Welcome to Focused Foundations
Meet our team of experienced and dedicated OTs!
Leanne Buckman
MSOT, OTR/L
Leanne is an Occupational Therapist and co-founder of Focused Foundations in Pembroke, MA. She has previous experience working with children and adolescents in outpatient clinics, home care, public schools, and specialized schools. Her clinical background includes evaluating and treating children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, and developmental delays, as well as those with social-emotional difficulties, behavioral challenges, and childhood trauma. Leanne has specialized training in sensory processing, Building Blocks Reflex Integration, Astronaut Training, the Interoception Curriculum, the Zones of Regulation, the Alert Program, and Handwriting Without Tears. Leanne utilizes a strengths-based, neurodiversity affirming approach to her therapy, and she takes care to center play and connection as the building blocks to progress.
Leanne is a mom to one son and two, three-legged dogs. She loves spending time with her family outside, hiking, going to the beach, baking, and exploring new parts of familiar places. Her favorite part of being an OT is finding a way to connect with a child and seeing the impact that connection, support, and play can have in their development.
Jillian Higdon
MSOT, OTR/L
Jill is an Occupational Therapist and co-founder of Focused Foundations in Pembroke, MA. She has experience working with children and young adults in outpatient pediatric settings and a therapy-specific school setting. Her clinical experience includes assessing and treating a diverse population with sensory processing difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, genetic syndromes, neurological disorders, epilepsy, coordination delays, fine and gross motor delays, and other developmental and learning difficulties. She has specialty training in sensory integration, Kawar Protocol/Astronaut Training, Therapeutic Listening, Integrated Listening System, Bal-A-Vis-X, Handwriting Without Tears, Alert Program, Zones of Regulation, and Building Blocks reflex integration. She has additional certifications in SOS Feeding and Beckman Oral Motor and is TOTs trained. Additionally, Jill has experience implementing DIRFloortime, Wilbarger Brushing Protocol, and visual-vestibular treatment modalities.
Jill is a mom to two energetic boys and loves embracing all the joy and chaos that comes with her family life. Outside of work, she enjoys party planning, skiing, learning to garden, cheering on her boys at their sports, and relaxing with needlepoint. Jill values connection, creativity, and finding balance in the everyday moments that make life meaningful.