Letha Marchetti OTR/L, C/NDT, SEP
Neurodevelopmental Specialist
Whether the issue is a difficult birth, sensory processing issues, anxiety, PTSD, or a neurological insult such as a brain injury, stroke, or Parkinson’s, one thread runs through my treatment. This is setting up the nervous system for success.
Trauma Recovery Specialist
PTSD, anxiety, accident, or something else? I’ll work with you, teaching your system how to respond effectively to stress and overwhelm.
My clients and I are in agreement with Peter A. Levine, “Trauma is a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence.”
Speaking and Consultation
We are seeing a significant increase in learning and behavior challenges these last several years. Sensory issues have become commonplace. Let’s change this!
I’m pleased to craft a presentation to meet your needs. When I work with preschools; an observation of their classrooms with videos, and chats with teachers allow me to meet the particular needs seen. Staff are then able to watch the children they work with as I clarify motivations behind behavior. This has proven most productive for teachers. Bring life changing, leading edge, scientifically based, training to your group. Letha offers:
Keynote addresses
Inservice training
Seminars
Guest lectures
Radio and TV appearances
“This is so nice. This is where I want to bring my son, not some business building.
He’ll love this!”
Letha helps transform the effects of disabling experiences into life changing inner strengths
Growing bodies and overwhelmed nervous systems need support to gain self-control. I bring decades of experience and specialization. Working together we can achieve great things.
“Letha is one of those people you wish you’d met sooner – because you know your life would have been better sooner. She changed our families lives when we first brought our daughter to her. In less than a month of sessions with Letha, our daughter who hadn’t slept through the night in 4 years straight was successfully sleeping through the night consistently. Since that time, as an Occupational Therapist that specializes in trauma recovery of all kinds, she’s been the most amazing partner to our family. She’s acted as a resource and a pillar of support on our journey through Sensory Processing Disorder, Emotional Dysregulation, and even helped my father recover from the trauma of open-heart surgery.
Letha is very sharp, and extremely graceful at communicating her work to skeptical and science based significant others, as what she does IS based in neuroscience. She’s emotionally aware, and acts as healer for BOTH her clients, and the care providers of her clients, so that everyone is supported. She provides concrete tools to help care providers improve the lives of their charges and themselves. Her approach is different, in that she will work with her clients to expand their neural capacity to handle stress, instead of trying to numb them to that stress. I recommend Letha with the highest possible regard.”
When a Child is Out-of-Control
Uncomfortable in his
or her own skin
Easily overwhelmed
Struggling to focus
You’re Not Alone. I’m Here to Help!
Have you ever noticed how some people have a fabulous ability to grow things? Their garden thrives because they have a basic understanding of plants.
Wouldn’t it be great if parents had a basic understanding of developmental neurology so their children could thrive? You can have this.
The sooner we start, the easier it is for a child’s system to develop healthy neurological patterns.
If your child had a difficult birth, was adopted, or doesn’t seem to be doing well, contact me and let’s turn things around. Let’s help your child bloom.
Unsure of the next step?
You are welcome to call me. Let’s talk about the situation and see if you are comfortable with me. This is the first step in my evaluation process and the call is free.
Disabilities
Arthritis
COPD
Parkinson’s
Frozen shoulder
CVA (stroke)
… and more
Pediatric Issues
Autism
Sensory
Behavior
Developmental
Cerebral Palsy
ADD / ADHD
Testimonials
“I was at the convention last week. This is so exciting! I’ve been doing what you taught and it really works. I can’t wait for your book to come out!” J.T.
“Thank you. I’m excited about teaching again. This has been a real help!” B.R.
“We can see [our boy] going into kindergarten. I think he’ll do well, thanks to this work with you.” M.G.
“He sits through circle time now!” K.M.
“This is such a relief. [Child’s name] is bright and I didn’t understand that the problem is neurological. Knowing there is something I can do changes everything.” B.B.
“I wish I had known this earlier. This makes so much sense!” C.D.
“Great Presentation!”
“The speaker was very helpful and the way she talk with a soft voice and gentle way to ask people to try things”
“It was a great presentation.”
“The presenter was very clear and presented the information in an interactive way.”
“Great information, and usable! ”
“Was great. Liked the speaker.”
“Very informative :-)”
“Need to hear more from her. Amazing!!”
“Great workshop. Very useful
and resourceful information”
“Great inservice. Have more like this.”
“LOVE it!!!”
“Really interesting”
“Great day! Great ideas. More energized!”
“Thank you for inviting this speaker”
“This is information I was hoping to get”
Thank you!”
“She’s not crying on and off during class anymore.” C.S.
“He’s like a different boy!” N.R.
“Thank you for your workshop.”
“I didn’t think it would work – and it did!” J.S.
I thought of so many children
as you spoke. I put your ideas
to use, and they work! K.W.
About Letha
What’s with all the initials?
OTR means I’ve completed the educational requirements to become on Occupational Therapist (OT), passed the national examination to become registered (R), and become licensed (L) to practice in California.
C/NDT means I’ve completed additional training to become certified (C) in Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT). This is one of my areas of specialization.
SEP stands for Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. This is a specialization in trauma recovery.
Sometimes I tell people the extra initials are because my name was too short. Actually, they are there, through years of study, because I want to really help people be who they were created to be.
“The trauma work you do is so powerful. I’m changed on the outside – the way I carry myself, the way I move. I feel a shift inside, but a friend I hadn’t seen in 3 months said, ‘What are you doing? You look beautiful!’” A.E.
“Having had an excellent experience with Letha for some shoulder therapy, I found her to be conscientious and very informative as well as skilled in occupational therapy. Relationally, I felt immediately at ease and trusted her expertise.”
Tish H.
“Exceptional therapists are rare, those who are experienced, skillful, understanding, intuitive and resourced. Letha Marchetti is that one person you have been searching for and whom you’ll be so very grateful to have found!
She’s clear, on-point, kind, helpful and gifted in her hands on work as well as her heart-centered advice, in her work with both children and adults. I highly recommend her to any and all who want only the absolute best occupational therapist and/or support therapist for themselves or their special children.”
In Response to School Shootings
After being in contact with families of those involved in the Texas school shooting, it seems useful to put some supportive information here.
The emotions of overwhelm, the whole trauma of the incident, are interwoven with the loss of friends. While grieving looks much like trauma, there are distinct differences. You may find my post about grief helpful: http://www.occupationaltherapy-letha.com/2014/11/grief/
But what about the near-death experience? The child needs to process this. We are tempted to think talk is the key. In reality, when the horrible thing happened, the body had a lot of responses. The heart may have raced, along with respirations and hormonal release. Muscles prepared to run or fight. Or perhaps the opossum response of freeze kicked in, and everything began to shut down. In some situations, this is the best way to preserve life. What ever response the body went to, it was its best resource at the moment.
The body’s physical response needs to be processed in full. Fear is not a thought. It is tightening of muscles, change in heart rate and respiration, and other physiological responses. For example, if the preparation to run was completed as the child ran from the school to the safe arms of a parent, the “run for your life,” response may be completed.
There is still the body’s response loud bangs, a person wearing a trench coat, and numerous other sensory components.
We don’t get better by hearing more bangs until we are used to them. We process the pieces of life, bit by bit, finding safety each time.
There is a tremendous resource, Peter A. Levine’s book, “In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.”
The next column has some helpful guidelines for supporting your loved one.
• Slow down. Your loved ones are processing a lot. Give them time to do it at their own rate. Visual activities like puzzles, embroidery, and “I Spy” games send signals to the alert centers of the brain indicating safety and that it is time to calm.
Your loved one may be snippy with you for no apparent reason, or loose his or her typical composure very easily. The whole system is stressed.
• Let your compassion rise to the surface. Notice what your loved one is enjoying. Is it reading, taking long walks, jogging (maybe processing that running response)?
Add more opportunities for doing what works for them. The body has a marvelous wisdom. If delving into video games is the response, I caution that the addictive nature of video games will bring relief for the moment but ultimately, dependance on the game. A better approach would be books.
• Be aware that something unknown may trigger a traumatic response. It could be seeing a police car or hearing a scream of a certain pitch. The person who was triggered may not even know why their body is suddenly so upset. Be present and let the person know they are safe.
• Get professional help. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I have years of education in trauma recovery as well as my own experience. Give me a call. Things can improve.
Attachment
The connection you have with your child is made subconsciously. You can support it consciously.
Check this out…
Exciting things in the Works
Institute of Neurobehavior
I’m working on inexpensive online education for teachers who want to understand their children’s behavior and clients who want to gain more understanding of human behavior.
Dragons & Daisies: Keys to Resolve Baffling Behavior in Early Childhood Education
Here is help for:
• Meltdowns & Tantrums
• Biting
• Overwhelmed Children
• Sensory Based Behaviors
• Chewing on Clothing
• Bumping into People and Things
This book offers:
• Clear scientific explanations of children’s behaviors
• Tools you can use
• Knowledge to support developing children to succeed
Check out the reviews on Amazon!
The best way to reach me
is by phone
Call or text
If I’m not available, I’ll get back to you at my next break
OTLetha@gmail.com
Call or Text
415 640 1288
Address
45 Bellevue Ave
San Rafael Ca 94901
USA