucky enough to work with Elana for four years and the progress my son made during those years was immeasurable; she was great at explaining her strategies and implementing therapy while still making it a fun and enjoyable experience. Sticking with all the suggested therapies has been challenging at times, but the experience we had with Elana gave us the motivation we needed to push through.
Our family is so grateful for the time we spent with Elana during those early years; she was more than just a therapist, her genuine care and concern for our son has made a lasting impact that we will forever cherish.”
Amber, Physical Therapist, Portland, OR
“Elana has a depth of knowledge in the field of pediatrics, and I was fortunate to be a coworker of hers to learn from her skills. She has a tapestry of experiences and pairs it all with the ability to connect with patients at their level and to fully invest in their well-being. Elana is the type of therapist children always remember and hold dear.”
Kate & Ross, parents, Portland, OR
“Elana was an incredible caregiver for our young daughter when she was just 6 months old. Not only was Elana kind, calm, and respectful as a caregiver, but her knowledge of infant development was incredibly beneficial for our daughters development and a major learning opportunity for my partner and I. What truly stood out was her attunement and adaptation to our daughters blossoming personality as well as her developmental progress. We cannot recommend Elana highly enough!”