{BEL-UH VEE}: FRENCH "BEAUTIFUL LIFE"
Specialized Pediatric
Occupational Therapy Services
specialties
Developmental Trauma
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
All children require co-regulation through growth and development; children who have experienced trauma during development in utero or after birth typically require co-regulation far longer. Parents, caregivers, and educators that understand the neurological and sensory components of trauma, development, and regulation are much more equipped to identify and respond to a child’s behavior as what it is, a form of communication. Children who have experienced consistent, repetitive sensory regulation begin to then grow toward independent modulation.
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
The goal of feeding therapy is to help infants and children develop normal, effective feeding patterns and behaviors. This can range from difficulties with bottle/breast feeding, transitioning to solids, extreme picky eating, and poor intake. We will work closely with the child and family to determine the source of the child’s difficulties and develop specific interventions to make the entire process of eating easier and more enjoyable.
We provide feeding therapy only with our in-home feeding specialist via private pay. Danielle services Oakland, Lapeer, and West Macomb Counties. See more about Danielle below.
Sensory Integration
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
Sensory Integration
Sensory processing refers to the way the nervous system receives messages about the environment from our senses and turns them into responses. For those with sensory processing difficulties, information from our senses travel to the brain and is perceived and/or responded to differently than same age peers.
We believe in child-led interventions, guided by sensory integration principles to facilitate experiences that are impactful beyond the treatment session.
Meet our Team
Sara Gariepy MS, OTRL, CATP, CTP-C, A-RSP
Sara is a licensed occupational therapist and owner of Belle Vie Therapies. Sara has completed extensive training in child trauma, receiving certifications as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional (CATP), Certified Trauma Practitioner - Clinical (CTP-C), as well as Anxiety Certified Rehabilitation Services Provider (A-RSP). She has developed a multidisciplinary child trauma treatment program as well as an OT program within a children’s behavioral health trauma clinic.
Sara is passionate about continued education, through trainings, courses, and daily interactions with her clients. Sara plans to continue her education and research in child trauma, neurosequential development, sensory processing treatment, and completing Michigan State University's trauma certificate programs.
In her free time, Sara enjoys trying new recipes, watching sunsets, spending time at the lake, and cuddling with her cats.
She attended Western Michigan University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies. She received her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a minor in Psychology, and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
Sara accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Blue Cross Complete, Priority Health, Cigna, Medical Mutual, and Meridian insurances.
Danielle Polley MOT, OTRL, SCFES, CCATP
Danielle is a licensed occupational therapist. She is specialized in both feeding and sensory treatment, with 9 years of experience in pediatrics. She completed extensive training in both, obtaining the specialty certificate in feeding, eating, and swallowing (SCFES) from the American Occupational Therapy Association. Other trainings include Talk Tools, Beckman Oral Motor, TR-eat Model, SOS Approach, Vital Stim, and an intensive mentorship at the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder. She is also a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP). Danielle is a mobile therapist, evaluating and treating in the client's homes, she accepts private pay clients, and services Oakland, Lapeer, and West Macomb Counties.
Danielle is passionate about working with families and children to create meaningful progress and is always learning more through continuing education. She plans on creating a semi-intensive outpatient feeding program in a setting that feels like home.
In her free time, Danielle loves to spend time up north with her husband Christopher and cuddling with her cats Emmy and Sydney.
She graduated from Michigan State University with her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology- Adapted Physical Activity and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Baker College Center for Graduate Studies.
Getting Started
Have concerns about...
- Fine motor skills
- Self- regulation & Attention difficulties
- Strength & Endurance
- Problem solving & Executive function skills
- Motor planning
- Self-care skills
- Food aversions
- Swallowing difficulties
- Picky eating /problem feeders
What to expect:
Evaluation
- Caregiver(s) Interview
- Standardized Assessments
- Clinical Observations
- Collaborative treatment and goal planning
Treatment Sessions
- Individualized child-driven interventions
- Caregiver education
- Collaborative planning for carryover in your home and in the community
Transition Planning
- Community resources
- Preparing child and family for discharge