ALL ABOUT THERAPY CENTERS- Occupational/Speech/Physical etc.

[Chili1113]

Upon Consulting with Dr. Francis Dimalanta of St Lukes, it was suggested that my son undergo occupational therapy for behavior modification and sensory integration

He recommended Teacher Tisha of Therabilities; and Tomatis an an option for auditory integration.

Thing is... Therabilities is soooo fully packed. Sometimes it takes months to get hold of T. Tisha. This is even after Dr. Dimalanta called the secretary of Therabilities and talked to Alma himself if they can squeeze my son into T. Tisha's sched.

Can anyone make recommendations as to what therapy centers are good for sensory integration therapy?

So far I have inquired with the following:

Therabilities, Ortigas - Teacher Tisha - P3200 initial assessment, and P700/hr session

Movement Matters. Libis - P1500 initial, P500/ hr session. However most of the therapists have only been praticing for abt 3 yrs

Rehab Partners, Greenhills - P1000 initial, P500/hr session

heard there are also some centers like We Speak in Ortigas, and some in greenhills. Any feedback pls?

I was thinking, I don't want to delay my OT especially since its summer, and my son is not doing any thing now. It would be nice to start OT before classes start in June. Sayang yung time, and wanna get the OT ASAP, since i am 100% for early intervention. (to think my son is already 3.6 yrs and early intervention is for 3 yrs below)

[Frenzied]

Are you particularly looking at therapy centers in Ortigas and Greenhills area? There is also another thread about DEV PED. Look for it, there are a lot of recommendation there.

My son went to Therapyworks in Paranaque for behavior modification and sensory integration.

MAy I ask what is your son's case (diagnosis)?

[Chili1113]

Hi sis!! Yup I am looking for therapy centers in the ortigas, greenhills area in particular. or maybe Makati.

I have only been to one assessment with a dev ped (Dr. Dimalanta). He hasn't given me any diagnosis as he says he never labels especially only after one assessment. He however, made my son go take an auditory test and my son passed the test. So he said we can now rule out most pervasive developmental disorders,like for instance it would be rare that a child with autism will pass the auditory test. We will go for a 2nd opinion with Dr. Marie Arranz-Lim on April 6.

All I know sis is that it has been recommended that my son undergoes 2-3x/week OT for sensory integration and behavior modification.

Sis, may I ask what sensory integration therapy is like? Will just any center or OT be qualified to perform the therapy, or is it a more specialized type of OT? Thanks sis!!!

[cherubs]

i would suggest to bring your child to Quality Life Discoveries, check www.qualitylifediscoveries.com, they showcased GREAT facilities - promise! 

We went to Movement Matters too before transferring QLD, im sorry but i dont like their facilities, a small room all in one! We just had the initial assesment for my son's therapy program but after that we didnt go back and decided to enroll him in QLD (na mas malapit lang pala sa house namin huh!), btw my son was diagnosed of mild ADHD at the age of 3.2 and he's now 4.5

Unfortunately, to this date, they (QLD) still looking for Speech Pathologists. (Thats all im wanting now for my son, we just finished his course in OT third quarter of last year).

Btw, my friend had a bad experience with We Speak (Ortigas)    . The only good in We Speak is their Speech Pathologist - Teacher Deanna Rodriguez

[marose17]

Hi Chili 1113!  My son went to Therabilities for physical therapy sessions and I only have wonderful words for them, especially his teacher Deanna.  Teacher Tisha is one of the best in her field and I've seen how good she is during OT sessions (since there is one big area for OT/PT sessions).

We did not really have a hard time getting a slot since I think they prioritize young children - my son was only 1 year old at that time.  I suggest though that you keep on asking Therabilities (while also checking out other therapy centers) because all the other moms I know whose children go there for therapy have good feedbacks.

[satya]

my kid goes to skill builders

[Chili1113]

cherubs: the pics of the website of quality life looks impressive nga! Its a bit far from where I stay though. How much would their initial assessment and their reg. OT sessions be? Thanks!!

Marose: aside from t. tisha who else are good OTs in Therabilities? Do they all have the same rate of 700/hr?

satya: where's skillbuilders?

[marose17]

Hi Chili!  I asked my officemate to ask Tisha (my officemate is Tisha's brother-in-law) regarding your difficulty to get a sked.  Tisha's advice is to call the secretary (or whoever answers the phone) at Therabilities and tell her your preferred sked.  It will be Tisha who will assign the OT (if she isn't available at your sked) to your son.  I hope this helps.   

Regarding the rate, I think Tisha's rate is a bit higher coz the standard rate is P625/session when my son last had therapy (which was in the latter part of 2008).

[Chili1113]

marose17: Thanks sis for all your help! Grabe so dificult to get hold of T. Tisha talaga. Even my dev. ped personally called Alma the secretary to make "pakiusap" to give us priority. I called Alma again, and even the secretary of my dev ped said she'd follow it up with Alma again. but still... no availability. I think you have to wait for a kid to drop out of his/her program with T. Tisha for an opening. I really would like her to handle my son since my dev ped recommended her, and she's handled the son of a family friend also. Her son went to another OT in WeSpeak while waiting for an opening with Tisha. She saw the difference when Tisha handled her son who has mild autism. This was in 2007 and she has never looked back of turned to another OT since then.

So in the meantime, I am thinking of a good alternative while waiting since sayang ang oras! Its summer pa naman, and my son isn't busy doing anything. Now is the perfect time for OT

[marose17]

Chili, try mo muna magpa-assign sa ibang OT at Therabilities while waiting for a slot for Tisha's sked.  Based on my observations during the time when my son was still undergoing therapy there, most OTs at Thera are good and very patient with children.  Also, my friend said Tisha's standards are high and she doesn't hire an OT/PT/ST if the person doesn't meet her standards.  So magagaling naman lahat siguro ng mga therapists doon.

[Chili1113]

^ sis, based on your observations, which OT in therabilities can u recommend? good idea sis

[marose17]

Naku sis, I am not familiar with their names, just their faces.  Ang kilala ko lang by name are Tisha and Deanna (my son's PT).  Ask ko yung friend ko kung sino OT ng son niya then I'll send you a PM.

[Chili1113]

^ Thanks so much sis!!!!!

[mom.of.inchikoy]

Btw, my friend had a bad experience with We Speak (Ortigas)    . The only good in We Speak is their Speech Pathologist - Teacher Deanna Rodriguez

Sis, would like to ask lang regarding we speak? ano yung bad experience ng friend mo?

Naka pila kami sa st lukes kay Teacher Deanna (56th in line), and found out that she has monday schedule in we speak. i grab the slot available which is very convenient to us (1st student nya for that day. 9am). so kaunti pa lang tao sa center...  We just started this march, nakaka 2 sessions pa lang naman sya. so far, okey kami...

[Chili1113]

^ sis swerte mo naman!!

[satya]

sis skill builders is in taft near pwu

[Chili1113]

I just called Alma of Therabilities. hehe she remembers me and my son already bec the secretary of Dr. Dimalanta called her yesterday to follow up my son's schedule.  Makes me appreciate mt dev. ped more since he's that hands on. He called Alma himself while we were at the clinic to schedule my son for OT, then doc's secretary Luz called them again yesterday.

So today the Alma of Therabilities told me she already told T. Tisha and they will bump me up on the list. I asked if another OT can be assigned to my son in the meantime just in case wala pang opening. But Alma said, di daw pwede bec. Dr. Dimalanta specifically requested for T. Tisha.

Now while Im happy about that... Im a bit nervous now. I really hope its just Dr. Dimalanta being very hands on with his patients that makes him involved even in the scheduling of his patient's OT... and not bec. my son's case is a serious case that needs urgent OT. Di naman siguro, awa ng Diyos, at wag naman ganun sana.

[corinnesmom]

hi sis, T. tisha is really one of the best in the field, and luckily i've had the opportunity to rotate/train in Therabilities under her supervision. The OTs who work there are all from UP manila. 

[Chili1113]

^ sis cornnesmom aside from T. tisha who would you recommend for behavior modification and sensory integration therapy among the OTs

since you trained there your advice will be very much appreciatd. Thanks!

[marose17]

Hi Chili!  My friend's son who also goes to Therabilities has Teacher Dana for his OT.  My friend said Teacher Dana is really good and patient and highly recommends her. 

Don't be alarmed though if your dev ped insists on Tisha.  She is really excellent.  I've seen her in action, so to speak and she's firm but patient with her student and can be playful when the occasion calls for it.