Easter Seals Greater Houston's Children's Therapy Clinic provides Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy services for clients ages 1-21 years old with developmental delays and disabilities. Our dedicated therapists have specialized training and experience helping children become as independent as possible and participate in family, school and community activities. Read below from one of our Physical Therapists, Dr. Missy Dafler, PT, ATP, DPT, C/NDT, CKTP, what she does every day to help our kiddos reach their milestones!

 

"I am a social person. I enjoy talking to people (most of the time), and when I meet new people the standard question is “What do you do for work?” or something along those lines. Sometimes I really hate that question because while my title may be Physical Therapist, that is just a very little part of what I do during the day. I usually follow up with, “I work with kids with and without special needs.” People are usually surprised when I tell them that, and I get a variety of questions from there. So, I thought I would tell you what a typical day is like in my life.

I work a typical schedule here at ESGH of 8-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  I am very blessed to work for an organization that not only values our clients but values our families and our mental health. Fridays off are phenomenal and give me a day to decompress, catch up, run errands, spend time alone with my husband or spend time with my kids when they don’t have school.

8:00 a.m.: I arrive at the office after a 45 min drive in traffic on 610. Put up my lunch, unpack my backpack, turn on my computer and review my schedule for the day. (Sometimes I have a client at 8, so that would be different, but we will stick with a normal arrival.) I work on any notes I haven’t finished yet, make phone calls to vendors or follow up on equipment orders. Sometimes I talk to co-workers about their families, the weekend, share funny stories, catch up on shared client information or just vent about life. There is a lot of multitasking happening this hour. Thank God for coffee!

9:00-11:00 a.m.: I see my morning clients (usually a younger child or school-age kiddo). There is usually some snuggling and/or laughing as I pick them up and take them to the gym from the waiting room. Sometimes parents comeback to the therapy gym, sometimes not. Parents are always welcome in my sessions, and I love to share with parents what we are doing in PT. Often they ask me questions, which I love because it really challenges me to examine why I’m doing what I am doing. I have been practicing for 18 years, and therapy feels like an extension of my body now. I don’t always have to think when I work, and when I am challenged, I feel refreshed and can look at PT or the child with a new perspective.

Sometimes I get a cancellation, and I have a few options to fill the time. I can pull a child from the school for a make-up session, or schedule another child for a make-up if I know in advance.  I can do paperwork, evaluations or letters of medical necessity. I can document prior sessions. I can read about diagnoses or new articles, catch up on continuing education, follow up on emails, write blogs like this one, clean the gym and organize toys, maintain equipment, and/or prepare for my next client. There is never a shortage of things to do.

12:00 p.m.: Most days I get to eat lunch and follow up on phone calls. I get to talk to co-workers about life, clients, schedules, etc. Sometimes I have a client at this time and, if it is possible, I can eat and work at the same time. Sometimes it isn’t possible, and I have to eat quickly between clients. Usually parents are very awesome about giving me 5 minutes to eat lunch or finish what I need to do.

1:00-3:00 p.m.: I see my afternoon clients. Usually I have my older kids in the afternoon, and they are bigger and heavier. I try to be creative with them because I cannot lift them as easily. There is less snuggling and more laughter and dancing with the older kids. I talk to them about what is happening in their lives, about school, friends, sports, bullies, social media or whatever is appropriate to them. They usually get a little more tough love than my littles, and I make them work hard. Sometimes my older kids just won’t participate that day, and we have to work through that, too. Sometimes they just need a friend, or a shoulder to cry on or someone to make them feel special. I can and do all of that plus keep them moving. For the older kids, we do a lot of conditioning, endurance, balance activities, strengthening and motor control activities. I do my best to keep it fun, though.

I can see anywhere from 5-9 clients a day, and we always work on exactly what that kid needs. I have kids who are starting at the very beginning all the way up to very active and running kids. I tailor my sessions to exactly what that child needs, so no two sessions are the same. I love to take kids outside on the bike or walking in the community. We walk with and without walkers outside to increase endurance, balance, safety skills, and going up and down ramps and curbs. We go to the café to order food and snacks, working on starting and stopping in a line, standing for longer periods of time, and waiting to get food to carry back to challenge balance more. I tell them “Don’t spill the drink” which translates to control your body and mind so you don’t spill. Sometimes we build obstacle courses and work on climbing over, under, around and through. Sometimes they push or pull me on a rolling stool, or I will do it to them. But, most importantly, the kid is getting stronger and we’re having fun! It is always about the kids, and work is child’s play!"

 

-Dr. Missy Dafler, PT, ATP, DPT, C/NDT, CKTP, Children's Therapy Clinic Physical Therapist, Easter Seals Greater Houston

Our Children's Therapy Clinic is made possible by generous support from United Way of Greater Houston. Thank you for supporting our children's therapists!