April is Occupational Therapy month. As we approach the end of the month, I wanted to highlight our remarkable OTs at The Carruth Center. We are lucky enough to have 4 talented staff on our OT team.
Caroline Moreland started her relationship with The Carruth Center as an OT student. She completed one of her Level II clinical rotations with us. When she graduated, we did not have an opening for her but as soon as we did, we reconnected and brought her on board! Caroline leads the organization of our Superwriters camp and is a DIR/Floortime provider. Caroline was exposed to OT when she was still in school, “I first saw OT in action when completing a high school volunteer project at a special needs school. Seeing all of the colorful mats and suspended equipment and watching the therapist laughing with a child on the swing was all it took to get me to look more into the world of OT! I love how play-based our profession can be and seeing how much growth can occur while having fun.”
Rachel O’Reilly has only been at The Carruth Center for a little over a year, but she was voted “Carruth Center Therapist of the Year” by the Parish School and Carruth Center staff. Rachel has fit seamlessly into the team and has embraced our culture of helping others. Rachel is also a DIR/Floortime provider. When asked why she chose OT, Rachel responded, “The reason I wanted to be an OT is because it is a career full of creativity, fun, and passion for people! I love the quote that “occupational therapy turns ‘hopeless’ into ‘hope’, ‘can’t’ into ‘can’, and ‘impossible’ into ‘possible’”. Getting to be part of people’s lives is a huge honor, and I feel so lucky to have such an incredible job!”
Rachel Czar is the most experienced member of our team having practiced for over 15 years. Rachel always knew she wanted to help others as her mother was a speech-language pathologist and her father a special educator. Rachel’s OT knowledge paired with her calm demeanor and patience make her the perfect fit for our clients and team. Rachel sees children at the Carruth Center and began seeing children at Holy Spirit Episcopal School this year.
Susan Honey is our newest member of the team and currently working on her Masters in OT. Susan has brought creativity and practical knowledge to her therapy sessions making her a favorite of her clients. Susan splits her time on campus between The Parish School Early Childhood classrooms and The Carruth Center. Susan always had a desire to help others but wasn’t familiar with occupational therapy until her nephew was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. She started taking him to various therapy sessions, including occupational therapy, and from his very first session she knew she’d found her calling. Susan says, “I remain optimistic and grateful for the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life and empower them to achieve their goals. Choosing this wonderful and fulfilling profession has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!”
Occupational Therapy is sometimes a very misunderstood profession. These professionals spend their days figuring out what matters to their clients and making sure they have the tools needed to successfully participate in the activities that bring joy and independence to their lives. They are creative and holistic professionals and we are so proud of our OT team and the work they do!
Mimi Branham, MA, CCC-SLP
Clinic Director
mbranham@carruthcenter.org