Occupational Therapy Serving Dayton, Walla Walla & Surrounding Communities
Regain independence. Rebuild confidence. Return to the activities that matter most.
At Columbia County Health System, our occupational therapy team helps children and adults improve their ability to manage everyday activities following injury, surgery, illness, or changes in physical function.
Located in Dayton, Washington, we welcome patients from Walla Walla, College Place, Waitsburg, and surrounding communities.
Our services include hand and upper-extremity rehabilitation, stroke recovery, activities of daily living training, pediatric occupational therapy, home safety evaluations, and other individualized treatment programs.
Call 509-382-3202 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
Meet our Occupational Therapists
Rebekah Gustin, OT
Sonya Siedelman, OTR/L
Annaliese Shafer, COTA
Cassidy Crider, OT
Mollee Gray, OT
Services we offer
- W/C Evaluations
- Women's Health - Urge incontinence, Stress Incontinence.
- ADL Training - Providing training in self-care activities, i.e., cooking, bathing, dressing with adaptive equipment and/or compensatory techniques if needed.
- Training/education for patient, family and caregivers - Develop home programs, post-surgical precautions.
- Teaching specific techniques for functional mobility, i.e., safe care transfer tub shower, t/f's. innovative, functional, independence.
- Lymphedema management - Edema (swelling of the upper or lower extremities)
- Neuromuscular re-education, trunk stabilization, and balance activities to improve clients bed mobility and upright posture necessary to preform self-care and home management activities.
- Remediate upper extremity weakness, pain and decreased range of motion after surgery, injury, or disease process.
- Home safety evaluations
- Pediatrics- Developmental delay, autism, functional motor delays and sensory issues.
- Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy
Sometimes Occupational Therapy can happen somewhere other than a traditional therapy room.
At Columbia County Health System, Occupational Therapy may incorporate a miniature horse and miniature donkey into treatment activities. These ground-based sessions give patients a different, engaging environment to work on functional skills connected to their individual Occupational Therapy goals.
This is not horseback riding or therapeutic riding. All activities take place on the ground and are guided by an Occupational Therapy professional as part of an individualized treatment plan.
How are the animals used in Occupational Therapy?
Depending on the patient's goals, therapy activities may include interacting with, caring for, leading, grooming, or completing structured activities with the miniature horse or donkey.
These activities may be used to work on areas such as:
- Coordination and motor skills
- Strength and body awareness
- Sensory processing
- Attention and engagement
- Following directions and sequencing
- Planning and completing tasks
- Social interaction and communication
- Skills that support participation in everyday activities
The animal is part of the therapeutic activity, but the focus remains on helping each patient work toward meaningful, functional goals.
Who may benefit?
Equine Assited Therapy may be appropriate for some children and adults receiving Occupational Therapy.
It is not the right approach for every person or every therapy goal. Your Occupational Therapy team will consider individual needs, abilities, comfort level, goals, and safety when determining whether this type of therapy may be appropriate.
What should I expect?
No riding experience is needed because there is no riding involved.
Sessions take place on the ground and may include simple, structured activities with the miniature horse or donkey. Your Occupational Therapy professional will guide each activity based on your abilities and treatment goals.
The goal is the same as any other Occupational Therapy session: helping you build skills that support greater independence and participation in everyday life.
Interested in learning more?
Call 509-382-3202 to learn more about Occupational Therapy incorporating equines and whether it may be appropriate for you or your family member.
What is Occupational Therapy?Â
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
- An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals, customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
- Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.