Lake Forest, Illinois
Your child's SD 67 progress report looks solid. But every night at home you're still wrestling through bath time, watching her refuse anything with buttons, and fielding calls from the afterschool program because she won't sit for snack. Lake Forest families often hear "she'll grow out of it" from well-meaning teachers. When she hasn't grown out of it by second grade, private pediatric OT can help you understand what's actually going on.
Your therapist
Laura O'Brien, OTR/L has spent more than thirty years helping north suburban families close the gap between school progress and everyday life. She works with several Lake Forest families who started by asking a simple question: "If school says he's fine, why is everything at home still so hard?" Laura teaches parents specific strategies they can use the same day, not just general advice.
That's why families stay: every session ends with a clear explanation of why your child responds the way they do and what you can do about it before the next appointment.
Last reviewed: April 2026
What parents tell Laura
These aren't behavior problems. They may point to sensory processing, motor planning, or self-regulation skills that school OT does not fully address.
Understanding your options
SD 67 serves three elementary schools and one middle school (PK-8). Related services like OT come through the TrueNorth cooperative. School therapists focus on classroom tasks: pencil grip, cutting with scissors, managing a backpack, and sitting through instruction. Goals are tied to the IEP and reviewed annually.
Getting dressed without a fight. Sitting through a family dinner. Tolerating a haircut. Joining a team sport. Managing sensory overload at the grocery store. School OT addresses educational performance only. When IEP goals are met, services end, even if home routines are still a daily struggle.
Private OT picks up where school services end. Laura works on the life skills that matter at home and in your Lake Forest community. Many families use both school and private OT because they serve different purposes.
Zoom and in-person
At 28 minutes from Des Plaines, most Lake Forest families choose Zoom as their primary format. Laura mails specific materials to your home and guides you through activities in real time. Your child practices balance exercises on a couch cushion while Laura explains why heavy work before homework often improves focus and pencil control.
Laura recommends in-person visits for initial evaluations and periodic check-ins. Your child climbs, swings, and works through obstacle courses that build motor planning and body awareness. You sit in the room, ask questions, and leave with a clear plan for the weeks ahead. The gym has equipment most homes cannot replicate.
Either way, you leave every session knowing exactly what to do between appointments.
Parent strategies
Before bath time: Let your child squeeze a stress ball or knead Play-Doh for two minutes. This deep-pressure activity activates the proprioceptive system and can reduce the sensory defensiveness that makes water, soap, and temperature changes feel overwhelming. Try it for three nights in a row.
Morning dressing battles: Lay out two full outfits the night before and let your child pick one. Remove tags from every shirt. Turn socks inside out so the seam sits flat against toes instead of pressing into skin. These small changes can reduce morning friction by removing the sensory triggers that cause the meltdowns in the first place.
Common questions
School OT through TrueNorth cooperative targets classroom skills. If your child struggles with daily routines at home, has difficulty at birthday parties or on playgrounds, or needs more sensory support than school provides, private OT can address those gaps. Many Lake Forest families use both because they cover different parts of the day.
Yes. Lake Forest is about 28 minutes from the Des Plaines sensory gym, so telehealth is the primary format for most families here. Laura mails specific materials and coaches you through activities using household items. In-person sessions are available for evaluations and when gym equipment would be especially helpful.
Community of Learners in Lake Forest offers free monthly behavioral and developmental screenings for preschool-age children. If a screening flags a concern, Laura can help you interpret those results and determine next steps. A screening result is not the same as a full OT evaluation, and Laura can explain the difference.
Getting started
Start with a free screening form so Laura can understand your child's needs. Many Lake Forest families come to Laura after a Community of Learners screening or an SD 67 IEP meeting, wondering what comes next beyond school services. Call with questions about how private OT works alongside your child's school program.