Irvine, California

Animal Assisted Therapy in Irvine, CA

Occupational therapy with a professionally trained therapy dog working as part of your child's session.

Summer is a trained therapy dog who works alongside Dr. Phoebe Yam, an occupational therapist who is also a certified professional dog trainer and human-animal interaction specialist. For many children, having Summer there makes therapy something they genuinely look forward to.

Schedule a tourCall or text (949) 835-3746
1,002+ children served Serving families since 2016 5+ years working with a therapy dog Ages 5 and up

What animal assisted therapy is

The phrase gets used in a few different ways, so here is exactly how it works at our clinic.

What this is

A goal-directed occupational therapy session in which a specifically selected and trained animal is part of the treatment plan. The dog is there to make a therapy goal reachable: regulating a nervous system, motivating movement, building the confidence to try something hard. Every activity ties back to a written goal, and progress is tracked the same way it would be in any other session.

How it differs from a visiting dog

A visiting therapy dog comes to brighten everyone's day, and emotional support and service animals each serve their own valuable purpose. Summer's role is different again: she is part of a treatment plan, handled by a therapist trained in both occupational therapy and dog handling, in sessions built around your child's goals.

Meet Summer

Summer, the therapy dog at Tumble N' Dots in Irvine, sitting and looking at the camera

Summer

Canine co-therapist

Summer was professionally selected, socialized, and trained for this work. That selection matters more than people expect: a dog doing therapy has to be reliably calm around sudden noise, fast movement, dropped equipment, and a child having a hard day, without needing reassurance in return.

She has been working in sessions for more than five years. She reads children well, gives them space when they need it, and sits still for a long time when a child is working up to touching her for the first time.

Summer is one dog, not a rotating roster, which is deliberate. Children build a relationship with her over months, and that relationship is a good part of why the work works.

She works with Dr. Phoebe Yam, an occupational therapist who is also a certified professional dog trainer and human-animal interaction specialist. Meet our therapy team.

What it helps with

These are the same occupational therapy goals we work toward in any session. For some children, Summer is what makes them click.

  • Self-regulation. Brushing, feeding, or simply sitting with a calm animal gives many children a calm and reliable way to settle when words alone are not enough.
  • Sensory integration. Fur, weight, warmth, and movement are all real sensory input, and a dog is a far more motivating source of it than equipment.
  • Motor skills. Clipping a leash, filling a bowl, throwing a ball, and brushing all demand fine and gross motor work a child will happily repeat.
  • Confidence. Giving a command and having a dog respond is a fast, concrete experience of being competent, which means a great deal to children who find other settings harder.
  • Social and emotional skills. Reading Summer's body language, waiting for her, and being gentle are all social skills practiced in a calm, low-pressure setting.
  • Willingness to engage. Some children who feel hesitant about therapy will happily come in for Summer, and that enthusiasm is a genuine and valuable place to start.

What a session looks like

Fifty minutes of occupational therapy that happens to include a dog.

  • Your child sets the pace with Summer. Some children are on the floor with her in the first minute. Others spend a few sessions in the same room before they are ready to touch her. Both are perfectly good starting points.
  • The therapist handles the dog. Dr. Yam is credentialed in both occupational therapy and professional dog handling, so clinical judgment and handling of the animal stay with one clinician throughout the session.
  • Every activity has a goal behind it. Brushing supports fine motor control and regulation. Walking her supports motor planning and sequencing. Every activity is chosen to support something in your child's plan.
  • Summer's comfort is looked after too. She is given regular breaks and can move away whenever she chooses, which keeps her happy in her work and makes the session a good experience for her as well as for your child.
  • It is one part of a plan. Animal assisted work usually runs alongside regular occupational therapy rather than replacing it.
  • You are welcome in the room. As you are for all of our sessions.

Is it a good fit for your child?

It suits many children wonderfully. For others, regular occupational therapy is the better path, and we are always glad to talk it through with you.

  • Often a strong fit for children who are motivated by animals, who settle more easily with a calm presence nearby, or who are ready for a fresh start with therapy.
  • Worth talking through first if your child is nervous around dogs. Many children build confidence with Summer gradually, and we plan those first introductions carefully.
  • Let us know about allergies. If there are dog allergies in your child or your household, tell us early and we will find the right approach together.
  • Always your choice. Animal assisted therapy is optional, and children who prefer to work without a dog reach the very same goals in regular occupational therapy sessions.
Come see our space

Related services

Animal assisted therapy is one part of what we do. See all pediatric therapy services for the full picture.

Child working on grasp and fine motor skills during pediatric occupational therapy in Irvine, CA

Pediatric occupational therapy

Animal assisted work sits inside occupational therapy. Fine motor skills, self-care, motor planning, and regulation are all worked on with or without Summer in the room.

Occupational therapy in Irvine
Child in a lycra swing during sensory integration occupational therapy

Sensory integration therapy

A dog is a rich source of touch, weight, and movement. For children whose difficulties are sensory, animal assisted work and sensory integration go together naturally.

Sensory integration therapy

Paying for animal assisted therapy

We are an out-of-network provider, which means we do not bill your insurance directly. Here is how we make reimbursement as straightforward as possible.

  • You receive a detailed superbill twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th, with every code your insurance needs to consider reimbursement.
  • Superbills are always available in your parent portal, so you are never waiting on us for a copy.
  • Animal assisted therapy is delivered as occupational therapy, which is generally an eligible FSA and HSA expense.
  • Many of our families do receive reimbursement. Rates vary by plan, and insurers pay families directly.
Read the out-of-network reimbursement guide

Questions parents ask

Is this the same as a therapy dog visiting the clinic?
A visiting therapy dog comes to be enjoyed, which is lovely in its own right. Here, Summer is written into a goal-directed treatment plan and handled by the occupational therapist running the session, with every activity tied to something your child is working on.
My child is nervous around dogs. Can this still work?
Often, yes. Gradual, no-pressure introductions with a calm and predictable dog are something we plan deliberately. Tell us before the first session and we will set it up so your child feels comfortable from the start.
What if my child has a dog allergy?
Let us know before scheduling. Depending on the allergy, we may recommend regular occupational therapy sessions instead, where your child works toward exactly the same goals.
How is Summer trained?
She was professionally selected, socialized, and trained for therapy work, and she works with Dr. Phoebe Yam, who is a certified professional dog trainer as well as an occupational therapist. She has been working in sessions for more than five years.
Does animal assisted therapy replace regular occupational therapy?
Usually it works alongside regular occupational therapy. Which sessions include Summer depends on what your child is working on.
How long is a session?
Sessions are typically 50 minutes. Every child is different, but most children come once a week.
What ages do you work with?
Animal assisted therapy sessions are for children ages 5 and up. Our other therapy services start at birth.
Do you take insurance?
We are an out-of-network provider, so we do not bill insurance directly. We provide a detailed superbill twice a month that you can submit for possible reimbursement, and occupational therapy is generally FSA and HSA eligible.

Come see our space

Book a tour with our clinical staff, see the space, and bring your questions. Summer works in scheduled sessions, so she is not always in the building during a tour.

Schedule a tourCall or text (949) 835-3746