We are currently accepting new clients

Playful Pathways therapy strives to be a play-based, strength-based therapy service. Therapy is provided in your home or in the community with the family goals as the focus of therapy.

@playfulpathwayscota

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Owner

Tonia Messmer, COTA/L

Tonia lives in Canal Winchester, Ohio with her husband, Tony and their ​kids. Rece is 19, autistic, and in his second year of college. Carmine is 17, ​Tierney is 15 and Lochlan is 13. Immediately following high school Tonia ​went to college for a degree in Interior Design. Following that, she ​become a stay at home mom and continued to do that for 13 years. ​With Rece being autistic, she was on the parent side of therapy since ​he was 2. In 2018 she decided it was time to do something different. ​She started back to school in a COTA program. It was terrifying and ​exciting but she knew she had a passion for working with kids and their ​families after feeling very alone in her journey. She graduated in 2021 ​with so much support from her family. Since then she has been working ​in pediatric home health and a sensory clinic. Through work and ​mentorship she decided to create her own journey once again and ​venture into business ownership!

Carly Miller, OTR/L

Carly Miller recently married her husband, Barry and they live with their 2 fur babies, Lu and Nash. She also just recently became an aunt! She is originally from Chillicothe, but just moved back to the area from Tennessee, where she worked with pediatrics. She got her undergrad from OSU and her MOT from Shawnee State University. In her free time Carly enjoys taking her dogs for walks, spending time with friends and family, and trying new coffee shops and restaurants in the area. She loves working with kids and helping them to reach their goals, being creative and incorporating each child’s unique interests into treatment!

Beautiful girl playing with clay for occupational therapy

In Home Occupational Therapy

45 min: $67.50

60 min: $90

We come to you to provide the services your family needs.

Group therapy with female friends

Group Therapy

6 week group: $250

Groups include sensory, handwriting, and social skills groups Don't hesitate to request a specific type of group!

Our current services

Child's Hand Resting on Father's Hand

Parenting Consultation

30 Min: $50

We can provide guidance to parents of special needs children navigating a whole new world, especially for ADHD and Autism.

EVALUATION CONCEPT

Evaluation

$250

Full evaluation based on your child’s needs including a parent education meeting to go over plan of care.

Therapy of sensory integration

In Home sensory recommendations

$200

We can help create a sensory friendly environment in your home. This includes initial consultation with parents only and write up including recommendations.

Performance Evaluation

Evaluation Review

$100

If your child has had an evaluation in the last 12 months, we can do an evaluation review to transfer services.

Payors Accepted

-Cash

-Check

-Credit cards

-PASSS funding

-HSA card

-You are welcome to use your out-of-network benefits and I will provide a super bill for you to submit. It is your responsibility to understand your insurance benefits and check what they cover.

What is OT?

When discussing occupations, we are talking about every day activities that people do that are meaningful to them. These include things that people need to do, want to do and are expected by others to do. For kids, this includes play! Occupational therapy providers help people learn or re-learn to do these things that are meaningful to the individual.

What areas do pediatric OTs address?

*Play *Self Care skills *Feeding *Motor coordination and balance *FM skills and strengthening *Core strength *Sensory processing *Emotional regulation *Visual processing and skills *Social Skills *Executive functioning *Handwriting *Parent education


And the list goes on! This list is not exhaustive and different therapists are certified, educated, and comfortable with different areas.

Phone: (614) 419 - 4005 (text/call)

Fax: (614) 845 - 5066

E-mail: tonia@ohioplayfulpathways.com

Testimonials

I have had the privilege of working with Tonia on several issues I’ve faced throughout my parenting journey. I feel I have very good maternal instincts. That being said, several of my children have had behaviors that I couldn’t identify, let alone figure out what to do about them. Tonia stepped in and has helped my family in a way only she can do. I’ve never met someone who has the ability to be so direct while showing so much compassion. I find both of these qualities so important in a medical provider. Tonia explained to me what was goin on with my child in a way that didn’t make me feel like I was failing as a mother. She provided me with clear education on the subject, made sure I understood what I can do at home to be more supportive to my child, and found resources I could keep with me when she wasn’t available. I did not realize what all occupational therapy can do until I started working with Tonia. I cannot recommend her enough for anyone that is in need of OT, or like me, needs some help with tricky parenting issues. -BF



Our entire family had an incredible experience with Tonia of Playful Pathways. She won our son over with her first visit. Her approach of bringing the parent into the “what” and “why” behind the therapy sessions gave both my husband and I both the confidence that we could continue to support our son through the week. Her experience really shows in her ability to be flexible in her execution but also firm in all the right ways so our son knew he had to at least try when presented with new challenges. She made therapy impactful AND fun! -NE


Tonia is a gem in the world of OT. It is such a vast field that I was very unfamiliar with and she explores all parts with your child and your family. She looks at the whole picture. We’ve covered sensory regulation, bedtime strategies, shifting certain stimming’s that may be harmful to a safer option, reading body communication, sibling relationships, body awareness, sensory to certain textures and etc. The list goes on and as any parent knows, with age and growth things are ever changing and developing. Tonia is there to help guide and expand my knowledge in the field. Which at large helps me create the best environment for my son and family. We just have FUN together during the therapy sessions. I can not recommend her expertise enough. -KH