Tanya Smith, M.S., OTR/L

Tanya Smith joined Play Pals as the Occupational Therapy Supervisor in April 2021.  She has experience treating a broad range of pediatric disorders, including Sensory Processing Dysfunction, Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and congenital limb deformity.  She understands that each child is unique and strives to create a fun and goal-directed environment to improve fine motor, gross motor, modulation, motor planning, and sensory processing skills.

 

Tanya earned a B.S. in Community Health at Florida Gulf Coast University and was awarded a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University. She graduated with honors, was nominated for membership in the Occupational Therapy Honors Society, and was a member of her Student Occupational Therapy Association.  Upon graduation, she has taken courses in Kinesio Taping, Sensory Processing, and Play Therapy.  She has had intense mentorship in using Sensory Integration based occupational therapy for the past ten years. Her greatest accomplishment as a pediatric OT thus far was receiving her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification.  She also takes great pride in teaching up-and-coming OT students about the SI approach and pediatric disorders.

 

In addition to working with the pediatric population, Tanya enjoys being a new mommy, remaining involved in her community through sports and extracurricular activities, and spending time with family and friends.  She uses her fun-loving personality and teamwork attitude to engage each and every child throughout their treatment experience.  Tanya is reputed among all her clients for her family-centered and sensory-based approaches to therapy.