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About Lifting Limits

Lifting Limits is an independent occupational therapy practice that offers holistic services to children 0 to 5 years old. We diagnose and treat disorders in infant feeding, neurorehabilitation (for children with neuromuscular disorders e.g. cerebral palsy, Spina bifida), and early intervention. We are committed to providing high-quality, individualizing care and empowering parents and caregivers so that they are comfortable in their abilities to help their child progress. 

Mari graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Health and Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. As a pediatric occupational therapist, she believes every child should be treated holistically, child/family-centered. She specializes in early child intervention (0-5  years old), neuromuscular rehabilitation, developmental delays, and infant/child feeding difficulties.


A child’s main occupations are to play, learn, sleep, feed, and socialize. If a child has difficulties participating in any of these occupations, Mari is determined to investigate all areas affecting a child’s participation.

 

Mari knows that there is not a one-child-fits-all therapy approach. Therefore she is committed to individualizing each treatment session and empowering parents and caregivers so they are comfortable in their abilities to help their child progress.

LEARN ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

About Maricarmen (Mari)

Specializations & Certifications 

Training in oral motor dysfunction. Bodywork to help infants/children improve body alignment for optional feeding. Tether oral Tissues (Tongue/lip ties). Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, transition into solids. Sensory processing difficulties that might be affecting feeding.

Infant & Child Feeding

Neurodevelopmental Treatment Certification

Mari is an NDT certified therapist. NDT is a holistic and interdisciplinary clinical practice used to help enhance the function of children with neuromuscular difficulties such as children with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, genetic disorder, and traumatic brain injury. Therapeutic handling is used in treatment to enhance sensorimotor processing, body alignment, postural reactions, task performance, and skill acquisition to enable children to participate in meaningful activities. To become an NDT-certified therapist clinicians need to complete over 250 hours of in-person training which includes over 60 hours of direct handling/treatment of children with neuromuscular disorders or developmental delays. Therapists who complete the rigorous coursework become NDT certified and can write C/NDT credentials in their name.

Task-Specific-Electrical Stimulation (TASES)

TASES helps children with cerebral palsy and other movement disorders activate muscles through improved sensory input and body awareness. TASES enhances movement contractions that help improve movement patterns needed for specific performance functions/tasks. Through the use of TASES in treatment, motor learning happens by engaging children in repetition of movement while ensuring proper alignment and participation in age-appropriate motivating tasks. TASES requires a skilled and trained therapist to administer it properly as each movement requires specific muscles to be activated. 

CREDENTIALS

PERSONAL LIFE

  • I am the oldest child out of four. Therefore, caring for others has always been part of who I am.

  • I love being in the water. I was probably a dolphin in a past life. You can find me at  Barton Springs on a weekly basis, doing laps during the summer. 

  • Hablo Espanol!  I am bilingual in Spanish and English.  Spanish was my first language. The hardest word for me to pronounce when I was learning English was “Quiz”. 

  • My husband and I are both from Austin. We met when we were in 7th grade. Then we went to different High Schools and remet our sophomore year of college at UT Austin. Destiny is crazy! 

  • I played soccer and ran cross country in high school. I no longer actively play soccer, but you can still find me at Lady Bird Lake running the 3-mile loop. I did once complete the Austin Half Marathon. Austin’s hills are brutal so I am not sure if I will ever do an Austin Full Marathon. 

  • My husband and I are foodies! We love to cook at home and explore restaurants around the city. However, since we are both Mexican, we are kind of picky about Mexican food. We feel like no one can compete with our mothers’ Mexican cooking. I might be biased but I really do believe that my mother’s tamales are the best I have ever tasted. 

Fun Facts About Mari, From Mari: 

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