Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Naomi Matanick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Naomi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

As I look at where I am right now in both my life and my career, I think of all the people and experiences that have led me to this moment. As a child, I was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder. I could go into the science of what that means, but I would rather capture the heart of what it meant for me personally. It meant that it wasn’t easy to figure out how to navigate my world physically, emotionally, or academically. Nothing came easy. So, what’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me? I have to go back to the beginning. The kindest thing my parents did was push me to overcome. The kindest thing my teachers did was patiently spend time with me to help me understand. The kindest thing my friends have done, is challenge my limiting beliefs. The kindest thing my mentors have done is to not let me stop at mediocre. To me, these lifelong expressions of kindness, in unexpected form, have given me so much. I couldn’t have predicted that I would have arrived at where I am today. I’ve put in a lot of work. In so many ways. However, these deeply meaningful acts of kindness are ingrained into the fabric of my life.

Naomi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My professional title is OTR/L, registered and licensed occupational therapist. Those are my credentials. I’m very familiar with my field. You would hope so, right? More specifically, I’m a pediatric occupational therapist, meaning I specializing in working with kids. I see babies, toddlers, children, and adolescents. Great. Does that make me the expert? In some ways yes, and in some ways no. People will often ask what got me into this field. It’s funny, at times, I feel as if I half haphazardly fell into it. Yet, the longer I emerge deeper into my craft, the more it feels as if it’s a part of who I have always been. I attended occupational therapy as a child. In a way, I now know I’m a practicing occupational therapist because of the impact the work had on my young life at five years old.

What am I up to now? I am the owner and founder of a pediatric surf therapy company known as Hang-Ten Therapeutics. We are based in Los Angeles California and service kids ages 4 and up. I was on a backpacking trip in the sierras when a friend came up with that name, just a little fun fact. It’s funny the way our lives grow. As a pediatric OT, I can support infants and children with general development. This may look like helping them integrate primitive reflexes from infancy, integrate their sensory systems, achieve vital motor milestones, develop body awareness, and muscle strength and coordination in order for them to participate in their own world to achieve what it is they need and want to achieve. I work both in the home, in a clinic setting, and on the beach.

But, lets get back to surf therapy. I’m a little obsessed. One area I specialize in and am highly passionate about is sensory integration. Sensory integration is the organization of specific sensory input for use. But, like a mentor of mine once said, the nervous system doesn’t always play fair. That can be heartbreaking. However, something incredible about our brain is that it is formable. What happens when we don’t receive the right amount of input? Too much input? In the life of a child, this can impact different areas of development (like I mentioned above). Ok. What does that mean for them emotionally? When your body is unable to do what it needs to do, this can cause frustration, fear, anxiety, decreased confidence, anger, depression, and a minimized sense of self. I’m speaking both from my childhood experience (with sensory processing disorder) and from working with children who experience sensory processing and integration challenges. Note, this doesn’t only pertain to sensory processing disorder but any type of information processing challenge in the brain. So, when I ask myself if I’m the expert, I say yes and no. I say yes because I understand the brain and body from a scientific point of view. I have knowledge on specific intervention to support the success of a child. However, I’m not the only expert when it comes to the kids I support. They are the expert on their own body. They are the expert on their needs and wants. It’s from this, my surf therapy company was born. As an OT, I have many roles. My surf therapy company was created to use my knowledge in the world of traditional occupational therapy to be applied through the means of surfing. Currently, Hang-Ten Therapeutics services the neurodiverse population. This could include kids with sensory processing disorder, ADD/ADHD, Autism, twice-exceptional kids, or kids who experience challenges with self-regulation or higher level motor and cognitive skill development as a result of brain processing differences.

Surf therapy, in case you’re wondering, is using the beach, the ocean, and the surfboard as a therapeutic tool to achieve specific outcomes. That’s the definition. Yet, for as powerful as an ocean wave is, there is equivalent power in using this as an intervention method for kids. Not only does the water produce negative ions into the air which support an increase in happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin. The pressure of the water on the skin increases body awareness and sends calming signals to the chid’s brain. Further, the rush of the movement as a child lays, kneels, or stands on a surfboard to catch even baby waves provides a surge of input to the balance centers in our brain, increasing brain activity and helping to activate postural muscles to produce things like core strength, motor coordination, and spatial awareness. That’s cool. What’s cooler? The fact that using this as an intervention allows children the space to play. It provides a safe space to feel and express emotions like anger, frustration, or anxiety and at the same time, it curates an opportunity to overcome challenges little by little. This produces autonomy, self-confidence, and courage. A sense of identity. It’s different. So, as you think about my company, my expertise, my work, I ask that you get curious. It’s time we take what is known and go a bit into the unknown.

In partaking in this interview, I was asked what it is I am most proud of? So many things. But if I had to pick, I am most proud of overcoming my own challenges so that I could provide my gift of surf therapy to the world. I see myself in the kids I serve. They have been my greatest teacher and I’m honored to meet them on the board week in and week out.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One thing I often wish for but I know is not possible is the concept of life being linear. Perhaps if you don’t take risks, life could become somewhat predictable and therefore more linear. When we take risk, it can be exhilarating. I believe it keeps up alive. Taking risk can at times, lead to disappointment. It can lead to let down. It can lead to recognizing that you got on a path that didn’t feel quiet right. Which, leads to the pivot. A professor of mine once said “ If you never do anything, you can argue that you didn’t get hurt. But, you have never have fun, you don’t have a life, experiences are not built.” Dr. Cara Davies.

I have had to pivot many times in life. However, I’ll share about my business and my career. I was fortunate to know that I wanted to be an occupational therapist and that when I completed my degree, I actually enjoyed the hands on work. What a relief. That isn’t always the case, right? Yet, it took time to find my fit. Under the scope of OT, I have worked with both adults and children. I worked as a contract therapist traveling to different nursing homes in different states as I worked with the geriatric population. I have worked in home-health, and pediatric outpatient clinics. I have worked in hospitals with both adults and children. I loved many of those experiences. Some were not for me. What I can say, is the thing that was most vital, was the ability to pivot.

What are the characteristics of a pivot. Let’s get into it. Releasing the ego, knowing when you made a decision that was good but not best. This could also look like having the humility to understand where your gifts come alive and where they don’t. Next, listening to your gut. Raw honesty with what brings you joy. Finally, the decision to take the risk and move. It’s been in the pivot that I have gotten to where I am today. I took a risk, I will need to take many more risk. Even within the first year of running my surf therapy company, I have had to make small pivots. The pivot got me here. It will get you and I where we need to be.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

When I consider the way I live my life and as I consider the road I have been on in building my surf therapy company, there is certainly a foundation of my own knowledge and expertise that has been valuable in my growth and the growth of my company. Yet, there is something else. It’s hunger and courage. Do we need certain skills to partake in our fields? Yes. Knowledge building and skill set development is extremely important. I offer surf therapy but it is backed by my expertise as an occupational therapist. If we look at business development, I did not go to business school. I am having to learn as I go about the intricacies of failing and succeeding as I create my company. The good news? These skill sets are not all we need. Sometimes, these skill sets can get in our way.

First, hunger. I think it’s helpful to go after what you dream of with tenacity. For me, this has looked like connecting with mentors in my field. It has looked like making sacrifices in my personal and professional life in order to create space for my work in this area. It looks like having the willingness to be ever curious and ever learning.

Courage. Courage can be quiet or loud. Courage for me, looks like choosing to show up even when it’s hard. Choosing to show up, even when I’m not certain about the outcome. Choosing to show up, even if the answer is sometimes no and showing up again the next day until I get a yes.

Be hopeful, we have infinite resources to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hang-tentherapeutics.com
• Instagram: hang_ten_therapeutics
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-matanick