Intensive Therapy in Irvine for Neurodivergent Children
Our Spring, Summer, and Winter Intensive Therapy Weeks are short, focused programs that happen during school breaks and are designed to help your child keep growing and building skills while school is out. These intensives are led by our team of licensed occupational therapists, certified occupational therapy assistants, speech therapists, and feeding specialists. Each week is tailored to your child’s unique goals and includes daily morning therapy sessions that focus on social participation, sensory processing, motor skills, feeding, self-care, emotional regulation, and more. The work your child does in these intensives reinforces progress, supports regulation and coordination, and helps strengthen confidence and independence. Sessions are offered in supportive small groups with individual focus when needed, and space is limited so every child gets the attention they need
Spring Break Intensive Therapy 2026
Join us for an inclusive and engaging spring break camp designed for neurodivergent kids at the clinic! Empower your child in a supportive environment with fun activities tailored to their needs. Register now for an unforgettable and enriching experience!
Summer Intensive Therapy 2026
A vibrant blend of engaging activities crafted to enhance social skills, sensory experiences, motor development, and beyond! Our carefully curated program offers an immersive and supportive environment where children explore a diverse range of activities, from interactive games to hands-on exercises, fostering holistic growth. Through a mix of fun-filled sessions, we focus on nurturing social interactions, refining sensory responses, and honing motor skills, empowering every child to thrive in a dynamic and inclusive setting.
Winter Intensive Therapy 2025-2026
Warm up your child’s winter break with our inclusive and engaging winter camp designed just for neurodivergent kids! Through cozy, play-based activities, social games, and sensory-friendly fun, children will build skills and confidence in a supportive setting. Join us for a week of connection, growth, and winter-themed adventures!
Intensive Therapy
Finding the right therapy support can feel overwhelming, especially when your child needs more than a once a week session. Many families reach out to us because they know their child is capable of growth, but progress feels slow or inconsistent with traditional therapy schedules.
Our intensive occupational therapy program in Irvine is designed for neurodivergent children who benefit from frequent, consistent, and relationship based support. This approach allows children to build skills faster while feeling safe, understood, and respected throughout the process.
We serve families throughout Irvine, CA and nearby Orange County communities who are looking for meaningful change, not just check the box therapy.
What Is Intensive Occupational Therapy?
Intensive occupational therapy is a structured program where a child receives occupational therapy multiple times per week over a shorter period of time. Instead of spreading progress out over many months or years, intensive occupational therapy allows skills to build through repetition, consistency, and deeper connection with the therapy team.
This model supports how children actually learn. Skills develop best when they are practiced often, in a regulated state, and with a therapist who truly understands the child.
Intensive occupational therapy focuses on the whole child, including sensory processing, emotional regulation, motor skills, executive functioning, and daily life participation. The goal is not to push children harder. The goal is to support them more effectively.
Who Intensive Occupational Therapy Is For
Intensive occupational therapy is often a good fit for children who:
- Are neurodivergent, including autistic children, children with ADHD, sensory processing differences, or PDA profiles
- Struggle with emotional regulation, transitions, or anxiety
- Have difficulty with fine motor or gross motor skills
- Experience frequent meltdowns or shutdowns at home or school
- Have plateaued with weekly occupational therapy
- Need support to participate more fully in school, social settings, or daily routines
Families often tell us they feel like their child is working so hard, yet daily life still feels challenging. Intensive occupational therapy can help bridge that gap by providing the level of support many children truly need.
How Intensive Occupational Therapy Is Different From Weekly OT
Weekly occupational therapy can be helpful, but for some children it is simply not enough.
With once a week sessions, children may spend a large portion of the time re regulating, reconnecting, or transitioning into therapy. Progress can feel slow because there is limited opportunity to build momentum.
Intensive occupational therapy offers:
- More frequent sessions, allowing skills to build week to week
- Deeper therapeutic relationships, which increase trust and engagement
- Faster carryover of skills into daily life
- A more individualized and responsive therapy plan
- Instead of starting over each week, children stay in a skills learning rhythm that supports real progress.
How Often Do Intensive OT Sessions Occur?
Our intensive occupational therapy programs typically include multiple sessions per week. The exact schedule is individualized based on the child’s needs, stamina, and family routine.
Some children attend therapy three times per week, while others may attend four or five days per week for a defined period of time. Session length and frequency are carefully considered to ensure children remain regulated and engaged.
We prioritize quality over quantity. The goal is not to overwhelm children, but to provide enough consistency for skills to truly stick.
What Goals Families Typically See
Every child’s journey is unique, but families often report improvements in areas such as:
- Emotional regulation and flexibility
- Sensory processing and body awareness
- Confidence in movement and play
- Fine motor skills like handwriting or self care tasks
- Attention, organization, and follow through
- Reduced anxiety and fewer daily power struggles
One of the biggest changes parents notice is not just new skills, but increased ease in daily life. Mornings feel smoother. Transitions feel more manageable. Children feel more confident in their own bodies.
What a Typical Day or Week Looks Like
A typical intensive occupational therapy week includes structured sessions balanced with child led play, movement, and regulation support.
Sessions may include:
- Sensory based activities to support regulation
- Motor planning and coordination work
- Play based challenges that build executive functioning
- Fine motor and visual motor tasks
- Support for transitions and emotional flexibility
Therapy is never about forcing compliance. Children are supported through connection, curiosity, and respect. Our therapists follow the child’s lead while intentionally guiding skill development.
Between sessions, families are often given simple strategies that can be used at home to support carryover in a realistic way.