Frequently Asked Questions

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy uses meaningful activity to support a person’s successful participation in their daily tasks and social relationships.  When working with children, occupational therapists understand that the primary occupation of childhood is play, and therefore utilize play as both the treatment mechanism and the measurement of positive outcomes.

How is occupational therapy different from mental health counseling?

Occupational therapists and mental health counselors often find their roles overlapping.  At Outside the Lines we prioritize working collaboratively with a child’s mental health team and see our role as developing the skills potentially underlying the behavioral presentation of children’s mental health challenges.

What are the ages of children with whom you typically work?

As an outpatient facility, Outside the Lines can work with children birth to age 21 years. However, the large majority of our caseload falls between the ages of 2 years to 18 years. 

What types of diagnoses do you see?

Diagnoses regularly seen at Outside the Lines include the following:

• Anxiety

• ADHD

• Autism

• Developmental Delay

• ODD

• Mood Disorders

• Down Syndrome

• Learning Disabilities

• Cerebral Palsy

This is not an exhaustive list of diagnoses with which our clinicians work and lack of a diagnosis does not prevent a client from seeking or receiving occupational therapy services.

How long will my child need occupational therapy services?

Occupational therapy treatment plans are developed for every individual client. Depending on the goals and skills being addressed, children may benefit from a treatment plan that is implemented over the course of just a few sessions, months or even years. 

Will my occupational therapist communicate with other outside members of my child’s team?

Outside the Lines therapists are eager to communicate with all important members of a child’s team. This type of communication may take various forms including email, phone calls and meeting attendance. 

Can my occupational therapist work with my child at his/her school or in the community?

Our occupational therapists work primarily with their clients on site at our facility in Lee, NH.  However, we have the flexibility to schedule observations, consultations, and/or treatment sessions off site at locations such as your child’s school, a playground, or other community-based areas.  These visits will be scheduled on an individual basis if deemed beneficial by the treating therapist and the client.

Can my occupational therapist provide a medical diagnosis for my child?

Occupational therapists cannot provide medical diagnoses. We work to identify and address the lagging skills, environmental factors, and components of a task that are impacting a child’s successful participation in meaningful activity.