Helping to Alleviate Stress at a Community Fair

These days, we’re all feeling a lot of stress and looking for ways to alleviate it. On a beautiful fall Saturday, Rebecca Stressman, Occupational Therapist at Merakey Allegheny Valley School in Philadelphia and her students provided a sensory tent at a community fair for those who may be feeling the pressure of today’s world and beyond. They offered a darkened tent to include aromatherapy, soothing music, zero gravity chairs, and a massage therapist. Rebecca also recruited Dr. Michael May, Merakey’s Clinical Psychologist, who graciously donated his time to man the recruitment table and speak of the amazing opportunities at Merakey. Rebecca and Michael have often teamed up in the provision of in-person and virtual activities for people we support, including their upcoming socially distanced “Alice In Wonderland Parade” at the Philadelphia Program Center. Rebecca’s students and Temple University have previously voted her program best internship and you can see why!

Thank you to Rebecca Stressman, Michael May, Arianny Solano (current OTA student from Jefferson), Mariam Khan (current OT student from Temple), and Margaret Bodnovich, OT (and prior student from Temple) for volunteering their time! You are what we seek to embody at Merakey!