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Supporting

development from the start

Helping babies, toddlers and their families build the foundation to fully explore,play,learn,and grow

Sarah Reppenhagen is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and infant mental health specialist in Portland, OR who provides in-home and community-based occupational therapy to infants and toddlers and their parents.  From offering strategies to boost typical development, to supporting individuals with developmental delays, Gather & Grow is here to help. Those who may benefit from additional developmental support may include:  

  • Infants born preterm or those who experienced an extended NICU stay

  • Babies and toddlers who are slow to meet developmental milestones (or those who skip motor milestones, such as crawling)

  • Individuals with developmental disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, brain injury, genetic syndromes, etc.

  • Babies with head flattening or strong one-sided head turn preference

     and more​.


There are many reasons your baby or child may have a hard time fully participating in the daily activities of life. Contact me for a FREE 15 minute phone consult to discuss your concerns and see if my therapy services are a right fit for your child's needs. 

Concerned about your child's general development?

Meet Sarah Reppenhagen,

Pediatric Occupational Therapist

I obtained my Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006. Since then I've practiced as a licensed occupational therapist in a variety of pediatric settings, including Early Intervention, outpatient clinics, and inpatient hospitals. Years of practice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), in addition to my work with babies, toddlers and young children, have allowed me to specialize in supporting these early years of development. In addition to my clinical experience, I have specialized training in early childhood neurodevelopment, sensory processing, feeding, and improving outcomes for high risk infants. I am also a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

My passion lies in supporting young children and families to set the foundation for greater participation in life. I truly believe all children have innate capabilities and the desire to engage with the people and environment around them. Supporting children’s emerging skills, as well as bolstering parent understanding during early development, sets the stage for further learning. I enjoy working with babies and young kids in their natural environments, including homes ("house calls") and community spaces.

 

When not working with other families, I explore life with my own brood, including my husband and two daughters. I seek balance in life through yoga, walks in my Mt Tabor neighborhood, volunteering in the community, and connecting with friends. 

About
Services

Gather & Grow Core Beliefs

Support development
from the start

Within the first few years, the brains of babies and toddlers
undergo more growth and change than in any other stage of development.
Helping children build a solid foundation early on from which to explore, play, learn and grow is
key to achieving future developmental milestones. 

Relationships
matter

The relationship parents have with their children is integral to
development. Early in life so much learning will occur through the parent-child relationship.

Parents are the experts on their child and supporting them in this role is one of the primary objectives of Gather & Grow.

Attention
to prevention

An early boost to development can help prevent challenges down the road. Gather & Grow can help you identify the tools to support your child’s growth. One of these ways is to help parents navigate the world of baby gear and toys. Sarah can help you evaluate how
to utilize these tools to support development and reduce the risk of secondary issues, such as plagiocephaly (“flat head
syndrome”) and motor delays.

Parenting can
be messy

Parenting is not always easy, in fact a lot of the time it's not! There are days when getting ready is just not on the list of priorities and that's OK. The point of therapy sessions in your home is to focus on your child in their natural environment. It does not matter if you, your child or your house are a mess. Showing up for sessions is the only ask.

Keep it
simple

Parents have a lot on their plates already. Finding strategies to support development by incorporating them into daily routines works best. The goal of Gather & Grow's is not to add to the “to do” list, but rather modify ways parents engage with their child to incorporate a developmental focus while living life and having fun!

Contact

CONTACT ME

Sarah Reppenhagen, OTR/L, PMH-C, IMH-E

sarah@gatherandgrowpdx.com  

Tel: 503.683.7700 

 Fax: 855.278.9367

Gather & Grow specializes in working with infants and toddlers (birth through age 2 years) and does not work with children outside this age range. 

Schedule your FREE 15 minute initial phone consultation to discuss your child’s needs and determine if Gather & Grow would be a good fit.

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