That Makes Sense OT:
Empowering Families Through Connection and Confidence
I’m Brenda Chilstrom, founder and pediatric occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience.
Guiding families like yours through these challenges with compassion, curiosity, and practical strategies is my purpose.
“That makes sense!” isn’t just the name of my business; it’s that moment when everything clicks.
I’m here to help you understand the “why” behind your child’s difficulties and transform power struggles into moments of connection and curiosity.
Connection Meets Curiosity Through:
Holistic Support: I combine emotional guidance, sensory expertise, and practical feeding strategies to support both you and your child.
Responsive Feeding: I emphasize curiosity over compliance, creating an environment where your child feels safe and in control as they explore food.
1:1 Coaching: You deserve personalized attention, so my packages offer ongoing, high-touch support that goes beyond standard therapy models.
The Eating with EASE Academy: My online, relationship-based program that supports parents facing feeding challenges, offering practical tools and compassionate guidance to create peaceful mealtimes. New cohort starting in early 2025!
Sometimes, a small tweak can make all the difference in transforming mealtimes and calming the chaos of sensory overwhelm.
Together, we’ll tackle the root causes of your child’s feeding issues and create strategies that fit your family’s needs.
My hope is to give you the tools and confidence to create a peaceful, lasting relationship with food and help you build your resilient family.
With advanced training in feeding, motor skills, and sensory processing, I provide a safe space for you to find hope, healing, and real solutions.
Let’s turn your family struggles into moments of connection, joy, and lasting peace ~ together.
Choose the solution that fits your family best:
You want your child to eat with ease, explore food with curiosity, and feel safe—but how do you get there?
I understand that you are at a crucial point, feeling drained and desperate and not knowing where to turn.
I know just how overwhelming it is to raise a child with feeding and sensory challenges. The constant worry, the trial and error, the feeling of spinning your wheels—I’ve been there with countless families.
My goal is to make this journey easier for you.
Success Stories
“We used to worry so much about food choices and felt stuck in a constant struggle over meals. Now, watching him independently choose foods from the pantry—even ones he’d once avoided—has been such a proud moment for us. Seeing his growing flexibility and confidence around food has truly brought a sense of peace and freedom to our family.”
- Hope B.
“Before working with Brenda, mealtimes and social settings were often a challenge for G. But now, seeing her enjoy social activities, interact cheerfully with other kids, and even explore foods she used to avoid has been such a heartwarming transformation. It’s incredible to see her confidence and joy shine through again!
- Kristy J.
Features and Awards
That Makes Sense OT
At That Makes Sense OT, we’re not just shaping mealtimes — we’re nurturing a lifetime of healthy eating habits, one connection, one adventure,
and one curiosity-filled bite at a time.
Brenda and Shannon chat about building success through connection.
Brenda and Lindsay chat about the importance of connection around the table.
Best of Naples 2023 Community Choice Award
We are overjoyed to win the award for Best Occupational Therapy Clinic at the Best of Naples Community’s Choice Awards!
By focusing on sensory regulation and helping families to feel safe within the feeding relationship, we have developed a reputation that proves our approach achieves feeding goals and so much more.
At That Makes Sense OT, we’re not just shaping mealtimes — we’re nurturing a lifetime of healthy eating habits, one connection, one adventure, and one curiosity-filled bite at a time.
When we nourish, they flourish!
Check out this podcast featuring Brenda! You can listen to Brenda and Courtney's conversation on all things feeding therapy!
Brenda and Jess chat about the natural evolution of niching down to a specific service type along with the many problems that exist in the traditional occupational therapy practice model.
Advanced Training
About Brenda
Our founder, Brenda Chilstrom, began her professional journey over 30 years ago wanting connection, joy, and practical solutions for the families she served.
We've seen parents light up with realization, exclaiming, "That makes sense!"
Our name celebrates this moment of clarity, as sometimes something that seems like an inconsequential tweak can be a game changer for a family.
That Makes Sense OT
Disrupting Conventional Therapy
We understand the challenges of raising a child with feeding and sensory difficulties. That's why we offer timely and effective support, disrupting conventional therapy practices to provide families with the knowledge, problem-solving skills, and confidence they need to flourish.
At That Makes Sense OT, we help you and your children feel safe, seen, and heard so you can transform your mealtime power struggles and sensory challenges into harmonious, resilient families held together with love, acceptance, and hope.
We're your partner, your advocate, and your beacon of hope on the journey to nourishing your child's relationship with food.
Our Approach
At the heart of our approach is the belief that feeding is more than just what's on the plate – it's about building connections and embarking on adventures together. Through responsive feeding methods rooted in strong parent-child connections, we help families navigate the complexities of mealtime with compassion and expertise.
Holistic Mindset, Emotional Support, Functional Feeding and Sensory Skills
Our holistic approach focuses just as much on mindset and emotional support as it does on the functional aspects of sensory and feeding skills. Drawing from advanced studies in feeding, motor skills, and sensory integration, we integrate trauma-informed care to ease anxieties and nurture a sense of calm and security in your child's feeding journey. We are neurodiverse-affirming and believe in presuming competence. We nurture curiosity over compliance to embrace every individual’s authentic self.
Our Mission: Empowering Parents and Nurturing Confident Eaters
Our mission is to empower parents to nurture confident, adventurous eaters, creating resilient families where every member feels acknowledged, respected, and understood.
Our Promise to You
In a world filled with endless responsibilities and continuous stress, we understand that the thing you desire most for your child is to give them the best possible future.
At That Makes Sense OT, we promise to be your partner in achieving this vision. We're committed to providing you with the support, guidance, and resources you need to nurture your child's relationship with food and create a bright and fulfilling future for them.
Our individualized coaching packages for feeding and sensory challenges are formed specifically with your needs in mind. We help you chase the “why” behind the struggles and then set you up for success. Check out our high-touch (plenty of 1:1 time) coaching in both feeding and sensory below:
