Occupational Therapy
Trauma-Informed | Neurodiversity-Affirming | Serving All Ages
At Mala Child & Family Institute, we offer comprehensive occupational therapy (OT) services in Ann Arbor, Michigan and virtually, designed to support individuals across the lifespan. Our trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approach ensures that each client receives personalized care tailored to their unique needs.
What is OT?
At Mala Child & Family Institute, our occupational therapy (OT) services in Ann Arbor or virtually offer a compassionate, hands-on approach to helping children, teens, and adults develop, recover, or maintain the skills they need for everyday life. Whether it's improving fine motor coordination, building sensory integration, or supporting executive functioning, our goal is to increase independence and enhance daily functioning.
Because your daily life deserves support that’s attuned to your whole self.
Our multidisciplinary team collaborates closely with psychologists, educators, physicians, and families to ensure your care is comprehensive and personalized. We specialize in child-led, neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy, creating a supportive environment where every individual is respected for their unique strengths and needs.
Why Choose Our OT Services?
Collaborative Care: We work closely with psychologists, educators, medical professionals, and families to create integrated treatment plans.
Child-Led Interventions: Emphasizing the child's interests and strengths to foster engagement and progress.
Expert Team: Our licensed occupational therapists are experienced in addressing a wide range of developmental and mental health challenges.
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$90—30 minutes
$135—forty-five minutes
$180—an hour
$270—90 minutes
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Blue Cross Blue Sheild
Private Pay
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Ann Arbor and Virtual
Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy?
Children with Developmental Delays:
We provide support for children experiencing delays in motor skills, sensory processing, and social-emotional development, helping them achieve their fullest potential.Neurotypical Individuals of All Ages:
We work with individuals who may face challenges such as fine or gross motor difficulties, executive functioning struggles, or any issues impacting their ability to successfully engage in daily living tasks, routines, and activities. We believe everyone deserves support in building the skills they need to thrive.Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders:
Our team specializes in working with children and adults who struggle with feeding challenges, from sensory-based picky eating to complex problem feeding, helping them build a healthier, more positive relationship with food.Individuals with Sensory Processing, Modulation, and Regulation Difficulties:
We support individuals experiencing challenges with sensory integration—whether they are over-responsive, under-responsive, or seeking intense sensory input—helping them develop strategies to navigate their environments and regulate effectively.Neurodiverse Individuals:
We take a neurodiversity-affirming approach, supporting individuals with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental differences, celebrating their strengths and addressing their unique needs.Individuals with Mental Health Conditions:
We provide specialized interventions for those living with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions, focusing on building coping skills, enhancing daily functioning, and supporting meaningful engagement in life.Adults with Physical Disabilities or Injuries:
We assist adults in regaining independence, adapting their environments, and improving their quality of life following injuries, surgeries, illnesses, or physical disabilities that affect their ability to perform daily tasks.
Our Occupational Therapists
Katy Bachleda, MOT, OTRL
Director
Amanda Padilla, MOT, OTRL
occupational therapist

Enroll Today
In our Ann Arbor office and Virtually for ALL AGES.
Our OT Services
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Our daily living tasks OT services are designed to support children and adults who struggle with essential self-care and daily activities. These challenges may include difficulties with dressing, grooming, meal preparation, and managing household tasks. We provide personalized interventions to enhance fine motor skills, develop effective routines, and promote independence in daily living. By focusing on each individual's unique needs and goals, we aim to improve their ability to perform everyday tasks confidently and autonomously, leading to a higher quality of life and greater overall well-being.
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Our feeding and eating OT services are tailored for children and adults facing challenges with feeding, eating, and swallowing. These issues can stem from sensory sensitivities, motor coordination difficulties, or behavioral concerns, impacting nutrition and mealtime experiences. We provide individualized assessments and interventions to improve oral-motor skills, enhance sensory processing, and develop positive mealtime behaviors. Through our holistic, trauma-informed approach, we strive to support individuals and their families in achieving healthier, more enjoyable eating experiences and improved overall well-being.
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Our muscle tone differences OT services are designed for children and adults who experience variations in muscle tone, such as hypotonia (low muscle tone) or hypertonia (high muscle tone), which can impact movement, posture, and daily activities. These challenges may arise from conditions like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or other neuromuscular disorders. We provide tailored interventions to enhance muscle strength, improve motor control, and promote functional mobility. Through our compassionate, trauma-informed approach, we help clients achieve greater stability, coordination, and independence in their daily lives, enhancing their overall quality of life.
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Our parent training OT services are designed to support parents and caregivers of children with diverse needs. These services are ideal for those seeking strategies to enhance their child's development, manage challenging behaviors, and improve daily routines. We offer personalized guidance and practical tools to empower parents, helping them to create supportive home environments that promote their child's independence and well-being. By fostering strong parent-child relationships and effective caregiving practices, we aim to enhance the overall family dynamic and improve the quality of life for both the child and the family.
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Our praxis and motor coordination OT services are designed for children and adults who experience difficulties with planning and executing movements, often impacting daily functioning and participation in activities. These challenges can affect tasks such as dressing, writing, and playing sports. We provide individualized assessments and interventions to improve motor planning, coordination, and sequencing skills. Through our supportive, trauma-informed approach, we help clients develop the necessary motor skills to navigate their daily lives with greater ease and confidence, enhancing their overall independence and quality of life.
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Our school advocacy OT services are designed to support children who face challenges in the school environment due to sensory, motor, or cognitive difficulties. These services are ideal for families seeking to ensure their child's educational needs are met through appropriate accommodations and supports. We collaborate with parents, teachers, and school staff to develop individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans, advocate for necessary resources, and provide strategies to enhance the child's learning and participation in school activities. By promoting a supportive and inclusive educational environment, we aim to help children thrive academically and socially.
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Our sensory processing OT services are designed to help children and adults who experience difficulties with processing sensory information. These challenges can manifest as hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory stimuli, affecting daily activities and overall well-being. We work with clients to develop personalized strategies that enhance sensory integration, improve motor skills, and increase adaptive responses to sensory input. By addressing these sensory processing issues, we aim to help individuals achieve greater comfort, independence, and participation in everyday life activities.
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Our strengthening OT services are tailored for children and adults who experience muscle weakness or reduced endurance, which can impact their ability to perform daily activities. These challenges may stem from various conditions, including developmental delays, injuries, or chronic illnesses. We provide personalized strength-building interventions aimed at improving muscle strength, coordination, and overall physical endurance. Through targeted exercises and activities, we help clients enhance their functional abilities, enabling them to participate more fully in everyday tasks and improve their overall quality of life.
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Our visual processing OT services are designed to assist children and adults experiencing difficulties with visual perception and coordination. These challenges can affect reading, writing, and other daily activities, leading to frustration and decreased performance. We provide individualized assessments and targeted interventions to improve visual-motor integration, spatial awareness, and eye-hand coordination. We aim to enhance clients' visual processing skills, enabling them to achieve greater success and confidence in their daily lives.
Explore More of What We Offer
Healing is rarely one-dimensional. At Mala, we provide integrated services to support you, your child, and your family across multiple areas of life. Learn more about what makes our care so comprehensive:
🧠 Learn more about our Psychological Evaluations
💬 Explore our Individual and Family Therapy Services
🤝 Join one of our Group Therapy Programs
💊 Meet Our Psychiatric Team and Medication Providers
🏫 Advocate for Your Child with Our School Advocacy Services
🎓 Train With Us: Clinical Fellowships and Internships
🚀 Grow Your Practice With Our Business Coaching & Speaking Services