Michele Parkins MS, OTR/L IMH-E®
Founder & Director, Great Kids Place
Founder, Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent Frame of Reference
Michele is an Occupational Therapist endorsed as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. She specializes in working with children and families with Sensory Processing and Integration Disorders and challenges in social-emotional development. She is also a parent of two sensory kids. She works and lives sensational kids!
Michele is a fellow of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, OTR, and recognized Sensory Treatment and Research Institute faculty, where she assisted in the design of the certification courses in Sensory Processing and Integration assessment and treatment for therapists worldwide. She is assisting with the standardization and development of the latest assessment for Sensory Processing Disorder – soon to become the gold standard for identification of SPD and supporting research. She serves on the board of the New Jersey Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association where she co-chairs the training committee creating curriculum that brings multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding mental health and early relational health.
Michele is passionate about working with families and other therapists and continues to do so as a clinician and educator. She educates therapists from all over the country and world and continues to provide consultation to schools on treatment for sensory processing disorder. Michele is leading research on the bidirectional relationship of sensory motor and social emotional experience. Michele has co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the textbook for sensory evaluation and treatment, alongside world-renowned pioneers in the field, and is currently writing a parenting book and children’s books to support parents and families in understanding the impact of sensory processing differences on social emotional capacities including family dynamics and relationships and day to day routines and activities. She hopes to help everyone – children and adults- understand their Sensory Emotional Personality style and ways to find strength and joy within them.