Dedicated to Family Centered Occupational Therapy for Children
Kelli Iovino
Occupational Therapist
Dedicated to Family Centered Occupational Therapy For Children
Kelli Iovino joined M Street Pediatric Therapy as a new graduate, and she immediately knew she'd found the perfect position to practice in-home occupational therapy.
"I just love working in people's homes. I find it the most meaningful and applicable place for occupational therapy for young kids. It's so helpful to work with their own toys, in familiar settings. Occupational Therapy (OT) doesn't translate any better than in environments where kids visit regularly.
At M Street, we couldn’t agree more. Kelli has been a wonderful addition to our staff, eager to learn and grow with each patient in her care.
"I just love working in people's homes. I find it the most meaningful and applicable place for occupational therapy for young kids
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Kelli’s Story
There were two experiences early in Kelli’s life that led her down the path to pediatric occupational therapy.
The first experience was in high school. Kelli was extremely active and loved soccer. Unfortunately, she tore her ACL, which led to her firsthand experience in the world of physical therapy and sparked her interest. She enjoyed therapy, and it introduced her to the idea of pursuing a career in therapy and health care.
Later, when Kelli was nannying, she cared for a little boy who had in-home occupational therapy.
"The therapist came right to the house, and he loved it. I watched as he worked on his therapy ball and laughed during a fishing game. I could see he was having so much fun as he worked on his skills through play. I remember a lightbulb going off—you can do therapy through play!"
"I've always felt like I would end up working with children, no matter my career. From coaching to working as a camp counselor, I've always liked kids, so pediatrics was a given. When I first saw in-home therapy at work, I thought, 'Wow, what a cool way to do therapy.' Now that I've been through school, I see the valuable and crucial skills they were working on in his therapy. It all came together for me."
Kelli studied Psychology at Dominican University, where she received her Bachelor of Science. She went on to do her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Kelli is active and energetic. She played soccer in college and continues to play several times a week. She has two young nieces who she loves spending time with. Kelli knows exercise and a healthy body is essential for giving her all as a therapist.
Most of all, Kelli is passionate about her work with kids. She loves working with children with different diagnoses and areas of focus.
“Much of my caseload right now are kids with sensory needs, but I love working with all diagnoses. Sensory has been really interesting. So far, I see kids who have a tough time sitting, paying attention, moving safely, and feeding. I've been working with several feeding patients lately, and I think it's a common struggle, especially with toddlers. Some used to eat certain foods, and now they won't. Others barely eat. Toddlers are picky eaters in general, so there's a lot of balance to finding the line between "picky" and feeding issues impacting their development.”
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We find a way to help their child and empower them to build those life-skills.
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Working with Kelli at M Street
Kelli understands how OT goals look different for each family. It’s all about finding the right balance and using supportive strategies to help the children in her care progress.
“I have the most patience for kids, I know some people are the opposite, but I love working with kids and their families. With play-based interventions, we’re really addressing needs early that will impact the rest of their life. I find that so meaningful.”
"OT addresses a wide array of topics, and I'm always learning new ways to help families, depending on their goals, because the therapy is all family-based. We find a way to help their child and empower them to build those life-skills.”
Because M Street works with families in their homes, our therapists use many aspects of family life to influence the direction of therapy.
“For many families, OT is less concrete than PT. For example, with PT, we’re working on getting kids to walk and strengthen their core—it’s those gross motor skills. With speech, you’re helping them talk. OT on the other hand, is less straightforward, but no less critical. We’re helping kids build skills like feeding, dressing, eating, and fine motor activities. Once we figure out how working on these skills will positively impact the family’s routine, it all makes sense.”
“Sometimes there’s an issue like a child who is resistant to dressing. So we work on it from a physical base, but then we figure out the underlying sensory issue and how it’s impacting the activity. Maybe they don’t like the feeling of the clothes on their body. But by using pressure strategies, we calm a child and help them feel more comfortable with the process.”
“When I explain it to a family, we find ways to apply it to their routine. I try to be as open and honest as possible with families. We use practice and repetition, going over therapeutic actions several times, so it registers and becomes part of their daily process."
"Sometimes, we see issues start as sensory but then turn into a learned behavioral response. We then need to address the behavior while we're still addressing the sensory. Most people forget zero to three-year-olds are complicated. Their needs are constantly changing and developing. Therapy isn't a straight line; it's about moving forward, trying different strategies, and figuring out the answer for each child and family.”
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Therapy isn't a straight line; it's about moving forward, trying different strategies, and figuring out the answer for each child and family.”
Growing with M Street
Kelli has been enjoying her time with M Street and finds it a very supportive environment as a newer therapist.
“I love working at M Street. I can’t imagine a better place to start my career as an occupational therapist. I feel there’s a perfect balance of guidance and independence. In addition to being supportive, M Street allows me to choose my path, exploring the areas of occupational therapy I’m most passionate about.”
As in-home therapists, M Street therapists receive a high level of support, guidance, and oversight. With regular meetings and constant access to colleagues, M Street Therapists may work independently, but they're never on their own.
"Whenever I have a question, I get a response immediately, usually within minutes. I recently started working with an infant diagnosed with torticollis, a condition where the muscles in the neck cause the baby's head to tilt downward or to the side. As an OT, we work on the midline, helping babies use both hands, for example. This was my first experience in the field with this diagnosis. So I reached out to my colleagues for advice.”
“Instantly, I received a myriad of responses. I felt totally covered and supported. Everyone advised me on where to begin, different in-home treatment ideas, and new handling and positioning techniques. Working in family homes, without an office, could make you feel like you were on your own, but it’s never something I’ve struggled with at M Street.”
“Ultimately, in-home therapy has so many advantages for patients and families. While going to a clinic or doing outpatient therapy is useful in some cases, it really doesn't get any better than working with kids in the setting they're most familiar with. I've gotten so comfortable going into people's houses, popping a squat on the floor, and doing therapy right there in the living room. It's really nice."
From Kelli's early experience observing in-home therapy, she's recognized the benefits and merits of working in the home environment. This is one of the aspects of working with M Street that she loves the most.
“Now that I've worked in-home with many of my kids for several months, it's really exciting to see them move towards their next phase in life. It's so interesting because, during therapy, many of my kids receive referrals to early intervention for issues like speech delays. As we start to address the sensory-related behaviors and do OT, we notice progress in other areas too. In many cases, as we work to calm their body, we start to see language come out too."
"It's so rewarding because as I'm working with my kids, I can picture how they'll grow in years to come. I see them in a school setting and imagine how they’ll grow and change.”
For Kelli, nothing is more satisfying than watching her patients' success and progress. As she continues to grow in her career, she is optimistic about her bright future.
"I honestly feel the sky's the limit. Now I'm more confident as a therapist; I've begun to expand my knowledge with continuing education courses and research studies. Not many new graduates can say they've had such amazing opportunities right out of school. I'm so grateful for the collaborative and supportive culture of M Street!"
“I love working at M Street. I can’t imagine a better place to start my career as an occupational therapist.”