Helping Professionals Interview Series: Feeding Therapy with Lisa Coosman, OTR/L, MS - Part 2!

Lisa Coosman, OTR/L, MS

Lisa Coosman, OTR/L, MS is an Occupational Therapist in St. Louis bringing years of experience and expertise to families all over the St. Louis region.

We originally interviewed Lisa in March 2020 about the feeding therapy she provides for St. Louis families - you can read all about it here.

Now Lisa and her team are celebrating their 20th anniversary, so we reached back out to see what Lisa has been up to.

What interested you about becoming an Occupational Therapist? 

I always knew I wanted to do something in the helping fields. I really love the idea that as an OT we are helping people with the things that are important in their lives. We work on functional goals that improve a person's ability to engage in their daily activities in a meaningful way. I also love the creativity involved with being an OT and thinking outside the box to find ways to that will improve function for our clients. 

What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

My favorite thing about being an OT is the connections with our kids and families. That is something I really value and enjoy on a daily basis. 

How do you know your picky eater needs feeding therapy?

It is typical that children go through stages of being picky eaters. It is important to look at the foods they are eating over the course of 2-3 days. Therapy might be beneficial for your picky eater if:

• Mealtimes are stressful for your family

• Your child is eating less than 30 different foods

• You find yourself fixing a different meal for your child for every meal

• Your child gags or vomits when presented with new or disliked foods

• Refuses a group of foods that have the same texture

What can parents and children expect from a feeding therapy session?

Therapy space at Leaps & Bounds

It all depends on the child. It is recommended to start slow and predictable to help the child gain confidence and keep their arousal level at an optimum level for learning and attention. It is important to let the child have a sense of control an understanding that the therapist will not push or make them go beyond their level of comfort. The first goal is often to just have mealtimes/ table time be a positive experience. The expectation might be that the child can play and engage with foods presented and not necessarily bring them to the mouth or eat them. 

What is one thing you wish people knew about feeding therapy?

That is takes time and we should celebrate each small achievement. Feeding therapy is often a slow process and can create a lot of stress in a family.  As parents, we just want our kids to be happy and healthy and the food they eat/ don't eat can significantly impact that. We love to celebrate ALL of the little steps toward expanding a child's food repertoire. 

What do you like to do when you are not working?

I love being outside and spending time with my family. I also enjoy live music and go to concerts any chance we get. 

How can parents contact you?

Parents can call our office at 636-928-LEAP(5327) with questions.

We are always happy to do a complimentary consultation with parents to help them determine what is the best course of action for their family. 

Curious to learn more? Wondering if your child could benefit from anxiety therapy or if you need to look at reaching out to an Occupational Therapist?  Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based resources, like Lisa!

Curious to learn more about therapy at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families by offering both in-person counseling and online therapy throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. We also provide online therapy Missouri -wide to teens and college students. You can set up your first free consult on this website, on our consultation page.