Question 1

How is therapy at POTS different?

Accepted Answer

We treat the whole child, not just the diagnosis. Our therapists take time to understand your child's unique strengths, challenges, and goals. We use evidence-based, skilled interventions customized to your child's needs—not cookie-cutter approaches. We also emphasize parent partnership. We spend time with you teaching strategies for home, collaborate with your child's school, and work as a team to help your child thrive across all environments.

Question 2

How do I know if my child needs therapy?

Accepted Answer

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are some signs that therapy might help. These include difficulty with motor skills (crawling, walking, climbing), challenges with fine motor tasks (buttoning, coloring, using a spoon), eating a variety of foods, speech or language delays, sensory sensitivities, trouble with coordination or balance, or difficulty with transitions and self-regulation. If you’re concerned about any area of your child’s development, we recommend starting with a conversation. Book a 15-minute phone consultation to explore your observations with an experienced occupational or speech therapist. There’s no pressure to commit to therapy.

Question 3

What does therapy cost?

Accepted Answer

We keep our rates as affordable as possible. Please contact us directly for current pricing, as costs vary based on the service and length of session. Many families have out-of-network insurance benefits that allow them to submit claims for reimbursement.

Question 4

Will you give me strategies for home?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Carryover is crucial—the skills your child learns in therapy matter most when they're practiced at home and school. We spend time at the end of sessions teaching you strategies, answering questions, and helping you understand what your child is working toward. Over time, you'll have a personalized "toolkit" for supporting your child throughout their day.

Question 5

When are you open?

Accepted Answer

We're open Monday through Friday, 8 am-8 pm, and Sundays, 10:00 am-5:00 pm, with some flexibility during the summer for vacations and camps. Each therapist maintains their own schedule, so we work to find times that fit your family.

Question 6

Do you communicate with my child's school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With your permission, we collaborate with your child's teachers and school team. We share strategies, provide recommendations for classroom modifications, and coordinate goals so that therapy and school support work together. Strong home-school-clinic partnerships lead to the best outcomes.

Question 7

What does an evaluation look like?

Accepted Answer

An evaluation is designed to get to know your child and understand their strengths and challenges. It typically lasts 30 minutes to two hours and includes a mix of play-based activities, structured assessments, and clinical observations. Your therapist will watch how your child moves, communicates, problem-solves, and interacts. For younger children, much of this looks like play; many kids leave asking when they can come back to play! We’ll also spend time talking with you about your concerns and priorities for your child.

Question 8

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

POTS is an out-of-network provider. We don't bill insurance directly, but we provide detailed statements (superbills) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Many families receive 50-80% of their therapy costs back through their plans. We recommend checking with your insurance company about your specific out-of-network coverage before your first visit.

Question 9

What's the difference between OT, PT, and speech therapy

Accepted Answer

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping your child participate in daily activities—self-care, play, learning, and social activities. We address fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, and life skills. Physical Therapy (PT) focuses on movement, strength, coordination, and balance—helping your child safely access their environments. Speech & Language Therapy addresses communication, language, swallowing, and feeding concerns. Many children benefit from more than one service, and our therapists collaborate closely.

Question 10

Do you have a waiting list?

Accepted Answer

We prioritize one-on-one care with experienced therapists, so availability varies. After-school and weekend slots are especially popular. If you have flexibility in scheduling, we can usually accommodate you more quickly. Contact our office manager at office@potsot.com. (office@potsot.com.)We'll work with you to find the best fit for your family.

Question 11

Do you offer home visits or school observations?

Accepted Answer

School observations can usually be arranged to better understand how your child functions in that environment. Home visits are limited due to travel and scheduling constraints, but we focus on in-clinic sessions where our specialized equipment best supports progress. We're happy to discuss what might work for your situation.

Question 12

Is there a way to get my in-network provider to cover therapy at POTS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there may be. Some insurance plans offer an "in-network gap exception" or "single case agreement" that allows them to reimburse out-of-network providers under certain circumstances. This typically requires your pediatrician or another provider to request an exception and demonstrate medical necessity. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to ask if this option is available for your plan, and whether POTS can be covered as an exception. Your pediatrician can also help advocate for this with your insurance company. While it's not guaranteed, it's worth exploring if you have in-network coverage.

Question 13

What happens after the evaluation?

Accepted Answer

At the end of the evaluation, or in a follow up phone call, the therapist will collaborate with you to determine if your child will benefit from therapy, how frequently therapy should take place, and how long the session should be. Together you will decide on the goals for therapy.

The front office will follow up with you to schedule a session.

Question 14

How often will my child come to therapy?

Accepted Answer

This depends on your child's needs and goals. Most children benefit from 1-2 sessions per week, though some may need more intensive support initially or less frequent sessions once progress is solid. Your therapist will make a recommendation based on the evaluation and will revisit this regularly. Generally, more frequent therapy early on leads to faster progress.

Question 15

What is your policy regarding attendance and cancellations?

Accepted Answer

We ask for 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Regular attendance is important for meaningful progress. If your child is sick, please cancel rather than come in—we want to keep all our families healthy! If there are frequent or extended absences, we may need to revisit your appointment slot. We work with you to find a schedule that works for your family.

Question 16

How long will my child need therapy?

Accepted Answer

That varies for every child. Some children might need a few months of focused intervention, while others benefit from ongoing support. What matters is progress—as your child improves, we adjust frequency and intensity accordingly. Your therapist will keep you in the loop and discuss goals regularly so you always understand where you're headed.

Question 17

How many sessions will my child need per week?

Accepted Answer

Typically children come once or twice a week for 45 minutes, but more or less may be recommended based on the results of the evaluation or screening.

Question 18

Am I allowed to stay in the room during the evaluation and therapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. You know your child best, and you’re welcome to join the sessions. We do ask that you sit quietly to give the therapist an opportunity to build rapport with your child. If you prefer to observe from outside, our evaluation rooms have one-way mirrors. Either way, at the end of an evaluation we’ll spend time going over our findings and discussing next steps.

We strongly encourage parents or grandparents to sit in on therapy sessions, to monitor your child’s progress at home/school and learn strategies and techniques to use at home. If that’s not practical, we urge you to join the session for the last 10 minutes so that the therapist can convey important follow up information.

Question 19

Will you refer me to other professionals if needed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We treat the whole child and aren't afraid to make referrals when we think your child would benefit from additional support whether that's a speech therapist, pediatrician consultation, developmental psychologist, or another specialist. You're always in control of decisions, but we share our clinical impressions honestly.

Question 20

How do I submit a claim to my insurance?

Accepted Answer

We'll provide you with a paid statement after each session. You obtain an insurance claim form from your insurance company, complete it, and submit it along with our statements to your carrier. The claim address is on the back of your insurance card. We're happy to answer questions about the superbill, but insurance companies handle their own claims processing.

Question 21

What’s the difference between a POTS screening, evaluation and comprehensive evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Screening:  30 minutes of a FaceTime with an evaluating therapist to explore one targeted area of concern, such as reaching a developmental milestone, handwriting, or self-regulation. There is no report is generated for screenings.

Evaluation: 45 minutes of FaceTime with an evaluating therapist to explore either feeding or 2–3 areas of concern, such as fine motor skills, core weakness, and hypersensitivity to sound and touch. A written report will be available within six weeks.

Comprehensive evaluation: 90 minutes of FaceTime with an evaluating therapist to explore either feeding plus another area of concern (such as sensory processing) or 4–5 areas of concern (such as handwriting, core weakness, poor body awareness, and executive function). A written report will be available within six weeks.

We'd be happy to help you determine which option is best for your child!

Question 22

How can I get my school district to cover the services?

Accepted Answer

If you'd like your school district to cover POTS therapy services, start by contacting your child's case manager or the special services department with your request. If they approve, they'll issue a purchase order. Once we receive that, you can schedule your child's evaluation and sessions with us. We're experienced in working with school districts and happy to help guide you through the process.

Question 23

Can I wait to see if my child catches up?

Accepted Answer

Early intervention is powerful. When children struggle with communication, movement, sensory, or self-regulation challenges, early support can make a significant difference. Waiting often means children miss critical developmental windows and may fall further behind. Many children don't outgrow these challenges on their own, and ongoing struggles can lead to secondary effects like low confidence or behavioral concerns. If you're wondering whether your child needs support, it's worth exploring.

Question 24

How long will my child need OT?

Accepted Answer

We wish we could answer that question! Length of treatment depends on numerous variables including the child’s age, the child’s strengths, scope and complexity of the problem, and frequency of attendance, to name a few. In my experience I have found that when therapy is indicated twice a week, children who come twice a week generally improve more than twice as fast as children who have therapy once a week. We can not predict in advance how rapidly an individual child will respond to treatment, but as a rule of thumb, when the child is improving rapidly, that is the time to provide more therapy, rather than back off.

Question 25

Does my child need a prescription from their doctor?

Accepted Answer

No, a prescription is not required in NJ, Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists are licensed professionals and can evaluate and treat your child independently. However, if you have a prescription or medical diagnosis, we can use that to help with insurance claims. We encourage you to bring it along if you have one.

Question 26

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash, checks, and credit cards. Payment is due at the time of service. If your child comes with a caregiver other than a parent, you can submit payment over the phone the same day.

Question 27

Once I decide on therapy, how do I get started?

Accepted Answer

1. Contact us at 201-837-9993 or office@potsot.com to book an appointment.
2. Fill out the intake forms (https://www.potsot.com/pots-forms)and standardized sensory processing questionnaire at least three business days before your appointment. We use your intake information to design just the right evaluation process to target your child’s strengths and challenges
3. Bring your child in comfortable clothes, ready to play!

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