Playsteps has operated in the same location in Menlo Park for over 20 years. Originally established as Fourt Therapy by Barbara Fourt, the practice was founded on the ideals of collaboration, family and the power of play. These core pillars remain the center of our practice to this day. All of our therapists work together as a team to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and their families. The combination of all of our skills, experience and diversity is what sets us apart.

Theresa Baumert

MS OTR/L Clinical Director

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Jeff Marks

Consulting Occupational Therapist
 
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Lisa Kolmanovskiy

Lisa Kolmanovskiy

MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

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Barbara Fourt

Founder

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Eric Keavney

MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

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Lucia Sanchez

Physical Therapist MS, PT, SIPT certified
 
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Our Process

Children who are referred to the clinic participate in an individually planned evaluation process to determine therapy needs. Following a parent conference, a specific treatment plan is established. Most therapy is provided on an individual basis, although at times small groups are available. We provide therapy at our well-equipped clinic in Menlo Park, expanding to on-site services at schools and preschool programs when needed.

IN-SERVICES for PRESCHOOLS

If you are a Preschool Administrator, please check out our free Preschool In-service offerings that can help your staff identify needs and support struggling children in your classrooms.

Preschool In-service flyer

(sensory processing and related motor development)

Preschool In-service flyer

(fine motor development)

Book Your Free 30 Minute Consultation Today!

PlaySteps for Developing Kids’ provides high quality pediatric occupational therapy services. Our child-centered environment enables development of sensory processing,  gross and fine motor coordination, and the many functional skills built upon these proficiencies. 
Free Consultation

Address

  • 825 Oak Grove Avenue
    Suite A102
  • Menlo Park, CA 94025

Phone

© Copyright 2021 PlaySteps for Developing Kids LLC | All rights reserved​

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Theresa Baumert

MS OTR/L Clinical Director

Theresa became Clinic Director in 2020, but her first love remains direct interaction with her young clients. A true child at heart, Theresa brings an infectious sense of joy and playfulness to her sessions. She has a gift for seeing the world through the eyes of her young clients, which is the key to her effectiveness as a licensed pediatric occupational therapist.


Theresa has had the great privilege of traveling the world with her profession, completing her undergraduate degree in OT at Curtin University in West Australia, then pursuing OT roles in England, Sweden, Canada, and Bermuda before eventually settling in San Jose with her family in 2011. In 2014 she earned her Masters in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and has since pursued advanced training in Sensory Integration, completing her certification in Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) in 2019 as well as further training on the latest EASI assessments in 2021. While sensory integration is often a key aspect of her interventions, she is also professionally trained and experienced in a wide variety of other specializations including development of the hand and handwriting and various self-regulation curriculum. She completed a level 1 mentorship at the Star Center in 2018 which reinforced to her the importance of encouraging family centered practice.


Over the breadth of her career, Theresa has come to deeply appreciate the importance of play in a child’s development. Alongside this appreciation she has also developed a knack for tuning into each child’s unique qualities and capabilities. She is passionately committed to encouraging each child to find their path to success through playful participation. As a mother of two Theresa understands and appreciates the joys and challenges of family life and works- not just with the child, but with the whole family to achieve optimal outcomes.

Jeff Marks

Consulting Occupational Therapist
Calm, patient, and empathetic, Jeff brings over 40 years of experience to our clinic, having worked with children and young adults in hospitals, group homes, home-health, schools, home-based early intervention and clinic-based settings. He graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelors of Occupational Therapy and has participated in further coursework developing his expertise in Vision Screening and Therapy, Praxis Intervention, Sensory Processing Disorders and developing Sensory Diets, Therapeutic Listening, Vestibular – Visual Training, Handwriting Without Tears, SOS Approach to Feeding, as well as autism spectrum disorders.

Jeff served for 28 years as Executive Director for a local nonprofit agency providing a family-like group home and respite care for children with physical and developmental disabilities. He provided overall leadership for the agency, while using his skills as an OT to plan the children’s developmental programs and to train the staff and volunteers. He was also instrumental in launching the Special Needs ministry in his church and continues to volunteer there weekly as another way to support children with special needs and their families.

He lives in Palo Alto with his wife, Jean. They have two adult children and more recently became the proud grandparents of two grandchildren.
Lisa Kolmanovskiy

Lisa Kolmanovskiy

MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist 

Lisa is a dedicated and compassionate therapist with a Master’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. In her previous outpatient clinical experience, Lisa has worked with a variety of children to target fine motor, gross motor, sensory processing, executive function, self-regulation, and social participation skills. She has also worked closely with speech therapists, showcasing a commitment to collaboration and respect for all levels and forms of communication. Rooted in her belief of meeting each child at their unique point of need, Lisa is a steadfast advocate of neurodiversity-affirming care, ensuring a nurturing and inclusive environment for every child she works with.  

She is currently pursuing ongoing education in sensory integration from the University of Southern California (USC). Beyond her professional pursuits, Lisa finds joy in powerlifting and spending quality time with her husband and her dog, Jojo. 

Barbara Fourt

Founder

Barbara established Fourt therapy in 1995, and the culture and tradition of quality and service that she created, lives on in Playsteps today. While she no longer sees clients, she continues to work as a mentor and valued friend of the clinic, sharing her experience and wisdom graciously and often.

Eric Keavney

MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

Eric earned his Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from California State University Dominguez Hills. Eric connects easily with his young clients, thinking outside of the box to both challenge and delight his clients to reach new heights. Eric brings a calm and methodical approach to his sessions with particular skill in managing difficult behaviors. He is uniquely able to provide the appropriate space and environment for a child to learn and progress in their sessions. Deeply curious, Eric keeps up with the latest changes in the field and is always willing to share this knowledge with parents and other therapists.

Prior to joining Play-Steps, Eric worked at Abilities United in Palo Alto, CA, and Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance, CA, providing individual and center-based early intervention, clinic-based individual and small-group therapy, social skills group sessions, and school-based occupational therapy.

He has received advanced training in sensory integration intervention including administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT), the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, the Get Permission Approach for feeding, and the Zones of Regulation framework for self-regulation and emotional control.

Lucia Sanchez

Physical Therapist MS, PT, SIPT certified

Lucia Sanchez is our resident physical therapist, bringing 34 years of pediatric experience to the clinic. She has worked in a wide variety of settings, addressing diverse challenges and diagnoses. She specializes in working with children from 0 to 12 years old, and has many years of experience in early interventions.

Lucia earned her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Duke University in North Carolina. A fluent Spanish speaker, she also holds a BA in Spanish Literature from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Lucia is interested in music and dance and brings a sense of joy and connection to her young clients. In typical times, she loves to explore various cultures through travel and can’t wait to do so again.

Deeply inspired by her work, Lucia is driven by an abiding love for all children and a desire for them to reach their full potential. She has a huge heart and cares deeply for the children and families in her care, often going above and beyond to get the job done. An extremely inquisitive person, Lucia always strives to gain a deeper understanding of her clients and applies this knowledge in her interventions.

Lucia has completed additional training in Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, and Praxis. She has a specific interest in neurology which lead her to achieve certification in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT).


Lucia offers evaluation and treatment of delays and deficits in:

• Gross motor development
• Balance and coordination
• Body awareness and motor planning
• Sensory processing and self-regulation
• Musculoskeletal development