Karen Shields

MS, OTR/L

Role:

Occupational Therapist

Year I joined CPT:

2007

Favorite thing about CPT:

I love working with a knowledgeable and supportive staff that are all helping each other for the success of the child.

Favorite intervention area:

After spending five years as an OT in the NICU, I have a special place in my heart for those little ones that are struggling with taking bottles and transitioning to table food. I enjoy teaming up with the parent to problem solve and provide suggestions to enhance the baby or child’s feeding experience and safety. Also, as a parent of 5 children, I love working with school age children. I enjoy the freedom and creativity in developing treatment sessions to work towards goals that will improve their daily performance in life skills.

Why occupational therapy?

Life is really difficult and being able to help others in their struggles is really important to me.

Outside of CPT:

I am fortunate to be married and to have five sweet children. We fill our lives with God, sports activities, and being outdoors.

What I wish more people knew about occupational therapy:

People are always surprised at the wide variety of things OTs can work on. OTs work on skills that are needed to successfully perform activities of daily living. If there are any aspects of daily life that are challenging, we are here to help make it better!