- Children
Skills on the Hill
- Address: 2301 Columbia Pike Suite 125 | Arlington, VA 22204
- Rating: 4.90 (29 reviews)
Insurances: | No info provided |
Ages Served: |
Children
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Care Settings: | No info provided |
About Skills on the Hill
Reviews
Reviews
Age Ranges Served
Languages
- English
2301 Columbia Pike Suite 125, VA, 22204
Get in Contact
- (571) 701-2191
- sothva@skillsonthehill.com
Reviews
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I highly recommend Skills on the Hill and feel truly lucky to have found them. My daughter has been a patient since October 2023 and currently receives OT PT and Speech therapy weekly. From our very first interaction we have been so impressed with the care and support from the entire team. A few things that stand out1 I reached out for an OT evaluation -- after seeing that my daughter was 12 months old and appreciating the importance of early intervention Kristen the owner made time in her schedule to conduct the evaluation as quickly as possible it was completed less than 2 weeks after my outreach.2 Having OT PT and Speech under one roof is invaluable from both a continuity of care and scheduling perspective. All of our providers talk to one another about my daughter -- they share observations things that have worked well or not updates on progress etc. This level of support engagement and skill from the team has been tremendous in supporting my daughters progress on her development goals. Id be remiss if I didnt acknowledge Paolas scheduling wizardry -- she is proactive thoughtful efficient and so easy to work with.3 Our providers put so much thought into our sessions -- everyone has made a point to get to know my daughter and our family which allows them to tailor her sessions based on her motivation needs and whats realistic for us at home. Additionally everyone is so generous with their time to help teach my husband and me -- from sending follow up emails with resources to answering tons of questions and even providing specific language and observations to bring to the various specialists my daughters sees we have learned so much and feel so supported.We are ultimately able to better support and advocate for my daughter because of Skills on the Hill. Its apparent that everyone is invested in and rooting for my daughters success -- and their hard work is paying off My daughter is thriving making excellent progress on her goals and will even meet some of them months faster than expected
My severe special needs teenager has been going to SOTH for 2.5 years and we love it Very knowledgeable therapists that work with the parent to build a tailored plan.
Were a military family who was referred to Skills on the Hill by our pediatrician when I said that I was seeking a progressive OT approach. Goodness did he deliver Our experience with weekly OT sessions and group therapy has been amazing. Its so wonderful to know that my children are working on so many skills while also building confidence and its also wonderful to feel heard and so well supported as a parent. Just last week my son had some struggles over his interpretation of rules at the playground and when we reminded ourselves of the flexibility strategies hes learning in group therapy it helped immensely. Hes really benefiting from seeing other kids embrace these strategies too. We look forward to using summer camp sessions as well. Were absolutely capitalizing on our kidsdevelopment here in the DC area with Skills on the Hill.
After a few years break from OT we found it was time for new speech and OT evaluations to assess our childs changing needs as he grows. We chose SOTH rather than our original provider for logistical reasons. We are so thrilled we found them The evaluations were very helpful. The evaluators had a great understanding of our child. They also understood that we werent going through our first evaluations and that allowed us to debrief on the evaluations very productively. Since then our child has enjoyed his individual and group sessions. Every week hes so excited to attend his social group and work on skills with peers the same age and through fun activities. Weve already signed up for another round because our child is eager to continue
The team at Skills on the Hill is wonderful Our daughter was receiving Occupational Therapy services for the first time as a teenager and we really appreciate the way everyone included her in the planning and treatment process. The initial evaluation process was helpful and the therapist did a great job explaining everything. Our daughter looked forward to her weekly sessions and felt comfortable working with her OT. She was able to ask questions and give feedback always feeling like she was being heard and that her input was an important part of the process. She had fun while working on goals and was able to see how it helped her outside of the clinic. We highly recommend Skills on the Hill to anyone who is looking for therapeutic support to help their child.
Thank you for having such genuine people on the SOTH team. Our son loves Erin OT and Jasmine swim. They are both so bright and kind and patient. Their dedication and care is apparent during every moment of his sessions. OT has been so helpful and Thursday swim is one of our favorite parts of the week. My wife and I take turns tearing up seeing our son in the water with such trust in Jasmine. Its really special.
Skills on the Hill has a comprehensive array of therapeutic services and programming. Having multiple related services as well as additional programming like camps and groups under one roof means increased collaboration and continuity. The therapists are skilled caring responsive and collaborative. I never hesitate to refer clients to SOTH because I know the child and their family will have a positive experience.
As a military family we move a lot Ive worked with many different therapy centers over the past 14 years and Skills on the Hill is one of the best. My son has worked with Sharon and Stephanie over the past 18 months and they have been beyond flexible in approach. Amazing therapists Samuel really looks forward to his sessions and Im continually impressed with the level of care he receives from Skills on the Hill. The office is very well organized appointments are punctual Ive never had an issue with billing. Katie always greats us with a smile is usually quick to answer any questions I send her. Highly recommend Skills on the Hill
Skills on the Hill has been amazing with my son. The staff has been amazing throughout the whole process. He started with virtual sessions and now has moved back to the building. Sharon is so amazingly patient and kind and his skills have improved dramatically. He also attends camps over the summer that has been critical to keeping up his skills when school is out. A fantastic experience I would recommend Skills on the Hill to any parent whose child needed Occupational and therapy
The therapist and staff at Skills on the Hill are phenomenal. From initial intake navigating insurance and working through Covid regulations they have been professional responsive and so helpful. They have been working with my son for just over six months and the progress we have seen in his sensory integration muscle tone and overall well being are amazing. Their innovation in introducing him to aquatherapy and the progress he has made as a result is wonderful I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
- responding to questions
- starting or ending conversation
- changing conversation topics
- using gestures like pointing
- understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
- Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
- Forming speech in a clearer way
- Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
- Understanding and responding to questions
- Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
- Noticing and understanding body language
- Feeding and swallowing
- Stuttering
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
- Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
- Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
- Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
- Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.
Once you find a quality physical therapist you want to work with, here are a few things you need to know:
- There will be an evaluation. First, you can expect an assessment to identify your child’s areas of strength and needs. A physical therapy evaluation usually lasts 30 minutes.
- You’ll review and approve the care plan. The physical therapist will create a care plan, also known as a plan of care (POC), outlining the goals and strategies. They will review this with you and your care team before moving forward with therapy sessions.
- Physical therapy sessions will be fun. PT with children is designed to be enjoyable. The therapist will use strategies and exercises based on your child’s needs. Exercises might involve playing on large stability balls, obstacle courses, movement equipment, stretches, and other hands-on activities.
- Expect home exercises. Physical therapists commonly assign exercises to work on at home. Doing these exercises with your child outside therapy sessions can improve your child’s overall progress.
Yes! Most providers offer physical therapy in their offices or a clinical setting, but many are offering at-home options. Virtual options have become more popular in recent years. You might facilitate care with the guidance of the physical therapist.
Pediatric physical therapy is considered safe and should not hurt. Autistic children spend their time in PT moving and exploring their environment. If you are concerned about your child experiencing pain during certain exercises, especially if they may struggle to communicate and advocate for modifications, speak with their physical therapist about your concerns.