Occupational Therapist Creates HOPE Through Nature-Based Therapy

A Unique Approach to Occupational Therapy

Dr. Elaine Mumau, an OTR from New Jersey, has transformed the client care she provides with nature-based occupational therapy. Recognizing that nature and animals have a profound impact on human health, Dr. Mumau has integrated the therapeutic properties of the outdoors, horses, and aquatic interventions into her therapy sessions at her private practice, HOPE (Healing Opportunities through Purposeful Engagement) Therapy Services, LLC.

“We have found our lifelong therapist in Dr. Elaine Mumau and Hope Therapy Services! The name of her practice says it all...she definitely points us towards HOPE that Aiden will have a wonderful life filled with endless possibilities! We are grateful knowing that Elaine and her team are on his side! Forever Grateful”

Karen and Edgar Vargas

Parents

By stepping outside traditional therapy settings, Dr. Mumau has harnessed the natural world's intrinsic healing properties to provide a serene and stimulating environment for her clients to explore, learn, and grow through rich and engaging sensory experiences. This unique approach has significantly enhanced her clients' overall life satisfaction and engagement in valued occupations.

Impactful Therapy Focusing on Client Well-Being

Aquatic therapy has been a cornerstone of Dr. Mumau's practice. This type of therapy leverages the unique properties of water to facilitate movement, reduce pain, and enhance recovery. The buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure of water create a supportive environment that allows clients to perform exercises with greater ease and less discomfort than on land. This has been particularly impactful for clients with neurological and orthopedic conditions who may find traditional therapy to be challenging or painful. Dr. Mumau’s aquatic therapy has helped clients achieve significant milestones such as improved motor skills, increased strength and endurance, and enhanced quality of life.

“Our daughter has a rare genetic disease called Mucolipidosis which affects, along with other things, her physical development. Although we didn't know much about aquatic therapy, we were willing to try anything. We noticed BIG changes with Dr. Elaine in a very short period of time. In just a few sessions, she was rolling all around the room, her posture was better, she began sitting on her own without falling over, and she is showing signs of strengths in areas previously thought to be unreachable. We are so grateful to have discovered Elaine and her amazing nature-based occupational therapy practice. We believe it has been the most important and productive treatment for our daughter thus far!”

Kimberly and Carmine Genovese

Parents

Dr. Mumau also provides hippotherapy at her practice. This type of therapy uses skilled equine movement as a therapeutic tool to improve clients' balance, posture, mobility, and coordination. In addition to the physical benefits, hippotherapy fosters meaningful emotional connections between clients and horses and enhances clients’ social skills and self-esteem.

By advocating for and integrating nontraditional therapeutic environments and techniques, Dr. Mumau has extended the reach of occupational therapy and enriched her clients' lives. Her work with aquatic therapy and hippotherapy showcases her exceptional skills in designing personalized interventions that cater to individual client needs. Dr. Mumau’s approach to therapy not only improves physical outcomes but also promotes emotional and psychological well-being, with clients reporting reduced stress and increased relaxation and confidence. Her contributions demonstrate her commitment to client-centered care and the well-being of the people she serves.

Advancing the Occupational Therapy Profession

Dr. Mumau’s contributions extend beyond her practice. As a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and collaborative health care, she actively promotes the integration of nature and animals into therapeutic practices. Her efforts in educating and mentoring the next generation of occupational therapists, participating in professional networks, and leading program development demonstrate her commitment to advancing the field. She is an Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Certified (ATRIC) provider, a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS), and a certified Integrated Listening System provider of the Safe and Sound/Focus Systems Protocols. She has also completed Level 1 & 2 Hippotherapy Treatment Principles courses through the American Hippotherapy Association.

“As my doctoral capstone mentor, Dr. Elaine Mumau has exemplified and modeled what it means to be a client-centered, compassionate, and dedicated practitioner through her nature-based occupational therapy practice. I am in constant awe and amazement watching how she positively transforms children’s affect, moods, perceptions, and outlooks of themselves as they relate to their quality of life. ...Every parent that I have been privileged to meet who received treatment from Dr. Elaine Mumau cannot express enough how grateful they are for her and how their children’s quality of life and satisfaction have been transformed through her care. She has been my biggest role model and through her teaching and modeling, I aspire to be an impactful occupational therapist just like she has been and continues to be for these children and families. She is not only an exceptional person but also an agent of change who improves the quality of life of all children and families that she serves.”

Ali DeSalvatore, OTR

Former Mentee

Dr. Mumau's nature-based occupational therapy practice exemplifies exceptional professional commitment and mastery of OT skills. Her creative integration of natural and animal-assisted therapies has significantly enhanced her clients' well-being and expanded the boundaries of occupational therapy. Her work embodies the essence of the profession: enabling people to participate in the activities of everyday life to improve their health, well-being, and quality of life.