Laura Park Figueroa
Nature-based pediatric occupational therapist, founder, researcher, and business coach
Madison, Wisconsin
Summary
Nature-based pediatric clinician and founder: Dr. Park Figueroa founded Outdoor Kids OT in 2015 and continues to lead a multi-state, outdoor pediatric occupational therapy practice offering group and individual services using the ConTiGO approach to help children build coordination, confidence, and connectedness to self, others, and nature. outdoorkidsot+1
Entrepreneur and business coach: She built Therapy in the Great Outdoors to provide resources, coaching, and community enabling pediatric therapists to start and scale profitable nature-based practices, and she offers courses, mentoring, and a membership community to support practitioners in the business and practice of outdoor therapy. therapyinthegreatoutdoors+1
Researcher and model developer: Through doctoral research at Texas Woman's University she developed and published the Ecology of Change in Outdoor Therapy (ECO-Therapy) Model describing potential mechanisms of change in nature-based pediatric occupational therapy, contributing peer-reviewed scholarship to the field. nih+1
Educator and trainer: She codified clinical methods into the ConTiGO Approach and has trained practitioners worldwide through certification programs, workshops, podcast episodes, and an online community to increase access to high-quality nature-based pediatric therapy. outdoorkidsot+1
Work
Education
Projects
Writing
Mechanisms of Change in Nature-Based Pediatric Occupational Therapy: The Ecology of Change in Outdoor Therapy Model
January 1, 2024Qualitative constructivist grounded theory study developing the ECO-Therapy Model describing six iterative phases that may explain mechanisms of change in nature-based pediatric occupational therapy based on interviews and photos from practitioners.
Nature-Based Occupational Therapy for Children With Developmental Disabilities
January 1, 2020A practice-focused article describing the use and evidence for nature-based occupational therapy to support play and participation for children with developmental disabilities.