The Shea Center is a learning facility that takes on select students in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and mental health. Students in these fields require hundreds of clinical hours to fulfill their degree and mentorship to build their skills.
Meet Lynsey, our dynamic occupational therapy intern from Baylor University.
Her journey to Shea: “I got my undergraduate degree in health science from Cal State Long Beach, and I currently attend Baylor University in Texas, where I am receiving my doctorate in occupational therapy.
Growing up in Corona, CA, I rode horses and taught horseback riding lessons. I have always loved working with kids and horses, which led me to volunteer at a hippotherapy facility while in high school and college. During that experience, I found my love for occupational therapy, specifically hippotherapy.”
What Makes Shea Unique: “Shea is such a unique experience because I’ve had the opportunity to learn beyond the world of therapy. Adding the element of the horse adds so many benefits but also so many opportunities to learn. Everyone at Shea is always so willing to offer a helping hand or take the extra time to explain why and what they are doing. I feel so lucky to be at such an amazing and unique site!”
Favorite Client Moment: “It is so hard to choose just one moment, but overall, I have loved seeing how much the horses and their movement can impact children, specifically those with sensory needs. It is amazing how the horse can calm and help regulate the kids we see in OT sessions. Getting to see the difference a horse can make in just 45 minutes is so inspiring and truly like nothing I have ever seen before.”
Skills You’re Working On: “Because I am in a doctorate program, I complete a capstone project, which I am completing while I am at Shea. My project is looking at how hippotherapy can impact sensory processing for children diagnosed with autism. Through completing this project at Shea, I am working on my research skills as well as building my OT treatment skills.”
Favorite Shea Horse: “Auggie!”
What’s Next for You: “Next up for me is graduation! Shea is my final rotation since it is where I am completing my capstone project. I graduate on December 21, 2024, and then plan to take my licensing exam in January 2025.“
