Helping kids grow, one playful step at a time.
Child-led, strengths-based occupational therapy for kids across Middle Tennessee, in your home, your community, our Murfreesboro office, or by telehealth. We meet every child where they are.
What we do
Care that grows with your child
Neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy across Rutherford County, with telehealth available statewide.
Occupational Therapy
Neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based OT in your home, your community, or our office, turning your child's interests into meaningful growth.
DIR Floortime
A developmental, relationship-based approach woven into therapy, plus parent coaching so you can use Floortime at home.
Training & Education
Coaching and workshops on sensory processing, neurodiversity, ADHD, executive functioning and more, for schools, daycares, and organizations.
Occupational therapy
How occupational therapy can help
Every child is different, so therapy is built around your child's strengths and your family's goals. These are some of the areas families come to us for support with.
Supporting how your child takes in and responds to sights, sounds, textures, and movement so they can join in comfortably.
Hand strength and control for writing, drawing, buttons, zippers, and utensils.
Growing independence with dressing, toileting, brushing teeth, and getting ready.
Gentle support for picky eating and making meals feel more comfortable.
Noticing big feelings and building tools to feel safe and in control.
Coordinating the body for play, sports, balance, and everyday movement.
Focus, transitions, planning, and following multi-step routines.
Joining in, sharing, and building friendships in ways that feel authentic.
DIR Floortime
A relationship-based approach, woven into every session
DIR Floortime is a child-led approach that values, acknowledges, and builds upon three things. It promotes development and genuine connection in a way that feels meaningful to your child.
Developmental
We meet your child at their current developmental stage and build up from there, one meaningful step at a time.
Individual differences
We honor the unique way your child takes in, processes, and responds to the world around them.
Relationships
Real growth happens through warm, trusting relationships, so connection always comes first.
Cultivate Play weaves DIR Floortime into therapy with every child, and coaches parents to use it at home so connection and growth continue between sessions.
Learn more about DIR Floortime in MurfreesboroTraining & Education
Training for schools, teams, and organizations
We provide coaching and training for daycares, preschools, private schools, churches, and community small businesses. We would love to collaborate and help train your staff or volunteers.
Our approach
Gentle, playful, and built around your child
Every child develops at their own pace. Here's how we turn strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming care into a plan your family can actually live with.
Free phone consult
A no-pressure call to talk about your child and see whether we're the right fit.
Play-based evaluation
A relaxed, child-led session to understand your child's strengths and where support helps. It may include standardized assessments and parent questionnaires.
A plan built on strengths
We set goals together, around your family's routines, priorities, and your child's interests.
Grow together
Ongoing sessions at home, in the community, in office, or via telehealth, with progress you can see.
Meet the team
Kind, credentialed, and on your side
A small, dedicated practice that treats your family like part of theirs.
Alyssa Engel
OTD, OTR/L, DIR-Proficient
Alyssa started Cultivate Play, PLLC in 2024 in response to a lack of neurodiversity-affirming providers in the Middle Tennessee area. She earned a B.S. in Exercise Science and her Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She has experience across a variety of pediatric populations and specializes in neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based care, including Autism, ADHD, and PDA (Persistent Drive for Autonomy). Alyssa is also neurodivergent (an ADHDer), so she understands first-hand many of the experiences of neurodivergent children and their families. A certified DIR Floortime provider, she is passionate about home and community-based care that supports authentic, meaningful participation. She lives in Murfreesboro and enjoys crafting, the outdoors, and traveling.
Valerie Navis
COTA/L
Valerie is passionate about helping children grow through play. She believes the best therapy happens when children feel seen, heard, and excited to play. She uses a child-led, play-based approach to meet each child where they are, turning their interests into opportunities for growth. Her goal is to create a supportive, fun environment where kids can build skills, confidence, and independence, and be themselves.
What we believe
Care that honors every child
Child-led
We follow your child's lead and interests. When play feels like theirs, real growth follows.
Strengths-based
We start with what your child can do and build from there, never from a list of deficits.
Neurodiversity-affirming
We honor how your child's brain works. The goal is authentic participation, not masking.
Kind words
What families say
I highly recommend occupational therapy services at Cultivate Play! Alyssa is an extremely knowledgeable and compassionate occupational therapist,…
Alyssa is very knowledgeable and kind. She takes time to connect with our kiddo in a way no other therapist ever has! We appreciate her so much.
Alyssa has been just what our family needs. She has been a teacher, encourager, and support system to our son with ADHD. And as a parent learning to…
It feels like our family had looked in every nook and cranny trying to find neuroaffirming care for our amazing AuDHDer. So much trauma was collected…
Alyssa is fantastic! She's kind, patient, and knowledgeable about modern techniques. My daughter warmed up to her quickly too. After years of working…
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