Meet the team at Vital Links.
Sheila Frick
Sheila Frick
Sheila Frick, OTR/L is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and founder of Vital Links. Since 1980, Sheila taught internationally clinician, lecturer, and pioneer in Occupational Therapy. Sheila has well over 30 years of clinical experience, having worked in psychiatry, rehabilitation, and home health before specializing in pediatrics. Sheila expertise includes sensory processing dysfunction, sensory integration, and auditory interventions.
Sheila has explored the links between Sensory Integration and developmental movement patterns through many avenues including the teaching of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen at Body Mind Centering, Marcia Monroe and Donna Farhi on developmental yoga training, and Peggy Hackney on Bartenieff Fundamentals.
In addition, Sheila has collaborated with well-recognized leaders in the field of Sensory Integration including Mary Kawar, Patricia Wilbarger, Julia Wilbarger, Patricia Oetter, Eileen Richter, and Mary Fiorentino.
Sheila created and continues to expand Therapeutic Listening®, which has been taught to over 14,000 therapists worldwide. She also lectures on topics such as clinical neurology, respiration, the vestibular/auditory system, and various auditory interventions.
Sheila is the author of Listening with the Whole Body: Clinical Concepts and Treatment Guidelines for Therapeutic Listening, and co-author of Core Concepts in Action; Astronaut Training: A Sound Activated Vestibular-Visual Protocol; and Out of the Mouths of Babes. Recently, Sheila served as a contributing author for her section on Therapeutic Listening in the upcoming 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice.
Sheila’s interest in further exploration of the impact of traumatic experiences on sensory processing and overall participation in daily life led her to training and later teaching with the TRE® organization. Her recent work in TRE® has influenced Sheila’s interest in expanding techniques and activities appropriate for children and young adults aimed at reducing stress, tension, and anxiety through movement and auditory based tools (Quickshifts).
Sheila continues to lecture on clinical, practically oriented, treatment focused workshops worldwide along with seeing clients in her private practice in Madison, Wisconsin.
Sharron Donnelly
Sharron Donnelly is a co-founder and the owner of Advanced Pediatric Therapies in Oregon and Washington. Sharron has extensive training in a multitude of areas related to pediatric occupational therapy and child development and has been working in pediatrics for over 25 years.
Sharron has her Master’s in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and has worked in a variety of settings including Early Intervention, schools and private practice. Sharron also holds a certificate in Infant Toddler Health from Portland State University. Sharron is certified in administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test and has trained extensively on sensory processing disorders. Sharron is trained in many relationship based approaches and has completed her certificate in the DIR Model and the Foundational Capacities of Development, a certificate in Early Start Denver Model, and training in Project Impact. Sharron loves teaching and often teaches introductory workshops on Sensory Processing Disorders in her local community. She is also a mentor therapist for therapists looking to advance their training in Sensory Processing Disorders.
Sharron began working with and teaching for Sheila Frick over 20 years ago and has extensive knowledge in auditory interventions. When not working, Sharron enjoys spending time with her two boys, reading, traveling, and eating out!
Mary Kawar
Mary Kawar, adjunct lecturer to Vital Links, began her occupational therapy career at the Elizabeth Kenny Institute in Minneapolis after graduating from the University of Minnesota. Two years later she moved to San Diego with her family. Soon thereafter she became the Director of Occupational Therapy at Children’s Hospital and Health Center. During this twenty-year period her responsibilities expanded to encompass the affiliated occupational therapy department at Sharp Rehabilitation Center.
After instituting an out patient program for learning disabled children, Mary was honored to have a site visit from Dr. A. Jean Ayres. This contact evolved into an invitation to serve on the board of directors for The Center for the Study of Sensory Integrative Dysfunction in Los Angeles. Board membership continued for several years during which time Mary had many enriching dialogues with Dr. Ayres and other pioneers of sensory integration who were dedicated to the advancement of Sensory Integration research and practice. As part of this experience Mary was one of eighteen participants who contributed research projects that were published in a book entitled Research in Sensory Integrative Development.
Mary founded and organized an annual Sensory Integration Conference in San Diego that featured Dr. Josephine Moore each year as the keynote speaker. This highly successful conference continued for twenty years and included many fruitful dialogues with esteemed professionals including Milani Comparetti, Mary Fiorentino, Carl and Berta Bobath, Pat Willbarger, Joy Huss, Berry Brazelton, Ginny Scardina, Ellie Gilfoyle, Winnie Dunn, Anne Henderson, and Antji Price.
Mary resigned from her position at Children’s Hospital so as to receive her master’s degree in OT at Boston University and then opened private clinics in southern and northern California for children and adults with sensory processing and motor control issues.
With over 60 years of clinical experience, Mary has acquired a wealth of expertise and has been particularly successful at developing precise treatment strategies, creating unique therapeutic tools, and designing clinic spaces. She is co-author of two book/CD combinations entitled Core Concepts in Action and Astronaut Training: Sound Activated Vestibular Visual Protocol for Moving, Looking, and Listening. She has also written a chapter in the book Functional Visual Behavior in Children. Most recently she has written two sections for the forthcoming 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice.
As a well respected professional, Mary lectures throughout the US and internationally with themes that center on the vestibular system and its support for all aspects of sensory processing and motor control. Mary collaborates with Vital Links, Inc. to provide live courses and webinars for advanced clinical education.