occupational therapy serving Columbus, oh

CULTIVATING HAPPY, HEALTHY babies: holistic infant occupational THERAPY FOR MILESTONES, COMFORT, ANd parental peace of mind

HI! I’m Sheridan

I am so thankful you are here! A little about me… I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio before going to Ohio State University where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Disability Studies in 2015. After graduation, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I attended Belmont University and received my Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy in 2018. I stayed in Nashville for several more years where I worked as an OT in a hospital setting with both children and adults on an outpatient and inpatient basis. It was a hybrid role giving me invaluable experience in pediatric, ortho, neuro, hand therapy, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation populations. In 2021, I moved back to my home state of Ohio and began working with children and adults in the home health setting. All of this experience has shaped my clinical practice and led me to start Bloom Therapy Columbus, LLC in 2023 to serve Central Ohio families. I am a lifelong learner and look forward to all opportunities to broaden my knowledge and continue to advance my skills in the future. I can’t wait to meet you!

how can occupational therapy help your child?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a specialized area of rehabilitation that helps people improve their ability to engage in everyday activities. OTs work with individuals who may have physical, developmental, emotional, or cognitive challenges to enhance their independence and quality of life. Sessions often incorporate teaching new skills, adapting environments, and providing tools or strategies to promote optimal function. All occupational therapists have training in physical and neurological rehabilitation, mental health, development across the lifespan, ergonomics and assistive technology. A doctorate degree in occupational therapy provides additional opportunity for learning advanced clinical practice skills with more coursework on research, leadership, and advocacy. Becoming a specialist in infant occupational therapy is achieved with continued education after finishing the degree as only the basics are taught in OT programs. Infant OTs should have advanced training in early intervention, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, motor and neurological development, feeding methods, and oral motor skills. By looking at the big picture and using these specialized trainings as tools in our clinical toolbox, we are able to holistically assess our patients, find the root cause of each challenge, and provide the highest quality of care.

Dr. Sheridan’s Qualifications:

BS, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, CCLS

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Disability Studies - Ohio State University (BS)

  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Belmont University (OTD)

  • Board Certified Occupational Therapist - NBCOT (OTR/L)

  • Board Certification in Pediatrics - AOTA (BCP)

  • Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist - The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor (CCLS)

Additional Specialty training

  • The Gillespie Approach

    CFT is a gentle modality used to address fascial strain on the nervous system. It reduces tension throughout the body and promotes a freely moving brain, spinal cord, and fascial web. It can help with a variety of issues including birth trauma, oral ties, torticollis, latch, head shape, reflux, motor skills and more. We able to provide CFT for all ages, not just infants.

  • John F. Barnes Approach

    MFR is a safe and effective hands-on technique that involves gentle sustained pressure to the myofascial connective tissue to decrease pain and restore motion. It can be beneficial for many of the same conditions as CFT and is another bodywork modality we are trained in to help babies feel the best in their bodies by decreasing fascial tension.

  • Chrysalis Orofacial

    In depth training in education and evaluation of tethered oral tissues (tongue, lip, and buccal ties) and how they impact function. A provider who can assess function is essential for pre- and post- frenectomy therapy to determine optimal timing of release and ensure the best outcomes.

  • Michelle Emanuel

    This certification is a therapeutic tool that helps with asymmetries, nervous system dysregulation, oral motor skills, and helps your baby learn to love tummy time. It trains therapists to teach parent/baby classes and use the method 1:1.

  • Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants

    This certification through Feeding Fundamentals provides training in their evidence-based integrated approach to supporting oral feeding in preterm infants and infants with complex medical issues in the NICU and early intervention settings.

  • The Lactation OT

    Sheridan has completed many courses on this platform and they are a major reason why she continues to study the relationship between occupational therapy, lactation, and infant development. Topics studied include OT’s role in breastfeeding, bodywork techniques for breastfeeding, milestone development, oral motor assessment, bottle feeding, tethered oral tissues, and feeding strategies for medically fragile infants. She is also a member of their professional mentorship program.

  • Baby Begin

    This training provides in depth knowledge on the types of torticollis and plagiocephaly and their causes as well as evidence-based interventions to treat plagiocephaly without a helmet. Early intervention is key to safely and effectively position a baby to prevent/correct skull flattening and postural asymmetries.

  • PESI

    Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements that are present in infants and crucial for survival and early development. As an infant grows, these reflexes become integrated and replaced by more sophisticated voluntary movements. Failure to integrate these reflexes can cause a variety of issues in childhood and beyond so it is important to make sure they are present but also fully integrate for best developmental outcomes.

  • Solid Starts

    This organization is passionate about making the transition from milk to solid food accessible to every family around the world. Sheridan has completed training on the neurodevelopment, motor, and cognitive aspects of staring solids and coaching families through this process. She is also a member of their healthcare professional membership program.