About us
Meet the women behind Homestyle OT.
Meet the women behind Homestyle OT.
Meet the women behind Homestyle OT.
Together in this place, we hope to deepen your knowledge of occupation and occupational therapy, increase your personal and professional lens in the use and importance of stories as a means to empower your practice and the lives of those you encounter, and ultimately to enrich your “recipes” for practice.
Jennica Elliott
MAOT, OTR/L
I have been an OT for nearly 20 years. I am also a wife, and mom of 3 growing boys, a beautiful aging dog and a coop full of chickens. I hold a bachelors degree from St. Catherine University and a Master’s degree from Mount Mary University. The last 7 years of my practice have been in the elementary school setting. My experience before this includes 10 years working with adults in transitional, long term and home care settings. In addition I spent a few of my earlier years in other beloved spaces as an activities director in an assisted living, independent living skills supervisor in mental health homecare and as an intern at the Minneapolis VA Adapted Work Program for veterans with dementia. Along the way, I have learned many life lessons and so much about the importance of occupation and occupational therapy in our world.
Furthermore, I’ve been blessed with an extraordinary mentor on this journey, my stepmom, Leanne Heinz (below). She not only introduced me to the profession but has consistently brought my thinking back to the essence of occupational therapy. As a result, she has saved me many times from “pigeon holing” my practice and limiting my own scope and view of occupational therapy. Over the years, we have had our own “table” of discussion about the meaning of OT, and continue to inspire one another even in the most discouraging of situations and times. Together, we have decided it is important to our profession to invite others to this “table”, to connect and inspire one another. Together we aim to embrace the roots of our occupational therapy practice, share our “stories”, and help cultivate knowledge and new ideas into your own Homestyle “recipes” for practice. Occupational Therapist Minneapolis-St Paul MN
Welcome to Homestyle,
~Jennica
Jennica Elliott
MAOT, OTR/L
I have been an OT for nearly 20 years. I am also a wife, and mom of 3 growing boys, a beautiful aging dog and a coop full of chickens. I hold a bachelors degree from St. Catherine University and a Master’s degree from Mount Mary University. The last 7 years of my practice have been in the elementary school setting. My experience before this includes 10 years working with adults in transitional, long term and home care settings. In addition I spent a few of my earlier years in other beloved spaces as an activities director in an assisted living, independent living skills supervisor in mental health homecare and as an intern at the Minneapolis VA Adapted Work Program for veterans with dementia. Along the way, I have learned many life lessons and so much about the importance of occupation and occupational therapy in our world.
Furthermore, I’ve been blessed with an extraordinary mentor on this journey, my stepmom, Leanne Heinz (below). She not only introduced me to the profession but has consistently brought my thinking back to the essence of occupational therapy. As a result, she has saved me many times from “pigeon holing” my practice and limiting my own scope and view of occupational therapy. Over the years, we have had our own “table” of discussion about the meaning of OT, and continue to inspire one another even in the most discouraging of situations and times. Together, we have decided it is important to our profession to invite others to this “table”, to connect and inspire one another. Together we aim to embrace the roots of our occupational therapy practice, share our “stories”, and help cultivate knowledge and new ideas into your own Homestyle “recipes” for practice.
Welcome to Homestyle,
~Jennica
Leanne Heinz
OTD, OTR/L
I am very excited to adventure and partner with Jennica with writing our Homestyle OT blog. My husband Fred, has blessed me with two amazing children. Then as adults, they expanded our family to include their spouses and 8 grandchildren that keep us forever young, and curious about our world. I consider being a mother and a grandmother a sacred honor giving me the opportunity to celebrate and inspire the youngest generation. Occupational Therapist Minneapolis-St Paul MN
Professionally, my occupational therapy pilgrimage began in 1985 working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in a residential facility for children with severe-profound multiple disabilities. While employed as a COTA, I went to the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN where I earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. Since 1990, my occupational therapy vocation has been with the public school system. In this context, I have worked with the youngest to the oldest of students, birth to age 21. Supplementing my knowledge in occupational therapy was done by completing a Masters of Art degree in Developmental Disabilities at the University of St. Mary’s in Winona, MN. Then my belief in the healing power of touch and the vital essence of human connection lured me into gaining certification in massage from Sister Rosalind Gefre School of Massage, along with certification in infant and pediatric massage from Liddle Kidz Foundation. Ultimately, my love for the occupational therapy profession beckoned me to pursue a clinical doctorate degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Although I’m incredibly thankful for my formal education that has provided the tools and structure for my practice, I have come to know that valuing each human story is the true spirit of occupational therapy.
Warm Regards,
~Leanne