Climbing Tree Therapy

Two-Star Rating because I devoted my valuable time volunteering here for nothing and need to give a heads up to prospective volunteers....DO not waste your time! For nearly a month I drove 18-miles one way, to basically clean the office, top to bottom including the bathroom. I was there to gain experience in the field of Occupational Therapy so that I might know that this is indeed the field for me. Schools require service in the field and it's become harder to get this exposure coupled with intense competition. As a result Climbing Tree Therapy Clinic has become one of many such private clinics that uses people, hard-working students trying to do the right thing, as nothing more than salary-free housemaids. Unlike the big hospitals where I had over 130hrs volunteering in the field of PT, with a set schedule of therapists you help out and shadow, There was absolutely no structure here. In addition no background checks, no communicable disease tests or vaccinations as does most places to protect clientele (e.g., TB testing and criminal record check) considering they work primarily with children this is concerning and yet my suggestions fell on the deaf ears of the administration head.I would often show up an hr earlier than the staff with nothing to do, so I would read various books on OT. Then when staff would show up, I would hear 2nd and 3rd hand that I wasn't busy enough?!?! This place desperately needs some training on how to best use folks valuable time so that it's a positive experience all around. I just couldn't believe how badly I was treated and I was "Giving" my time, that's what a volunteer is and should be appreciated not told to go scrub a toilet because there is no proper management.

It seems like with places like this, your experience is almost entirely determined by the quality of the staff members that handle your particular child. We've been to a few places around town (Chatterbox, Indigo), and each of them, including this one, has pretty typical management. This means some decisions they make are frustrating and other aspects run smoothly.We had a wonderful therapist at Indigo who unfortunately quit. The management only gave us one weeks' notice despite having like a month's foresight, and we were left without a therapist, which is why we tried Climbing Tree. The speech therapist we were assigned here, Sarah, is dedicated, devoted, and serious about helping her patients improve. And for this experience (going on for half a year now), we're giving this place 5 stars. But be aware your mileage may vary greatly, and it is always worth exploring all your options.