About Joyous OT
What We Believe
Secure attachment and whole-person development are where emotional health begins. When that was interrupted early — by trauma, by separation, by a nervous system that never got to settle — the work is to establish safety in the nervous system, and to build from there.
We provide compassionate, personalized care for children, teens, and adults whose daily lives have been shaped by hard beginnings, and for the families who support them.
Our Therapy Team
Three of us, all trained in attachment-focused and trauma-informed practice, all of us happier on the floor than behind a desk.
Emily Brown
OTR/L and Clinical Director
Learn MoreEmily Brown
OTR/L and Clinical Director
Brainspotting Practitioner
Advanced DIR/Floortime Practitioner
INPP Licentiate
Emily is an occupational therapist (OTR/L) with advanced training in Brainspotting, DIR/Floortime, and INPP. With extensive experience working with children and adults who have experienced attachment disruptions, developmental trauma, and difficulties with emotional regulation, Emily uses a trauma-informed approach to support clients in building secure relationships and emotional resilience. She is passionate about providing a safe, supportive environment where healing can begin, and clients can learn to engage fully in life.
Emily’s Areas of Expertise Include:
- Attachment-focused therapy for children and families
- Emotional regulation and self-regulation techniques
- Trauma-informed care for developmental trauma and attachment disruption
- DIR/Floortime therapy for sensory processing and developmental challenges
- Brainspotting therapy for emotional and trauma resolution
Jena Cobb
COTA/L
Learn MoreJena Cobb
COTA/L
Proficient DIR/Floortime Practitioner
Jena is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) with advanced proficiency in DIR/Floortime therapy. She specializes in working with children who experience challenges with sensory processing, social engagement, and emotional regulation. Jena’s warm, playful approach creates a safe, supportive space where children can work through challenges related to attachment and developmental trauma. She believes in empowering children through play, helping them strengthen emotional connections, and develop the skills to engage with the world around them.
Jena’s Areas of Expertise Include:
- DIR/Floortime therapy for children with sensory processing challenges
- Reflex Integration through Play training
- Sensory integration therapy to improve emotional regulation
- Trauma-informed care to support children and families impacted by developmental trauma
- Play-based interventions to promote social skills, communication, and emotional connection
Brooke Hayes
COTA/L
Learn MoreBrooke Hayes
COTA/L
Brooke is a certified occupational therapy assistant working with children and families in play-based, attachment- and trauma-focused sessions.
She interned with Joyous OT during her Level II fieldwork, and she was such a natural fit that she joined the clinic in June of 2026.
The Rest of the Team
Not every member of staff here has a license. Some of them have fur.
The stuffed animals in our therapy room are not decoration. They hold things the child is not ready to hold yet. They take the blame. They get scared first. They say the difficult sentence out loud so that nobody has to say it themselves. A child who cannot tell you they are frightened can very often tell you that the bear is.
They work in other ways too. Some of them have games named after them — Ottie Tag, Star Tag. A child who is coming apart will often ask for a particular one by name, or hold one while a parent holds them.
They are also, it must be said, extremely good at their jobs and impossible to schedule.
Visiting support staff. Bandit and Finny are dogs. They come when they come.
How We Work
Every treatment plan is built for the person in front of us. We use play-based intervention, sensory integration, and attachment- and trauma-focused therapy to support emotional regulation, healing, and relationships that hold.
All of our therapists are trained in therapeutic parenting, so what happens in therapy is always on the same page with the parents.
Starting is the hard part. When you are ready, or if you just have a question, tell us a little about yourself or call us.
Fieldwork and Supervision
Joyous OT is a fieldwork supervision site for Harding and Baptist.
Harding University — OT Program
We offer fieldwork placements that let students work inside attachment- and trauma-focused practice. In 2024 we welcomed our first Harding student. Harding University OT
Baptist Health College Little Rock — OTA Program
We have hosted BHCLR occupational therapy assistant students since 2021, giving them hands-on experience in a trauma-informed setting. BHCLR OTA Program
Our Otter Logo
Our otter logo is a reflection of the values we hold dear: connection, joy, and playfulness. Otters are known for their strong family bonds, their playful nature, and their love of water, which parallels the fluidity of movement and joy we foster in therapy. Just as otters share moments of joy with one another, we want clients and families to feel supported, engaged, and encouraged to thrive together.
The logo was created by local artist Veraine Kauopi, whose artwork captures the otter’s playful spirit and strong sense of family.
The Lending Library
In keeping with the otter’s spirit of fun and togetherness, we keep a library of cooperative games and puzzles for clients to borrow, to support your therapy at home. Skills built in a session are easier to keep when the family can keep playing.