Pediatric Occupational Therapist

The Center for Connection, founded and led by Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, is hiring pediatric Occupational Therapists to join our flagship Pasadena office. Dr. Bryson, co-author (with Dr. Dan Siegel) of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline, has helped bring the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) to a wide audience of parents and professionals alike. The Center is built on this framework, offering clinicians the opportunity to practice within a relational, neurobiologically informed model — with ongoing consultation, training, and collaboration with Dr. Bryson.

Our model brings together professionals across disciplines — mental health, speech and language, assessment, occupational therapy, and educational therapy — to support high-quality, coordinated care through close collaboration. This integrated approach lets clinicians develop thoughtful, holistic interventions that prioritize connection, regulation, participation, and each child's unique developmental profile.

About the Role

As an Early Childhood & School-Age Occupational Therapist, you will provide comprehensive occupational therapy services to a diverse population of pediatric clients. You will support children in developing the skills needed to participate more fully in daily routines, relationships, learning environments, and meaningful occupations. Within a holistic care framework, you will also provide parent and caregiver consultation and collaborate closely with the other professionals involved in each child's care.

The occupational therapists who thrive here are curious, collaborative, and relationship-centered — clinicians who view behavior through the lens of regulation, connection, and developmental needs rather than compliance. They are passionate about partnering with families, enjoy interdisciplinary teamwork, and are committed to neurodiversity-affirming care.

What You'll Do

• Provide occupational therapy evaluation, treatment, consultation, and caregiver coaching for pediatric clients.
• Develop individualized intervention plans supporting nervous-system regulation, sensory processing, interoceptive awareness, emotional regulation, executive functioning, motor development, social participation, and adaptive living skills across home, school, and community.
• Use relationship-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and strengths-based approaches that honor each child's developmental profile while promoting regulation, engagement, autonomy, and meaningful participation.
• Collaborate closely with mental health therapists, speech-language pathologists, educational therapists, psychologists, physicians, educators, and community providers.
• Support parents and caregivers in understanding their child's developmental and sensory needs.
• Attend Monday team meetings to learn, connect, and receive ongoing case consultation with experienced colleagues, including Dr. Bryson.
• Collaborate with schools and educational teams, including school observations, consultation, and IEP-related support when appropriate.

What We're Looking For

• A Master's or Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy and California licensure (or license-eligibility) as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience working with infants, children, adolescents, and families across a range of developmental profiles and support needs.
• Experience supporting Autistic children and other neurodivergent populations through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.
• A strong foundation in sensory processing, sensory integration theory, nervous-system regulation, and child development.
• Comfort supporting children with sensory differences, emotional and behavioral challenges, executive-functioning difficulties, learning differences, developmental delays, trauma histories, anxiety, and co-occurring diagnoses.
• Familiarity with Interpersonal Neurobiology and the work of Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Dr. Dan Siegel (preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with families, educators, physicians, and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• A personal and professional commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and neurodiversity-affirming care. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• A comfortable, personalized office space in Pasadena, CA.
• Continued training and support from Dr. Bryson and colleagues across a diverse range of disciplines.
• Annual continuing-education and materials funds.
• Employee benefits, including medical, disability, and life insurance.
• Clinical mentorship and interdisciplinary consultation.

Timing

We're hiring immediately for the right candidate — though we have flexibility, too. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Center for Connection is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity and equity. As we promote connection among individuals and groups, we also celebrate differences and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better we can serve our community.