Frequently Asked Questions

Once we’ve established availability, Courtney at MMOT will set up a free 15-minute consultation to make sure MMOT is a great fit. You will need a referral from your doctor for most insurance plans.

Individual services start with an OT assessment to establish goals with you for your child and determine the best location for services.

MMOT is focused on making therapy fun and engaging for the child by using outdoor activities and PLAY. We start with a short check-in at the trailhead and make a plan together for the day, which allows the child to be involved in the therapy process and gives them a sense of control and ownership over the experience. Some examples of activities can include setting up a swing in the trees, using rope to make a human-sized “spider web”, finding natural items to make homemade paintbrushes, and exploring the natural textures of earth.

The majority of children can greatly benefit from nature-based programs that prioritize play and child-centered activities. These programs can help children develop increased strength, calmness, confidence, and resilience.

However, it's important to note that MMOT prioritizes safety, and we ensure that all children understand the rules and boundaries before venturing too far. If you have any concerns or questions about your child's participation in these programs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have.

MMOT provides assistance to children who require support in their daily life activities, both those with medical diagnoses and those without.

The children we work with may have the following conditions:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Sensory Processing Disorder

• ADHD

• Developmental Coordination Disorder

• Learning Difficulties

• Medical concerns that impact their independence

• Mental health challenges, such as anxiety or behavioral difficulties

We aim to promote independence in all children we work with.

MMOT works with kids of all ages, from 2 to 18 years old, and the flexibility of this mobile community treatment model is that we can adjust the location that best serves the child.

However, it is important to ensure that the child is safe while participating in nature-based therapy. The child must be able to follow simple safety directions, such as staying on a designated trail or avoiding certain plants or animals, to ensure that they do not put themselves or others at risk.

Therefore, Courtney must assess the child's comfort level with being outside and tailor therapy activities accordingly.

Generally, we start with 1-2 sessions per week. The frequency of therapy services depends on the child and family’s goals, the age of the child, and the availability of the family to attend services.

All individual services are offered to provide your child with 55-70 minute OT visits with goal development and tracking.

Yes! We are in-network with many commonly known insurances:

• Medicaid

• Aetna

• Premera BCBS

• First Health Choice

Is your plan not on the list? Contact us!

Courtney greatly values family involvement as the most important opportunity to help your child grow and progress. She welcomes parent and caregiver involvement in the session and will provide regular updates for home activities. If you prefer to not attend a nature-based OT session for any reason, please ensure that she knows where you are in case of an emergency.

Yes! We love having siblings participate in sessions when it is beneficial for the child. If interested, let us know that you would like your child’s sibling to join their sessions and we can decide together if the sibling’s participation would be beneficial.

During nature-based OT, your child will need to be prepared for an hour outside. We will be playing and exploring. Rain boots for certain outings will be beneficial. Your child should have a spare change of clothing for when they get dirty/wet during therapy activities.

Our motto is "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."

Nature-based sessions meet in local community parks in Anchorage. We spend a lot of our summer at the Alaska Botanical Gardens. This information will be provided to you once an appointment is scheduled.

Some examples of community sessions include a child’s preschool, a community inside playground, a grocery store, and a rock climbing gym. Additionally, we sometimes have the option of meeting at your home. Please indicate what option(s) is preferred on the intake paperwork or during the OT consultation.

Our goal is to spend the majority of our sessions outdoors, regardless of the weather conditions. Just as we cannot control the elements, we cannot always control the challenges we face in our daily lives. Being in nature presents an opportunity to develop flexibility and resilience.

However, in Alaska, extreme winter weather may also make outdoor sessions non-therapeutic, especially for young children who need to keep their little fingers and toes warm or dry. In such cases, we will have a backup plan to utilize an indoor community center, which we will notify you of as soon as possible.

From May to September, we will strive to spend 100% of our sessions outdoors since that's where the good stuff happens!

The cancellation policy is at least 24 hours before the appointment. Life is busy, especially with kids and we understand that so the first no-show/late cancellation is free! After this, the cancellation fee policy will apply and this will be provided when signing up for therapy.

As an occupational therapist, Courtney develops individualized treatment plans for her clients that are tailored to their unique needs and goals.

These treatment plans include measurable goals that are developed in partnership with the child and family to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.

By regularly assessing the clients' progress, we can make adjustments to the treatment plans as needed and ensure that our clients are making meaningful gains toward achieving their goals.

During an OT assessment, Courtney evaluates your child's distinct developmental profile and strengths, their everyday roles, and any factors that might be causing the difficulties they are encountering.

She works with caregivers to determine appropriate assessments that assess sensory processing, fine motor skills, social-emotional well-being, social skills, visual perceptual skills, gross motor skills, and executive functioning. The first appointment is typically 90 minutes but can be split over two sessions as appropriate.