Angie Cross, OTR

I have been providing Occupational Therapy services for clients of all ages for 29 years, but for most of my career my passion has been serving children.  I am grateful for every child I have treated, and feel each one has given me more therapy than I have given them.  I believe every child, despite their challenges and differences, have unique talents and gifts that make them perfect for their purpose.  I love helping kids discover what makes them special in our therapy sessions.  By starting there, embracing their uniqueness, we create sessions that are infused with joy and have much greater outcomes. 

 

My journey for making arts and crafts a cornerstone of my therapy practice began in 2005 with the birth of my son Will.  Will was born with a rare disease and required frequent hospitalizations the first 6 years of his life.  It was during these hospitalizations that I discovered how art helped us find joy despite our surroundings and situation.  Through art and creativity Will was able to overcome his fear and anxiety in the hospital, and he was able to recover from the setbacks from his illness.  This experience inspired me to co-create a children's art studio, called YaYaBee, which was open from 2010-2012 in Fredericksburg, Tx. YaYaBee was a magical, creative space for kids to freely express themselves through art and get the therapy they needed.  From 2012-2014, I continued my art/therapy passion by teaching art and providing OT services in a local private school.  In 2014, I wrote and self published a book about my journey with Will, called The Butterfly Knight.  In my book, I share my story of moving from fear of losing my son to accepting his journey and my part in it.

 

For the last 9 years I have been providing OT services to children with disabilities in the home health setting, often using art in my treatment sessions to help them achieve their goals. I have served as a Lead OT and Therapy Clinical Manager, supporting other therapists as they serve children with special needs.  I am excited about my new venture as "The Artsy OT", and to share my experience of the power of art and creativity with children and the grown ups who love them.