Play to Thrive

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

info@play2thriveot.com

604-782-0408

194 Pemberton Avenue

North Vancouver

About

Play to Thrive is a pediatric occupational therapy clinic that provides individualized OT services to children aged 3-18 years old in the North Shore and Vancouver. Using a play-based and evidence-based approach, we are dedicated to making therapy fun, exciting, and safe for children with ASD, ADHD, DCD, FASD, PDA, global developmental delay, learning disabilities, and others. We celebrate the unique strengths of each child and incorporate these elements in our intervention to encourage meaningful engagement and joyful exploration.

Through play, we strive to support children in building the skills and confidence they need to thrive at school, in the community, and at home. Common skills that we work on include:

fine motor
gross motor
self regulation
sensory processing
executive functioning
self-care
social participation

We are family-centred and take great pride in playing an active role in supporting families as they navigate through their children’s developmental journey. We strongly believe that parents know their children best and value collaboration as we work together towards goals that are important to the child and their family. We currently offer in clinic (North Vancouver) and home/community visits.

We acknowledge with gratitude that we are privileged to provide services on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

How we can support your child

Fine Motor Skills

A child's ability to use their hands and fingers for precise and coordinated movements. Includes: printing/letter formation, number formation, colouring, cutting, drawing, and typing

Emotional & Self Regulation

A child's ability to recognize, manage, and respond to their emotions and nervous system

Gross Motor Skills

Skills that develop using large muscles of the body to perform controlled and coordinated movements. Includes: running, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing, and overall core strength

Sensory Processing

Sensory processing is the neurological process that allows the brain to receive, organize, and respond to sensory information (visual, tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, oral, and olfactory) from the body/environment. It's how we make sense of the world through our senses, influencing our behaviors and interactions.,

Interoception

Interoception is the body's ability to sense and interpret signals from within, allowing individuals to understand internal states like hunger, fullness, or pain. It's essentially an internal sense that helps us know how we feel physically and emotionally on a moment-to-moment basis

Self-care Skills

Foster independence in activities such as dressing, bathing, toileting, teeth brushing, feeding, and grooming tasks. It can also include areas such as mental health, energy management, or anything else we do to maintain our everyday wellbeing

Social Participation

Helping to understand and decode common everyday interactions, while at the same time creating enabling environments for neurodiverse individuals to use their unique communication styles and preferences. Every person communicates differently and there is no right or wrong way to do it!

Executive Functioning

A set of cognitive skills including: attention, planning, sequencing, problem solving, time management, organization, and self-monitoring

Our Team

Matthew So, (MOT), Reg. (BC) graduated from the University of British Columbia with his Bachelor’s of Kinesiology in 2019. He then went on to complete his Master’s of Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia in 2021. Matthew is a Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP) and a member of the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

Matthew discovered his passion for working with neurodiverse children and youth as a Special Olympics coach and occupational therapy assistant at private pediatric clinics. He was able to experience first hand the transformative impact of play-based therapy on the everyday participation, engagement, and connection among children. Using a relationship-focused, strengths-based, and neurodiversity affirming approach, Matthew hopes to empower his clients and their families in working collaboratively towards their personal goals. Matthew strives to cultivate a safe environment where clients can be their authentic selves and be appreciated for their own unique identity and strengths. Most importantly, Matthew strongly believes that therapy should always be fun because play is one of the most powerful tools for learning and development!

Growing up in Vancouver, Matthew has always had a fond appreciation for the outdoors and is constantly searching for the next big hike or camping trip. In his free time, Matthew enjoys running, playing badminton, and walking his cuddly cat Pebbles (featured in the photo). He is also a hockey enthusiast and never misses a Canucks game despite their lack of playoff success. Matthew is fluent in both English and Chinese (Cantonese).

Madelyn (Maddy) Walther (MOT), Reg. (BC) graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan where she completed a Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 2022. She then attended the University of Toronto where she received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree in 2025. Maddy is a member of the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

Throughout her educational pursuits, Maddy worked with children and their families in various capacities including as a supported childcare worker as well
as a behaviour interventionist. During these experiences Maddy was
able to observe the value of play in supporting children of all
abilities in their development. She recognizes the importance of
working collaboratively with families and leveraging a child’s
interests and strengths to work towards achieving their goals.

Having grown up in Pemberton, BC, Maddy continues to enjoy hiking and
skiing throughout the beautiful North Shore and Sea to Sky corridor.
When she is not spending time outdoors she enjoys reading a good book
and practicing yoga.

Fun Fact: Our awesome logo was created by a client at Play to Thrive , P.C. (6 years old)

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