Rainbow Occupational Therapy

We are a small private occupational therapy practice dedicated to helping every child reach their fullest potential and thrive in their daily lives. Our team provides personalized care that celebrates each milestone and encourages growth. Proudly serving Howard County, MD, and the surrounding communities, we’re here to support your family’s journey.

For more information, please reach out to us via email at emily@rainbowoccupationaltherapy.com.

About

Emily Braman

Emily Braman, MS, OTR/L, is an experienced occupational therapist with 14 years of practice in pediatrics. She graduated with her master’s in occupational therapy from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and art from the University of Maryland, College Park. Emily has extensive experience working with children with various medical conditions in both private practice and hospital settings, utilizing a family-oriented, collaborative, and evidence-based practice approach.

Emily spent three years at Duke University Medical Center, where she primarily worked with children in the outpatient clinic and collaborated with neurologists to support the Cerebral Palsy and Brachial Plexus clinics. Since 2013, she has been in private practice, treating children from newborns to 18 years old with developmental delays, neurological and orthopedic deficits, Autism, visual motor challenges, feeding disorders, Down Syndrome, and other medical conditions. From November 2022 to January 2023, Emily completed her hippotherapy training, and she is excited to integrate her lifelong passion for horses into her occupational therapy practice. She is delighted to have established two innovative preschool occupational therapy group programs and is eager to bring these enriching sessions to preschools in the surrounding area.

Services Offered

What is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy Session

Hippotherapy involves the strategic use of equine movement as a treatment tool by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. By integrating the movement of a horse into therapy, this approach leverages the horse's rhythmic and multidimensional movements to enhance posture, muscle strength, coordination, balance, sensory processing, and overall emotional regulation in children.

During sessions, the therapist guides the horse through various gaits and patterns, engaging the child's sensory and neuromotor systems, creating an effective and enjoyable therapeutic experience. This technique is not used in isolation but is embedded within the child's broader treatment plan and combined with play-based activities to address specific therapeutic goals.

Hippotherapy proves particularly beneficial for individuals with cerebral palsy, autism, stroke, sensory processing disorder, Down syndrome, behavioral disorders, and developmental delays. If you are interested in learning more about hippotherapy and the current peer-reviewed research on it, please click here: https://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/what-is-hippotherapy

Occupational Therapy in the Home / Community / Daycare (Individual Sessions)

Occupational therapy in the home or preschool setting offers significant benefits by allowing children to receive therapy in their natural environment, promoting comfort and familiarity. This approach reduces anxiety and enhances engagement in therapeutic activities.

At home, therapists address real-life challenges and routines, tailoring interventions to the child’s specific context. In preschool, therapy integrates with educational activities and peer interactions, fostering social skills and adaptive behaviors. This setting also enables close collaboration with parents, caregivers, and educators, ensuring a consistent and supportive approach to the child’s development, ultimately promoting greater independence and functional abilities.

We employ a child-centered approach that affirms neurodiversity. This ensures we focus on each child's unique strengths and interests to foster engagement and development.

Occupational Therapy Preschool Groups

Preschool Group

Sensory and Motor Preschool Group: This engaging sensory and motor group program at your preschool is designed to captivate young minds and bodies through a diverse array of sensory activities and motor skill development exercises in a group setting. In this group, children will explore various textures and sensations with sensory bins and tactile games. We will also incorporate auditory activities such as musical instruments and music, as well as visual activities including sensory lights and light tables. Our dynamic sessions include motor skill building exercises such as obstacle courses, motor planning activities, spatial awareness and balancing games. Understanding the vital role of the sensory system in overall regulation, our program blends play-based learning with tailored activities to promote sensory integration and development. Each session is designed to be age-appropriate for our preschool children's unique needs in a fun, nurturing environment.

Fine Motor / Handwriting Preschool Group: This wonderful program focuses on developing pre-kindergarten skills through a variety of fun and educational activities in a group setting at your preschool. Each session starts with a sensory gross motor activity followed by a hand-strengthening warm-up to get the children’s muscles ready for handwriting activities. In this group, children will work on building fine motor strength and improving bilateral coordination. They will also practice letter formation and participate in sensory, tactile, and visual-motor games. Each week, we will explore how to write two different letters using components from the age-appropriate preschool handwriting program, Learning Without Tears. Our sessions are designed to enhance essential fine motor skills while making learning enjoyable and interactive. Your child will thrive in a structured yet playful environment designed to support their growth and development, ensuring they are well-prepared for kindergarten!

If you are interested in incorporating either of these groups into your preschool program, please contact us!

Coverage

We are not in-network with any insurance providers, but we are happy to supply you with a super bill that you can submit to insurance for reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits.

Pricing for Individual Sessions

Pricing for Group Sessions

Good Faith Estimate

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage, both orally and in writing, of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

This form may be used by health care providers to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program (uninsured individuals), or individuals who are enrolled but not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage (self-pay individuals) of their right to a “Good Faith Estimate” to help them estimate the expected charges they may be billed for receiving certain health care items and services. Information regarding the availability of a “Good Faith Estimate” must be prominently displayed on the convening provider’s and convening facility’s website and in the office and on-site where scheduling or questions about the cost of health care occur.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your care will cost. Learn more here: Good Faith Estimate Notice