PlaySpace Therapy

09/06/2025

✨ We’re excited to share that PlaySpace has been invited to join The M List — a trusted directory curated by The Mamahood, one of the Bay Area’s largest mom communities (founded in 2012). The M List showcases local, mom-recommended resources families can count on, and we’re thrilled to be included.

09/05/2025

Public education in Walnut Creek would not be the same without ! PlaySpace is proud to support WCEF and the students in our community.

08/25/2025

"Autism Is Not One-Size-Fits-All " — New Breakthrough Research Unveils Four Distinct Subtypes

At Playspace Therapy, we believe every individual’s journey is unique—and now, cutting-edge research from Princeton and the Simons Foundation is helping take that belief to a whole new level. A landmark study has identified four clinically and biologically distinct autism subtypes, each linked to different genetic patterns and developmental paths.

By analyzing more than 5,000 children from the SPARK cohort using a person-centered model based on over 230 traits—from social interaction to developmental milestones—the study offers a more nuanced lens on autism that opens doors for earlier, more accurate diagnosis and truly personalized support.

What this means for our community: each person with autism may respond differently to therapies and supports. These findings bring us closer to designing tailored interventions that honor each individual’s strengths and needs.

At our clinic, we are excited to deepen our commitment to individualized, strength-based care. Knowledge like this helps us all move toward a future of understanding, empathy, and precision.

For our clients and families, your path deserves attention as unique as you are. Let’s walk it together—smarter, and together. 💪 🧩 💙



If you're interested in reading this article, the link will be in our Bio!

06/06/2025

Summer travel just got a whole lot smoother! 🌟

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) opened a brand new sensory room — designed with all ages in mind, and especially supportive for the neurodivergent community 💙

🛫 Sit in airplane simulation seats
🌈 Engage with calming, interactive sensory features
🧘‍♀️ Reduce pre-flight anxiety with a peaceful, inclusive environment

Whether it's your kiddo’s first time flying or you're a seasoned traveler needing a calm space to reset, this room is a game-changer for making travel more accessible, comfortable, and empowering.

💼 As an occupational therapy team passionate about sensory regulation and inclusive design, we love seeing real-world spaces prioritize neurodiversity.

🧳 Got summer travel plans? Tag someone below who could use this sensory-friendly travel tip!

Happy summer! ✈️

05/06/2025

We have a new OT joining our Playspace family!

Meet Molly!
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Molly has been an occupational therapist since 2016, and has worked with clients ages 3 to 21. She is passionate about affirming the inherent dignity in each of her clients and seeing them flourish in their day to day occupations. She has post-graduate training in assistive technology, Handwriting Without Tears, and Ayres Sensory Integration. Molly received her bachelors in Spanish and Comparative Literature from UC Davis and her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Samuel Merritt University. When she is not at the clinic you can find her outside in her garden, riding bikes with her family, or swimming. Molly is very familiar with the IEP process and works part time for the Solano County Office of Education.

🌟 Welcome to the team 🌟

01/29/2025

Nothing makes work better than working with this beautiful group of women. Enjoyed our annual January holiday gathering tonight! Love our PlaySpace family.

11/26/2024

Co-directors Debra Schoenrock Nipp and Karin Loar had another great visit to the Exploratorium.

PlaySpace is thrilled to be working with the Exploratorium team to provide sensory processing education.

It is a privilege to contribute to educational efforts that spark curiosity and awareness!

11/04/2024

Happy November! 🦃 🍃 Playspace is thrilled to welcome Wesley and Cooper, our newest four legged family members. We’re giving them all the time they need to settle in, and in time, we hope they’ll share their warmth with the kids at Playspace as therapy animals.

Here’s to a journey where they give and receive so much joy and love! 🐮 🐄 🖤

09/03/2024

Attention Contra Costa family’s - a recent relaunch of The Shelby Clark Fund is looking for family’s to help with small grants for children who have special needs. The fund in the past has paid for equine therapy 🐎 , iPads 📱 , music classes 🎵 , speech lessons 🗣️, gymnastics 🤸 , and special equipment. They are excited to accept applicants again to receive grants! Their main focus is contra costa family’s which is why they reached out to our clinic specifically! Please help us spread the word among the family’s we all work with!

Website : theshelbyclarkmemorialfund.godaddysites.com
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Check out their stories and past grants for more information on their website! They have some upcoming events posted, and how to’s on how to apply for these grants!

08/22/2024

Hi everybody! I wanted to recognize two of our team members, clinic owner/director and co-director, Debra & Karin, on achieving some new certifications this year! ⭐️

We are excited to announce that Debra is officially a Certified Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS)! She’s eager to use her knowledge to support self-regulation and anxiety for clients with two new furry team members — our Micro Mini Highland cows 🐮 , Wesley and Theodore, will be arriving to our Playspace farm in November! More of this to come ……. 🫶🏼
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Also, Karin became certified in Ayers Sensory Integration (ASI®) by CLASI, with advanced training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the comprehensive measures of sensory integration, including the EASI and SPM. These assessments are crucial for evaluating key sensory integration functions that support children’s learning, behavior, and participation.
&& This year she also obtained her Neonatal Oral Motor Assessments/NOMAS certification. She applies this assessment and acquired skill set in her infant feeding therapy practice at Playspace!

A big congrats to the both of them 👏🏼👏🏼Come visit us or reach out if your child would benefit from OT, speech , feeding therapy, and soon to be animal assisted therapy this fall! We look forward to supporting this community as we head into another great school year! 📕 ✏️

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03/25/2022

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2983111293?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_messaging%3Bi8SI5CXsTBuvhE8q9LXktQ%3D%3D

Posted 5:32:15 AM. PlaySpace Therapy for Kids in Walnut Creek is seeking an initiative-taking and dynamic occupational…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

12/24/2021

Please join us in supporting our friend and Walnut Creek pediatric OT colleague Kristi Chan. Kristi has stage 4 lung cancer that is chemo resistant. Her family would be grateful for any help you can provide to support Kristi’s medical bills and travel costs to treatment centers. Link in bio. We love you, Kristi!