about us

Shine Forward OT PLLC is a small company with one goal in mind: you. 

As trained and licensed occupational therapists, we specialize in addressing your independence and participation in all of your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) - everything you do day-to-day that is important to you: getting out of bed, getting dressed, going to work, taking care of others, exercise, meal prep, socializing, appointments, self-care, etc., etc., etc.
Whatever is important and meaningful to you, that you need to do for yourself or those around you, those are your ADLs - 

your occupations!  

We feel that the occupational therapy profession is like the odd one out in a kickball match, we have no where to go! Especially when it comes to mental health, which is funny enough, where occupational therapy got our start! (feel free to learn about it here )

It’s difficult for us to find a home in the mental health field because there are so many other wonderful professionals that use their expertise to help people to improve and feel better. 

Occupational Therapy is beneficial when working in mental health because our entire purpose is for people to be able to function! To participate in all aspects of their daily life with independence and ease to achieve fulfillment and purpose. Our goal is for people to live their best life; to be able to engage in their daily activities regardless of any ailment or challenge that is standing in the way. 

Here, at Shine Forward OT, that’s exactly what we do. We strive to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for people to dive into themselves and get in touch with what will truly bring joy and fulfillment into their life. We use various approaches and techniques in combination with our knowledge-base and experience to collaborate on goals, and develop customized creative plans that work best for you to bring that joy and fulfillment into existence.

Our mission is to support whoever decides to take on their life and to ‘shine forward’ doing it.

“We are here to live, so that’s what we’ll do.” 

areas of focus:

• functional changes
• coping skills
• caregiver issues
• chronic illness
• aging
• self-esteem
• relationship/intimacy issues 
• behavioural issues
• depression                                                                                                                                                                                         
• anxiety
• post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• bipolar disorder
• trauma
• life transitions
• stress 

approaches and techniques:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

mindfulness

Reiki

visualizations 

guided meditations

movement activities

among others

 *LGBTQ+, poly/ethical non-monogamy, and kink           accepting & knowledgeable 

Lori Perucci, OTR/L 

Lori is an occupational therapist with over eleven years of experience in working with people to improve their quality of life, independence, and overall well-being.
She has worked with people of all ages and has always kept the mental health aspect of her profession close at heart - focusing on people body, mind, and soul because the best way to mend someone is to treat them as their whole selves, not just a part. 

Originally going to undergraduate school for drawing and painting, Lori was planning on living the artist life she always thought about. Turned out, it was not what she expected, and she was lost for a while before she ended up as a special education aide in an elementary school. She got to know an occupational therapist that worked with her students and learned about what occupational therapy is; really is and she was hooked! 

A creative approach to help people with any physical, mental/psychological, neurological, functional, developmental, etc. deficit so they can regain their independence and ability to participate in their daily life. How could it be better?

So, she started her pre-requisite courses, applied to graduate school, and 3+ years later, graduated; went on to pass her boards, get licensed, registered, and begin to practice!

Her work experience runs the gamete in population and setting- from children to adults in schools, at home, hospitals, nursing homes/assisted living facilities, outpatient, etc. 

She is thrilled to be focusing on mental health in her field because it is an area that is often dismissed.

In her spare time, she still loves to draw and paint, listen to music, spend time outside in the warmer weather, dance, hula hoop, be a mermaid, read, and spend time with her loved ones - including her band of plants!  

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  education:

  Masters in Occupational Therapy - 2011: Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons
Bachelors of Science in Drawing/Painting - 2004: SUNY Plattsburgh/New Paltz

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