Nurturing children and empowering parents in life’s defining moments

Autism and neurodiversity affirming services in South Orange, New Jersey

Understanding your child’s behaviors and finding customized approaches to support their development doesn’t come easily. Parents often find themselves lost as they navigate day to day challenges and deeply flawed systems of support. Whether you don’t feel equipped to help manage big emotions at home or to support your neurodivergent child’s sensory differences and regulation, Defining Development is here to help you.

Defining Development’s founder, Larissa Balik, helps children to regulate, engage, and make meaningful progress while supporting parents to reflect, build connectedness, and develop effective tools. Larissa strives to be neurodiversity affirming and meet each family’s individualized needs. She offers in-home Occupational Therapy and DIRFloortime® services for children with neurodevelopmental differences as well as remote coaching for parents of children with both neurodiverse and neurotypical profiles.

Let’s collaborate today so that you and your child can truly experience Defining Development.

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“Supporting parents to be fully present and connect with their children through playful interactions is at the heart of what I do.”

- Larissa Balik, Founder of Defining Development

Our Services

Occupational Therapy

Our in-home Occupational Therapy services are customized to support your neurodivergent child’s development through a relationship-based approach, informed by the DIRFloortime® model. These sessions are for families looking for truly meaningful results.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Parent Coaching

Our 1:1 coaching sessions are designed to answer all of your questions and equip you with the tools you’ll need to support your child and yourself. We support parents of children with all developmental profiles and abilities. You’ll find yourself on a path towards more empowered and connected parenting.

PARENT COACHING

Occupational therapist and Floortime services in South Orange, New Jersey

Meet Larissa Balik

Occupational Therapist, DIRFloortime® Provider & Parenting Coach

If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed by concerns about your child’s development or struggling to understand your child’s behavior, Defining Development is here to help. Differing from more traditional behavioral approaches grounded in neurotypical norms and ableist perspectives, Larissa focuses on nurturing relationships, fostering authentic engagement, and supporting your child’s social-emotional development.

At Defining Development, we believe that regulation is the foundation for all learning and growth. Our in-home Occupational Therapy and DIRFloortime® services focus on harnessing your neurodivergent child’s interests through a play-based approach, and our coaching services equip all parents with tools and strategies to find empowerment and connection along their parenting journey.

ABOUT

"Larissa is amazing. My child truly enjoyed working with her and improved their ability to self-regulate dramatically. What sets Larissa apart is her support and acceptance of neurodivergence. Her approach helped me as a parent accept and support my child in who they are while finding ways to function better in the world, and helped my child become and advocate for themselves. She sees each child and their gifts, then helps them shine."

— MD
"Larissa is truly amazing and our ASD 5 year old literally jumps up and down with excitement when he sees her coming. She’s also been so helpful for my husband and I in terms of how we can best support our kid. We recommend her - and her anti-ableist, connection based approach - wholeheartedly."

— RH
"We cannot recommend Larissa enough. My sons are 8 and 9 years old with very different needs and Larissa has worked with each of them. She is incredibly patient and playful. Larissa has become an invaluable support to our whole family. We can’t thank her enough for her support and partnership in our children’s development."

— KAG
"It’s very hard to find neurodivergent affirming therapists and I’m thrilled we found Larissa. Larissa has been an incredible source of support for our family. She always shows up in a positive, cheerful mood, ready and eager to fully engage with your child. My child considers Larissa his best friend and she has helped him transition so nicely into preschool. I fully trust in her care and treatment of my child and highly recommend her."

— CW
“We worked with Larissa for over half a year. She was my son’s occupational therapist and she was amazing. My son had so many limitations and as parents there were things that we didn’t know how to do. Larissa was so patient with us, she was kind and encouraging. Larissa is great at what she does and I think part of it is because she does it with love."

— YM
"My daughter's handwriting, stamina, and confidence have improved so much since she started working with Larissa! Larissa looks at my daughter's development holistically, sharing easy, fun strategies on everything from gross and fine motor skills, to emotional regulation, attention, and organization. Maybe most important, my daughter is always so excited for Larissa to come over and play! She thinks of her sessions with Larissa as playdates, so they're always a joy instead of just another appointment."

— LH
"Not only did my daughter immediately love Larissa, but she grew a trusting bond with her. It was very easy to share our concerns, and Larissa was both understanding and knowledgeable. We loved that all her recommendations were uniquely geared towards our daughter’s needs. The relationship she builds not only with the child but also the parents is so incredible, and I felt much more at ease at home. The level of support she offers to parents is wonderful – she went above and beyond!"

— LG

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