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Karin Loar OT and Feeding Therapy

Empowering Children's Potential

Specialized Pediatric Occupational Therapy in Walnut Creek.

Nurturing Development

My name is Karin Loar. I am both a pediatric occupational therapist and feeding specialist whose treatment interventions are rooted in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) and the SOS® Approach to Feeding.  A focal point of my therapy is helping young children regulate arousal by creating a sense of safety in their environment.  When children are regulated, they are more likely to make a successful transition during their play or come to the feeding table willingly.

 

Occupational Therapy is where art, science, and compassion unite.  Along with being sensory-based, I practice neurodiversity-affirming, developmental-based, evidence-based, play-based, and relationship-based interventions.  

 

Whether I am working on motor skills and helping a child move in their environment or feeding skills and helping a child learn to chew and swallow, I am utilizing the principles above to support success for a child.

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Dedicated to Enhancing Function:
My Specialized Approach

I am a licensed occupational therapist with 24 years of experience in pediatric OT. Since earning my license in 2000, I have worked in a variety of settings, including Bay Area Early Intervention, UCSF Children’s Hospital, NHS Home-Based Services in London, and Private Practice. My focus is on helping children gain independence and confidence in their physical and emotional abilities. I specialize in regulation, sensory integration, praxis skills, and feeding therapy, with advanced certifications in swallowing assessment and Ayres Sensory Integration. 

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My Services

  • Evaluations

  • Interventions

  • Consultations  

  • Meetings

Techniques and Specialized Training

  • Certified in Ayres Sensory Integration/ASI® through CLASI

  • Basic and Advanced Training in the Sequential Oral Sensory/SOS® approach to Feeding

  • Certified in Neonatal Oral Motor Assessments/NOMAS®

  • Tube Feeding with Love

  • Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infancy

  • Beckman Oral Motor Skills

  • Bal-A-Vis-X

  • Certified as a Level 1 Handwriting Specialist with Handwriting Without Tears®

  • Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Tactile Integration

  • Zones of Regulation

  • The Alert Program

Who I Work With 

I work with families, babies (starting at 3 months), and young children through age 6 years old to improve their overall function.  Some concerns, and diagnoses I work with include:

  • Sensitivity to touch, sound, or movement      

  • Arousal or regulation trouble

  • Attention and activity level issues 

  • Aggressive behaviors          

  • Limited or immature play skills

  • Trouble with transitions

  • Trouble with handwriting

  • Fussy or colicky baby   

  • Feeding and/or swallowing challenges

  • Tube Weaning

  • ​Sensory integration issues/sensory processing disorder

  • Praxis/motor planning challenges      

  • Motor coordination Issues

  • Balance trouble

  • Delays in gross, fine, and/or visual-motor skills

  • Visual perceptual issues

  • Neurodiversity

  • ADD/ADHD

  • Autism

  • Dyslexia

  • Down Syndrome

  • Developmental Disabilities

  • Congenital Anomalies

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“Karin has giving us invaluable tools to help our son open his horizon to new foods. We tried another feeding resource/occupational therapy but those methods did not work very well with him. Karin makes the session very engaging and super fun, which is what really helped our son. We can use what we learned with her to continue to help him. Thank you so much! ”

~ Working mom of a two year old boy

Empower Your Child’s Development Today!

Initiate your child's path to growth with specialized Occupational Therapy services designed to meet their unique needs. Book an evaluation now and unleash their full potential!

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