FREE Community Workshop for Brain Awareness Week

SANTA MONICA, CA (February 14, 2013) – In recognition of National Brain Awareness Week (March 11-17) and Autism Awareness Day (April 2), local occupational therapist Dr. Kari Thompson kicks off the celebration with free workshops on the latest brain research and its benefits to youth.Dr. Thompson, owner of OT 4 Kids & The Therapeutic Learning Center, will be offering 4 FREE community workshops for parents and teachers. The workshops focus on “Whole–Brain Learning” and cutting edge “Re-Training the Brain” programs available to improve a child’s brain functioning and neuroplasticity up to 3.6 years in just 12 weeks.

What: Improving Neuroplasticity by Re-Training the Brain for School Success

When: Saturday, February 23 – 11:00 a.m. 

Where: OT 4 Kids & The Therapeutic Learning Center

1932 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Who: Classroom teachers and families with children ages 6-18 are welcome to attend.

Cost:  FREE! Space is limited. RSVP to ot_4_kids@yahoo.com

With more children today being diagnosed (and misdiagnosed) with ADD, ADHD, Autism and learning disabilities, Kari Thompson shares the latest research and programs available to help struggling children not only get through their school day, but also thrive and rise to the top of their class! She says, “Children don’t have to suffer because they are having difficulty in school. All too often, their confidence drops as a result and it can create an unnecessary downward spiral that sometimes kids never come out of. Our programs’ success proves that it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Practitioners like Dr. Kari Thompson have seen a dramatic increase in referrals from pediatricians, health-care professionals, and teachers due to children struggling in school. “As more professionals and parents are becoming aware of children’s difficulties and what can be done to help them through Re-Training the Brain, they are seeking out methods beyond what traditional tutors and public schools can typically provide. Parents frequently prefer not to put their children on medication, as it doesn’t ‘fix’ the problem. It merely masks it, and often children remain on medication for the long term. In contrast, Re-Training the Brain helps to fix underlying causes, often eliminating the need for medication.”

Those who could benefit from attending one of Kari Thompson’s FREE workshops include those with children who:   

* have poor attention to tasks or difficulty sitting still

* seem smart, but don’t earn appropriate grades

* work too hard for their grades or avoid work that is challenging

* spend too much time on school work or homework

* skip words or lines or misread words while reading

* have poor spelling, math, reading, reading comprehension, or writing abilities

* have difficulty following directions and listening

* have a diagnosis of Autism, Aspergers, ADHD / ADD, Gifted (2-E), PDD, Auditory Processing Disorder, Executive Functioning Disorder, etc.

Parents and teachers won’t want to miss this FREE opportunity to learn more about the amazing benefits available to improve their child’s brain functioning and overall success!

About OT 4 Kids, Inc. & The Therapeutic Learning Center:Founded in 1999 by Kari Thompson, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, OT 4 Kids, Inc. & The Therapeutic Learning Center bases its work on the philosophy that, with proper intervention that meets each child’s needs, all children can thrive. Based on decades of clinical experience, OT 4 Kids conducts comprehensive evaluations and treatments for children ages zero to 18 that are state-of-the-art, evidence-based, and individualized.

Kari Thompson is a licensed Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Educational Consultant. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and is one of eight occupational therapists in the state of California that is AOTA Board Certified in Pediatrics. Dr. Thompson has extensive experience working with children in all settings, and she lectures locally, nationally and internationally.