Robyn Chu

MOT, OTR/L
Owner and Founder

Robyn Chu, MOT, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist specializing in working with children, families, and adults with Sensory Processing and Integration Dysfunction. She advocates for all people impacted by sensory processing differences to help them and others understand the impact of these challenges on meaningful participation in daily life. She believes that challenges in sensory processing lead to challenges in emotional regulation, developing and maintaining relationships, social skills, and overall mental health.

Robyn is a fellow of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, OTR, and faculty of the Sensory Treatment and Research (STAR) Institute. She educates therapists from all over the country and world on treatment for sensory processing differences. As Senior Faculty of the Sensory Therapies and Treatment Institute, she is a key opinion leader in assessment, treatment, and education related to Sensory Processing and Integration development and differences. Robyn teaches and assists in the design of the certification courses in SPD/SI, educating therapists worldwide. She is assisting with the standardization and development of the latest assessment for Sensory Processing Disorder – soon to become the gold standard for identification of SPD and supporting research.

Robyn has co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the textbook for sensory evaluation and treatment, alongside world-renowned pioneers in the field – Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D. OTR, and Sarah Schoen, PhD OTR. Partnering with research labs at UCSF and UCLA, she has co-authored 7 papers on the neuroscience of sensory processing.

Robyn is passionate about working with families and other therapists and continues to do so as a clinician and educator. She founded Growing Healthy Children Therapy Services 16 years ago and has led the company to become a passionate group of 75 therapists. She provides consultation to schools and other therapy practices. Robyn is also a consultant for companies in other industries that are interested in being more sensory-friendly, recently including a construction company. Robyn also has sensory processing differences herself and is the mother of three children, 1 of whom with sensory processing differences. She uses her real-life experiences to help her clients better understand the impact of SPD on family dynamics, relationships, and the day-to-day demands of life with sensory processing differences.

Treatment Approach

I believe in the power of play-based, client-led sensory therapy. An individualized approach where every person is celebrated for who they are, fully seen, and supported in reaching their goals.

Specialties

Sensory Processing

Publications

• Efstathios D. Gennatas, Jamie Wren-Jarvis, Rachel Powers,Maia C. Lazerwitz, Ioanna Bourla, Lanya T. Cai, Hannah L. Choi, Robyn Chu, Kaitlyn J. Trimarchi, Rafael D. Garcia, Elysa J. Marco, Pratik Mukherjee; Gray matter correlates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in boys versus girls with sensory processing dysfunction. Imaging Neuroscience 2024; 2 1– doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00076
• Wren-Jarvis, J., Powers, R., Lazerwitz, M.C. et al. White matter microstructure of children with sensory over-responsivity is associated with affective behavior.J Neurodevelop Disord 16, 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-023-09513-w
• Ramappa, S., Anderson, A., Jung, J. et al. An Observed Assessment of Sensory Responsivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Associations with Diagnosis, Age, and Parent Report.J Autism Dev Disord 53, 3860–3872 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05653-5
• Parekh SA, Wren-Jarvis J, Lazerwitz M, Rowe MA, Powers R, Bourla I, Cai LT, Chu R, Trimarchi K, Garcia R, Marco EJ and Mukherjee P (2023) Hemispheric lateralization of white matter microstructure in children and its potential role in sensory processing dysfunction. Neurosci. 17:1088052. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1088052
• Brief Report: Characterization of Sensory Over-Responsivity in a Broad Neurodevelopmental Concern Cohort Using the Sensory Processing Three Dimensions (SP3D) Assessment (2022), Maia C. Lazerwitz, Mikaela A. Rowe, Kaitlyn J. Trimarchi, Rafael D. Garcia, Robyn Chu, Mary C. Steele, Shalin Parekh, Jamie Wren-Jarvis, Ioanna Bourla, Ian Mark, Elysa J. Marco, Pratik Mukherjee
• An Observed Assessment of Sensory Responsivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Associations with Diagnosis, Age, and Parent Report (2022), Sapna Ramappa, Ariana Anderson, Jiwon Jung, Robyn Chu, Kaitlin K. Cummings, Genevieve Patterson, Nana J. Okada, Shulamite A. Green
• Editorial: Sensory Processing Across the Lifespan: A 25-Year Initiative to Understand Neurophysiology, Behaviors, and Treatment Effectiveness for Sensory Processing (2021), Lucy Jane Miller, Elysa J. Marco, Robyn C. Chu, and Stephen Camarata
• “Appendix A: The STAR Process: An Overview” Miller L.J., Chu R., Parkins M., Speilmann, V., Sensory Integration Theory and Practice 3rd Edition, Bundy A, Murray E and Lane S
• Comparing Parent Report and Direct Assessment Measures of Sensory Over-Responsivity and Exploring the Neural Architecture (2019), Teresa Tavassoli, Anne Brandes Aitken, Robyn Chu, Lisa Porter, Sarah Schoen, Lucy Miller, Yi-shin Chang, Julia Owen, Pratik Mukherjee, Elysa J. Marco
• Sensory Motor Activity Books, supporting teachers and therapists with clinical reasoning and intrinsically-motivating and developmentally-appropriate activities
• The Gardening Game: a sensory motor, interactive game for children ages 4-12

Research

• Assisted with the standardization of the Miller Function and Participation Scales
• Assisted with the standardization of the Goal Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills
• Assisted with the standardization of the Sensory Processing Measure- 2nd edition
• Assisted with the development and standardization of the Sensory Processing Three Dimensions (SP3D)

Continuing Education in

• HWTears
• DIRFloortime
• Summer Institute on Neurodevelopmental Disorders by The M.I.N.D. Institute
• Integrated Listening Systems
• Yoga Therapy for Children with Special Needs
• SOS Feeding Therapy