Author Spotlight: Cathy Collyer OTR, LMT
Cathy Collyer is an Occupational Therapist with 30 years of experience, a licensed massage therapist, and a certified sleep therapist. You can check out all of her publications here that have a strong focus on toilet training, handwriting, and functional skills. Read more about her extensive experiences as an Occupational Therapist allowing her to provide knowledge and information to help children today. Cathy has taken the time to participate in a Q&A session. Read about her extensive experiences as an Occupational Therapist allowing her to provide knowledge and information to help children today.
One of her most popular resources is the Practical Guide to Toilet Training Your Child with Low Muscle Tone and the Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child.
Other resources that Cathy has published include:
Cathy Collyer OTR Bundle
Q: First tell a little bit about yourself – job experience, years on the job, etc.
I have been an OTR for over 30 years. My career began in adult rehab and psychiatry, but I transitioned to pediatrics and then never looked back! I have treated kids in schools as well as in their homes. I love building a child’s ADL skills and sense of agency. My pediatric training includes the use of a wide variety of sensory processing treatment protocols as well as handwriting instruction and remediation. I am also a licensed massage therapist and a certified sleep therapist.
Q: What made you start to write books and other resources?
I wrote my first book because I couldn’t find useful materials for families and school staff to toilet train the hypotonic child. All of the special needs potty training books I read focused on charts and behaviors, not essential sensory and motor skills. After that book, it was easy to expand out into writing books on supporting hypermobile kids at home and school. My handout packs are an extension of the handouts I have been writing for families and educational staff throughout my career. People want clear information that they can use right away!
Q: Do you find it hard to juggle practicing OT and creating products at the same time?
I write early in the morning and then edit my writing in between appointments or at night. My books and handouts are inspired by the clinical challenges I encounter in my practice. That means that I can share my books and handouts to support carryover and they build my reputation locally and online as a specialist in these treatment areas.
Q: For all the amazing resources you have created, what is your favorite?
My book on toilet training the autistic child is my favorite, followed by my special needs toilet training handout pack. My book has a unique section on targeted pre-training. I feel very strongly that waiting for readiness is a risk; I prefer to build readiness skills in the child and the adults doing training instead! My handout pack on toilet training gives me the chance to focus on a single skill or issue at a time. Many parents and school staff are overwhelmed and need a single answer instead of a chapter to read.
Q: What is your top tip for therapists who work in pediatrics?
Harness the child’s strengths while you work on their needs. Incorporate their sense of humor, their social and emotional skills, and their unique interests to make your therapy both meaningful and fun.
Thank you Cathy! You can get a discounted price on all of her resources here.
