What is an occupational therapist?

Amy Peterson, MS, OTR/L

Owner, PracticePlayOT

I worked for many years with agencies providing publicly funded services to children in the classroom. I now have a private practice focused on children who may not qualify for those services but can still benefit from the support an occupational therapist can provide. Some of these children missed a cutoff for intervention by a point or two; others are experiencing temporary challenges at a particular point in their development. These difficulties can affect a child's learning, friendships and home life. I focus on teaching the child strategies, educating the family and working on areas of need. This approach has been a great way to help children become happier and more competent in their social and academic roles.

After a successful career in investment banking, working in human resources, development and training in New York City and San Francisco, I returned to Philadelphia to pursue my passion for helping others. I earned a Master's in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in 2005, with a focus on sensory integration. My career has included serving as a Senior Level Therapist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, with experience on the neonatal intensive care and acute care teams, as well as pediatric contract work through the Intermediate Unit, Early Intervention and private consulting.

I live in Haverford Township with my three active children and my wonderful husband, who has a PhD in education.

Elisabeth Richt, MS, OTR/L

As the older sister of two brothers, one with a rare genetic disorder, Elisabeth has always had a passion for working with children and helping them succeed and reach their full potential. She completed two years of undergraduate study at the University of Kansas before transferring to Thomas Jefferson University's accelerated occupational therapy program, graduating with honors in 2017 with a bachelor's in Occupational Health and a Master's in Occupational Therapy.

Since then, Elisabeth has dedicated her career to pediatrics, working in early intervention, outpatient clinics, an ABA clinic, the NICU and inpatient hospital settings. Her advanced training and certifications include The Zones of Regulation (2018), the SOS Feeding Course (2019), basic certification in DIR Floortime (2020–2021) and certification as a Neonatal Touch & Massage Therapist (2022).

Elisabeth works at a local children's hospital, seeing children from birth to 21 in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She loves the variety and being kept on her toes by so many different children and families. She lives in the Bella Vista neighborhood of Philadelphia with her husband, baby girl and dog.