There is nothing truer than the age-old statement “It takes a village,” especially when it comes to pediatric therapy. After all, each therapist brings their unique expertise, whether in occupational, speech, physical, or behavioral domains. Children and therapists benefit the most from a holistic approach, where therapists from different disciplines come together to share knowledge, best practices, and strategies.
Westside’s commitment to cross-disciplinary teamwork and collaboration ensures that our therapists always have access to support, resources, and knowledge from other disciplines. We have job opportunities across Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Therapy (ST), Feeding Therapy, and Counseling, and provide on-the-job training to those who are new to the field.
Why Multidisciplinary Therapy Matters
As therapists, the multidisciplinary approach is a win-win. It helps your clients receive the best possible care and it helps you gain knowledge and expertise in a range of therapeutic areas.
By involving therapists from various disciplines, children receive comprehensive care that addresses their unique needs on multiple levels. For therapists, having multidisciplinary support means that you can tap into a wealth of diverse expertise. It means that there is no shortage of fresh ideas on how to help your clients achieve their goals!
Think of all the years of school you would need to have a graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Feeding Therapy, and Counseling. At Westside, you can focus on your specialty while still benefiting from the knowledge and expertise of therapists in other disciplines.
The Westside Advantage
If you were to ask any current Westside family why they chose Westside as opposed to any other therapy provider, one of the many reasons you’d likely hear is that we house multiple disciplines under the same roof. Parents and caregivers appreciate the convenience of having their child receive all therapies from one kid-friendly provider.
The same benefits apply to our therapists!
Westside therapists have such an extensive pool of resources and brain power at their disposal. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) who are early in their career appreciate the exposure to various therapies at Westside. It enables them to explore various disciplines and make informed decisions when choosing their preferred graduate programs.
Let’s hear from a few of our therapists:
Casey Fisher, RBT to Occupational Therapist:
As an RBT I was able to constantly collaborate and learn from not only BCBAs and other RBTs but from therapists across all disciplines. I was able to recognize my clients’ strengths from multiple perspectives as well as learn about different creative tools, strategies, and activities I could incorporate into my sessions.
I feel lucky to work with such passionate people whose insights have provided opportunities for continuous learning. One of my favorite things about Westside is working with diverse therapists who value each team member’s unique contributions. This collaboration enhances therapeutic outcomes across all disciplines, benefiting clients and their families the most.
Pramay, OT to Senior Clinic Operations Manager:
Westside places immense significance on both professional development and therapeutic outcomes. Through its multi-service offerings of ST, PT, OT, counseling, and ABA therapies, Westside fosters a collaborative environment that allows therapists to learn about innovative solutions and interventions from disciplines outside of their own while ensuring that children receive well-rounded care.
Based on my personal experience with Westside, I can say the company is a leader in providing resourceful continuing education opportunities, ongoing skill enhancement through mentorship, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. I feel lucky to have enhanced the quality of services for my clients while also accomplishing many of my professional goals here.
Kendall Spreitzer, RBT to LPC:
Having the unique experience of holding professional roles as a behavior technician and counselor, I’ve witnessed the benefits and power of interdisciplinary teamwork through several different lenses. From the counseling perspective, I focus on addressing emotional, behavioral, social, and relational problems to promote a child’s overall well-being.
As much as I recognize my competencies in helping my clients achieve their therapy goals from a counseling standpoint, I also acknowledge my limitations. Fortunately, I don’t have to go too far to connect my clients with other therapies that only enhance the progress they’ve made so far in counseling. The fundamental goal of all Westside disciplines is to enhance the lives of the children and families we serve.
Cross-Disciplinary Consultation
Unlike other pediatric therapy providers, Westside has the advantage of consultation across disciplines. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), for example, can get advice and feedback from therapists in physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy who are working with the same child.
RBTs and Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) tend to focus on the behavioral aspects of a child, while considering speech, physical, and sensory needs. Occupational Therapists have a strong focus on sensory integration techniques, but may not have a background in behavior analysis. At Westside, these disciplines can collaborate to meet all of a child’s needs.
Likewise, an Occupational Therapist (OT) and a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) can co-treat to meet a child’s sensory and articulation needs. In a session, the OT may focus on fine motor skills like using scissors, while the SLP helps the child express their needs throughout the activity. In group settings, the OT supports emotional regulation and motor skills, while the SLP facilitates communication, peer interaction, and direction-following.
BCBAs aid in cross-disciplinary teamwork by offering training and consultation with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. They have a wealth of knowledge to share when it comes to behavior analysis and intervention, which helps all therapists gain the necessary tools and resources to support the broader needs of the child.
We’ve heard from therapists at other providers that they can sometimes feel “stuck”, unsure of how to help a child meet their goals. With Westside’s multidisciplinary approach, we all come together to support each other.
Careers at Westside
Westside Children’s Therapy has a variety of different career choices. Within ABA alone, our employees are encouraged to pursue advancement opportunities which include Behavior Technician (BT), Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), ABA Program Coordinator, Lead RBT, Regional RBT Trainer, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), ABA Clinic Director, ABA Regional Director, and senior leadership. We offer paid RBT training as well as a BCBA Development Program.
In addition, we support the transition from ABA into any other discipline, such as Occupational, Speech, or Physical Therapy.
Please review our current job listings and contact us with any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!
