A Focused Brain Pediatric Therapy

01/27/2026

Nature isn't always sunshine and blue skies. 🌧️❄️

It has all the weather - cold rain, sleet, snow, ice, wind, mud .... the uncomfortable stuff we usually try to avoid.

But as a nature-based occupational therapist, I don't avoid these elements - I work with them!

Cold rain becomes a lesson in resilience and regulation.
Snow and ice slow us down and invite problem-solving, body awareness, and trust.
Sleet and chilly air challenge sensory systems in ways a clinic never could.

With the right support, my kiddos learn:

* how to listen to their bodies
* how to adapt instead of shut down
* how to stay regulated when things feel hard, cold, or unpredictable

Nature doesn't remove challenges - it teaches through them.
And when kiddos learn they can handle the weather out here, they start to believe they can handle life out there too. 🌳🤍

Because growth doesn't only happen in comfort - it happens in connection.

It empowers children to be who they were created to be!

12/29/2025

A Focused Brain will be closed Wednesday December 31, 2025 through Friday, January 2, 2026!

Happy New Year!

12/24/2025

12/20/2025

A Focused Brain will be closed for Christmas beginning at noon on Thursday, December 24 through Friday,December 26th!

May you all experience the love of our Savior this Christmas season!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

09/23/2025

Interesting study on the difference in praising kiddos verses telling kiddos they are hard workers....

08/19/2025

Excessive Screen Time Poses Early Heart Health Risks for Children, Study Finds

The endless hours children spend on cell phones, gaming consoles, and other devices may be putting their heart health at risk, according to new research released by the American Heart Association.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, revealed that excessive screen time is linked to cardiovascular issues in children and young adults at much earlier stages of their lives. Researchers examined more than 1,000 participants between the ages of 10 and 18 and found strong associations between high screen use and cardiometabolic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.

“I am seeing younger and younger patients come in,” said Dr. Shawn Sanders, a cardiologist with Baptist Heart. “We’ve seen bad effects on attention span, stress hormones, anxiety, and depression, but now recent studies from Denmark show screen time in particular is affecting people’s heart health even at young ages.”

Medical experts warn that prolonged scrolling or gaming, while seemingly harmless, can elevate heart rates and interfere with the eight hours of rest critical for children’s growth and development. Poor sleep—both in duration and quality—has emerged as a significant factor in declining cardiovascular health among youth.

Recommendations for Parents and Guardians

Physicians and researchers emphasize proactive steps to safeguard children’s health:
• Start early by setting consistent limits on screen time.
• Shift device use earlier in the day to promote better sleep patterns.
• Establish earlier bedtimes to ensure adequate rest.
• Remove phones and gaming devices from bedrooms overnight.
• Encourage physical activity and outdoor play without devices.

The data is sobering: only 29% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 in the United States are currently considered to have healthy hearts and blood vessels.

“This is a wake-up call for parents,” Dr. Sanders added. “We must take steps now to protect the long-term health of the next generation.”

07/07/2025

A perfect nature day in OT to make bubbles!!

07/04/2025

Happy Fourth of July!!

07/01/2025

Our phones and internet with ATT is down today. So if you can’t get anyone to answer, that’s why! For our current clients, you can use your Ocean Friends AI app to message your therapist . Sorry for the inconvenience! We are told it should be back up tonight.

06/19/2025

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
Peggy Omara

06/13/2025

Sharing this because my sweet colleague friend says it so well!! We are in the transition phase of moving from our traditional clinic in Madison to 100% at our Nature based location while still implementing skilled OT services and modalities in a natural environment! 😁🌳❤️

➡️Just because I operate outside and not in a traditional clinic, does not mean that I don’t utilize traditional clinic based modalities.

🌳I think a common misconception is that nature can do all the therapeutic work. FALSE! It wouldn’t be considered skilled therapy services if I was just sitting back not providing skilled intervention.

➡️Kinesiotape, estim, cupping, weighted vests like you see on this little guy in the picture…all these modalities can be used in nature! Nature is awesome, but it’s important that we don’t forget about all the other treatment modalities that could bring a ton of value to the treatment program!