Occupational Therapist in Brickell, FL | Fine & Gross Motor Skills Development
A lot of the families I meet are raising curious, sensory-seeking kids thirty floors up, in homes with more glass than grass. My work supports children who are still building the motor and emotional skills that daily life asks of them, without requiring a backyard or a waiting room to do it in.
Brickell Avenue's towers sit blocks from Mary Brickell Village, Brickell Key's quiet loop, and the Miami River where paddleboarders drift past the Financial District each morning. Kids here often attend school across the bridge in Coral Gables or downtown, and weekends might mean a walk through Simpson Park or a ride on the Metromover instead of a trip to a park.
Vertical living changes what a childhood looks like. Elevators replace front yards, hallways replace sidewalks, and a lot of physical energy that would normally spend itself outside gets stored up instead. Parents here are often working demanding schedules in finance or law and want a therapist who can work efficiently, meet them in the building, and respect that their time is genuinely scarce.

How it works

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Step 1

I do not believe growth needs a gym or a backyard, it needs intention. We use whatever your unit or building common areas offer, hallway games, balcony play, living room obstacle courses, to build real skills in a vertical world.
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Step 2

We start with a real conversation about your child and your building's rhythm, not a clinical intake form. That shapes a plan built around your actual square footage and your actual schedule.
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Step 3

Sessions stack on each other over time. A child who once needed the elevator ride home to melt down starts arriving calmer, and I stay close through parent coaching so that progress survives long workdays and late meetings.
Families in Brickell often reach out once they notice that getting dressed for school or winding down at night takes far longer than it should. As an occupational therapist working across Brickell, I support children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building foundational skills in a home with limited square footage to move around in. Parents tell me the shift they notice first is relief, mornings stop feeling like a negotiation before the elevator ride down. Children begin trusting their bodies again inside a space that once felt too small for their energy. Sessions often use the building itself, a hallway, a balcony, a lobby corner, as the therapy space.
Apartment living can quietly limit how much a child gets to run, climb, or practice the fine motor tasks that a house with a yard makes easy. Fine and gross motor skills development is often the starting point for families who notice their child has fewer chances to move. The relief shows up when a child finally manages buttons alone or navigates the building stairwell with confidence instead of hesitation. Physical steadiness tends to open up confidence in every other room of the day. We build strength and coordination using whatever the unit offers, cushions, a hallway, a balcony, so movement becomes part of everyday life rather than a special outing.
Concrete, glass, and constant elevator noise create a very particular sensory environment, and some children hold onto that tension all day without anyone realizing why. This shows up often in the high rise families I work with here. What shifts first is usually the after school unraveling, the meltdown that used to greet you the second the front door closed starts to soften. We build calming routines that fit inside a small footprint, a designated corner, a weighted blanket, a breathing ritual by the window, so regulation becomes something your child can reach for anywhere.
Long workdays, tight timelines, and close quarters can leave very little patience left for a child's big feelings by the time everyone is home together. This work is for the child whose emotions seem to arrive faster than words can keep up. What I usually see shift first is the length of the storm, a meltdown that once lasted an hour starts resolving in a fraction of that time. We build a feelings vocabulary and calming tools that work in a small space, no need for a yard to run off steam.
Many of the parents I meet in Brickell are managing demanding careers and still show up trying their best every evening. This is for the parent who wants tools that fit inside a genuinely packed schedule. The shift I see most often is confidence, parents start trusting their instincts instead of squeezing in one more parenting article between meetings. We talk through your real week, nanny handoffs, late nights, sibling friction in tight quarters, and build a plan that respects how little spare time you actually have.
Some families craving a slower rhythm are surprised by how much stillness a single plant on a balcony can offer a busy household. What tends to shift is presence, a few minutes of quiet tending to something living becomes an anchor in an otherwise nonstop day. Sessions might include balcony container gardening or a small planting ritual built to fit inside even the most compact home.

I serve children, teens and adults

I work with families throughout Brickell's towers and extend into neighboring Coral Gables, Downtown, and the Roads. Sessions typically happen inside your unit or building common spaces, wherever makes the most sense for your family. Below is a map of the area I serve.

Testimonials

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“The Cafetera planting workshop was such a meaningful experience. It felt intimate, grounding, and deeply connected to culture and intention. Creating something with my hands while slowing down and being present made the experience feel special and memorable.”

Christina S. | Cafetera Planting Workshop

“I’ve created three vision planters, and I’ll continue coming back. Even though I know the process, it’s the experience of the class that keeps drawing me in. The energy and intention of each workshop meet me exactly where I am.”

Cassandra M. | Vision Planter (Repeat Client)

“Having a manifesting planting bar at my 50th birthday celebration was one of the most special parts of the day. It gave my guests a moment to pause, reflect, and create something meaningful together. The energy it brought into the celebration was beautiful and unforgettable.”

Maria S. | 50th Birthday Manifesting Planting Bar

“Our team-building planting experience was refreshing and genuinely impactful. It created space for connection, collaboration, and creativity in a way that felt natural and meaningful. The experience brought our team together and left a lasting impression.”

Jenny T. | Corporate Team-Building Workshop

Erika Valdés – A pediatric occupational therapist

I'm a pediatric occupational therapist, former elementary school teacher, and plant ritual facilitator who believes vertical living should never limit a child's growth. I bring therapy directly into Brickell's high rises, working with whatever space a family has to offer. I help people bloom where they are planted.

Frequently asked questions

  • Do you accept insurance?

    Play2Learn  currently operates as an out-of-network provider. Superbills can be provided upon request for possible reimbursement from your insurance plan. Payment is due at the time of service.

  • What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

    Cancellations + Rescheduling:

    Appointments must be canceled or rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged the full session fee. Exceptions may be made for illness or emergencies communicated promptly.

  • How often should my child have sessions?

    Every child is different, but most families see the best results with 1–3 sessions per week for at least 10 weeks.

  • Payment plans

    Flexible payment plans are available for therapy packages. Please inquire during your consultation.

  • Confidentiality + privacy

    All client information is kept confidential in accordance with HIPAA regulations. Your privacy is always protected.