Hey there, I'm Teddie. It's great to meet you!

I hold a doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California and am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I specialize in Pediatrics, Infant/Child Feeding, Lactation, and Maternal Mental Health. My doctoral research centered on mothers' experiences in a variety of populations (including adolescent mothers, mothers of imprisoned people, and mothers of children with disabilities). Over the past 15 years I have been fortunate to provide pediatric therapy and lactation support in a variety of settings including juvenile detention centers with at-risk youth, outpatient clinics specializing in sensory integration and autism, pediatric home health, public and charter schools, early intervention (birth-age 3 home health), private practice, and telehealth. However, experiences with my own four little ones have been the most formative for my professional development and understanding of motherhood and the needs of new mothers. 

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I was inspired to become an occupational therapist by a desire to support people in living their lives to the fullest in meaningful, practical ways. Occupational therapy allows me to do just that! (This desire started pretty early. I can still remember, as a child in grade-school, wanting to be one of the grownups that helped my fellow classmates who needed additional support. I now realize these professionals were most likely therapists and resource/special education teachers.) I am still passionate about supporting children and their families and enjoy working with families to creatively (and playfully) address their goals. 

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My journey into lactation support stems from breastfeeding challenges with my first baby, which greatly impacted my first year of motherhood. I first became a volunteer breastfeeding supporter to assist other mothers in my local community and realized that my skills as a pediatric occupational therapist blended beautifully with breastfeeding support. I went on to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant- the highest credential in the field of lactation. 

 

I also regularly complete additional continued education courses beyond what my license/credentials require, in infant feeding, maternal mental health, pelvic health/therapy, and pediatric therapy. In my "spare" time (what's that when you have littles at home?) I'm typically diving into the latest books, podcasts, and research on various therapy topics/techniques and child development. This isn't just a job for me. It's my passion.

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