Occupational Therapists
Pamela Mears, OTR/L
Pamela (Pam) Mears is a graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University. She received her BS degree in Occupational Therapy . Pam’s experience as an Occupational Therapist began when she accepted a position working in adolescent psychiatry. Her clinical skills continued to develop as she transitioned into geriatric settings where she worked not only as a clinician, but served as a rehab manager as well. Pam has also worked in a number of school systems throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut serving as a clinician as well as a supervisor to many college students completing their fieldwork in Occupational Therapy. Pam is currently working as a school based clinician treating preschool and elementary school aged children. She is certified by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and is licensed in the state of Connecticut.
In Pam’s 25 years of clinical pediatric experience she has treated highly diverse populations including children with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Medical Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Visual Perceptual Deficits and Fine Motor Coordination difficulties. She has a strong knowledge base in areas of Sensory Integration, Manual Dexterity and Fine Motor Coordination development (as they relate to self-care, play and school based activities), Visual Perceptual treatment, Pediatric Neuro-Developmental treatment (NDT) and feeding strategies for “picky eaters”.
Pam has worked for Burke Therapy since 2013. During this time she has participated in several continuing education courses that focused on visual rehabilitation in pediatrics, improving academic performance by enhancing visual skills, as well as workshops that highlighted the integration of the vestibular system with the visual system.
Pam’s personal goal is to help children develop the skills they need to grow into functional independent adults by providing high quality comprehensive services not only to the children themselves but to their caregivers as well.
Molly Tibbetts, MS OTR/L
Molly Tibbetts received her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Studies and her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Worcester State University in Worcester, MA. Molly is licensed in the state of Connecticut and Massachusetts and is certified by the National Board of Occupational Therapy.
Molly has worked with children birth to three years old in early intervention, providing direct and consultative based therapy. She has experience providing in-home services, center-based and services via telehealth. In addition to working in early intervention, Molly has also worked with young adults and adults with neurological conditions where she focused rehabilitative services on ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) and IADLS (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) to help regain their independence in daily living. Molly’s true gifting resides in her work with students ranging between the ages of 3-21 who have a variety of diagnoses including: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, behavioral dysregulation, visual deficits, developmental delay, emotional disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.
Since joining the Burke Therapy team in 2020, Molly’s special interest and strong knowledge base in sensory regulation has expanded the depth of occupational therapy services Burke Therapy is able to offer. Through her knowledge and passion for working with children, adults and their families to better understand their sensory system, we, at Burke Therapy, are able to offer families and school districts regulating tools and seamless routines to help facilitate consistent sensory regulation throughout the individual's day.
Caroline Ricupero, MOT OTR/L
Caroline Ricupero received her two bachelor’s degrees in Occupational Studies and Psychology and her master’s in Occupational Therapy from Worcester State University in Worcester, MA. Caroline is licensed in the state of Connecticut and is certified by the National Board of Occupational Therapy.
Caroline has worked with children ages three to fifteen in a hospital-based autism outpatient clinic and in a Medical Rehabilitation Unit at a hospital. Caroline is known for her versatility as a clinician and ability to build positive relationships through superior communication while being a collaborative team member. Caroline’s undeniable passion for providing high quality, child-centered neurodivergent affirming therapy through occupation-based practices makes her a change agent within her field.
Caroline’s passions lie within self care/ self-help skills (dressing, feeding self, using napkins, teeth brushing, hair brushing, bathing, hand washing), executive functioning skills (cooking, cleaning, money management, planning, and organizing), and feeding therapy (exploring new foods and expanding food preferences). Caroline has worked with children with a wide variety of diagnoses and enjoys providing each child with a unique client-centered approach. At Burke Therapy, she has worked with children to improve their self-help skills, executive functioning, visual perceptual skills, visual motor integration, expanding play skills, emotional regulation, sensory integration, handwriting, gross motor development, and fine motor development.