I’ve had the great fortune of working with hundreds of extraordinary kids and families over the years, all with their own unique story. Each journey taught me so much, allowing me to better meet the needs of children and families to come. I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to supervise hundreds of inspired minds from OT, PT, Speech, Psychology, Social Work and Education. Few things are as rewarding for me as those “ah ha” moments of seeing a clinician grasp a new concept or execute something in a session for the first time.
In-person OT • Baby Treatment Michelle, mother of Leo
We began working with Markus shortly after my son underwent open heart surgery at 7-weeks old. He came highly recommended as someone who specialized in working with infants. From our first meeting, I felt 100% confident in his ability to treat my son. It was extremely comforting to have his support at such a fragile time. Markus always made me feel like a partner in my son’s treatment so I could implement strategies in our everyday life. He was engaged and in tune in the most beautiful way, and I cherished watching him work with my son. We continued working together until my son was 15-months old and hated to say goodbye. Anyone who works with Markus can count themselves as being very fortunate- he’s a gem of a therapist.
In-person OT • OT Evaluations Naomi, mother of Colin
Colin met Markus when he was 3. Markus was the 6th OT we interviewed in Colin’s first year of receiving services. We hoped that there was someone out there that could help our son and we were determined to keep searching until we found him/her. Within 15 minutes of watching Colin move and interact with the space around him, Markus was able to explain things to us about Colin that no previous therapist could explain or would brush off as unimportant. We knew immediately and instinctively that Markus was the one. And he did not disappoint. He changed the trajectory of Colin’s life, profoundly improving how he lived in and experienced the world around him – in our minds, effectively, saving his life.
It was quite a journey. Taking a 3 year old who wasn’t talking, didn’t have the strength to pull himself up to a sitting position from prone, couldn’t tolerate water on his face or washing his hair and who melted down at the slightest hiccup and transforming him into a teenager who stands tall and proud, speaks eloquently and moves gracefully through the water as a competitive swimmer. Through it all Markus was kind, funny, encouraging and always upbeat, while also being thoughtful and intentional in gently pushing Colin to do the hard work he needed to do. It wasn’t always easy but Markus made sure it was always fun. And he wasn’t just an amazing therapist for Colin, he was always available to us to answer questions, to coach and model or just to hold our hands during a difficult patch to reassure us that it would all be OK. We’re forever grateful to Markus for changing the course of Colin’s life (and ours).
In-person OT • Baby Treatment Michelle, mother of Leo
We began working with Markus shortly after my son underwent open heart surgery at 7-weeks old. He came highly recommended as someone who specialized in working with infants. From our first meeting, I felt 100% confident in his ability to treat my son. It was extremely comforting to have his support at such a fragile time. Markus always made me feel like a partner in my son’s treatment so I could implement strategies in our everyday life. He was engaged and in tune in the most beautiful way, and I cherished watching him work with my son. We continued working together until my son was 15-months old and hated to say goodbye. Anyone who works with Markus can count themselves as being very fortunate- he’s a gem of a therapist.
In-person OT • Sensory Gym Design Roe, mother of Christian
Markus worked with our autistic son, Christian for a few months prior to the initiation of early intervention. During this time, my husband and I were waiting for Christian to be assessed by a developmental pediatrician for a formal diagnosis.
This was probably the most difficult time in our lives. My husband and I were completely hopeless and broken after witnessing our son’s rapid behavioral regression; developmentally appropriate behavior became nonexistent. He went from being a relatively healthy infant who ate, slept well, was happy, socially interactive, meeting every developmental milestone to a child that was unrecognizable in every area mentioned.
Markus came highly recommended for assistance with Christian’s sensory issues. His sensory seeking behavior included the beginning signs of self-injurious conduct. Some symptoms included excessive clenching of the jaw, accompanied by extreme teeth grinding and tension throughout his body. Within minutes of Markus’ arrival, he connected with our son. He presented a shift in his vocal tone, promoting strong eye contact, and then applying deep pressure to a specific part of Christian’s body. Christian immediately stopped grinding and clenching. For the first time in almost two months he relaxed, exhibiting no symptoms of his reality, he looked at Markus and smiled. Our son was experiencing visible, emotional and physical relief. We will never forget it. The connection between the two of them was undeniable and Markus became a symbol of hope for our family. He was our match in a dark tunnel, he was our moment of light, enabling us to see that there was a path.
Markus had an outstanding ability to communicate his observations and provided examples of instruction constantly throughout his sessions. Lastly, he created a sensory gym in our home that met Christian’s needs and exceeded our expectations. It came out beautifully. I have a number of therapists, specializing in different areas that all compliment how amazing and functional our gym is. We couldn’t be happier. Markus is a strong, intelligent, and reverent therapist, it was a blessing that he came into our lives and we will be forever grateful.
In-person OT • International Intensives • OT Evaluations Hannah, mother of William
Markus is an amazing OT, certainly the best I have ever come across in the years that my son has required therapy. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable and impressively up to date in his field. He is highly emotionally intelligent which makes him very in tune with the children he works with, and is wonderful at communicating with parents in a very clear, compassionate way.
We went to see Markus in New York for an evaluation and our son responded so well to his therapy that we hired Markus to fly to our island home in the Caribbean to develop a treatment plan for our son. We could not find OT at Markus' level of expertise in our country. The whole experience of flying Markus over, him setting up a program with us and our son in our home was completely seamless and worth any expense. He provided the necessary equipment, parent training and completely tweaked the treatment plan based on our son's needs, our resources, our home and our whole family and living situation. This made it into a highly realistic, doable, sustainable and effective plan. I know that Markus' input enabled our son to make incredible progress which has been long lasting and the benefits of which we are still seeing today. We are forever grateful.
In-person OT • Baby Treatment • Sensory Gym Design AS, mother of toddler
We started working with Markus when my baby was only 10 months old as I’m a huge believer in early intervention and Markus played a big role in getting him to walk. He’s an OT but worked with our baby almost like a PT, combining sensory and movement HOLISTICALLY and really seemed to know how to connect our kiddo to his body. The improvement within only a few sessions was astounding.
“Uncle Markus” as my now toddler fondly calls him, also has such an incredible way of implementing therapy through deeply engaging play. My son never sees or reacts to Markus like it’s therapy but more like this is my fun uncle here to do throws, climbs, and games! Yet he is so thoughtful around each small and big decision during the hour, from the music to the physical exercises to the sensory activities, each step is well thought out and has a clear purpose that you can’t see if you’re simply observing. He brings the most cutting edge research from academia into practical exercises that have really transformed our son. We are so grateful to have him in our life and my son has been doing so well, racing past every milestone thanks to him!
In-person OT • Baby Treatment Virginia, mother of baby
We met Markus after our daughter was diagnosed with a type of skeletal dysplasia at 10 months of age. As first time parents, we were totally in the dark with what to do to empower our little one physically as she was notably falling behind her peers with milestones. Markus was warm and reassuring from day 1 - with our daughter and with us. She took to him immediately as they focused on physical exercises that would help her sit up straight, pull to stand and ultimately walk. It's not an easy feat to work with a defiant toddler (while making it fun for them!) but Markus knew just what to do and say to get her through these exercises.
He stayed with us for around 10 months and, with his help, she was able to walk within a "normal" timeframe, develop core strength and feel confident with simple movements. I would recommend Markus to anyone I know - his demeanor, attentiveness and creativity with exercises have made a world of a difference with our daughter.
In-person OT • Sensory Gym Design Deanne, mother of George
Markus worked with George from 3yrs - 5yrs with many consults in between. In the beginning, George was extremely rigid in his play, unable to self-regulate, and had tremendous challenges at school. When we started with Markus, George was lining up his toys & not letting anyone play with them and by the end of their first session they were driving his trucks around together. I witnessed George make huge progress with each session and they slowly built upon each other and George became less rigid. He even began to let others play with his toys and the toys at school.
Markus did a lot of Floortime work with George and I and often videoed it so I could rewatch and learn more. Sessions ranged from one hour up to 3 hours and George was better able to self-regulate after each session. Markus came to our home in NYC and set up a sensory gym and taught me how (and why) to use the swing, spinning board, and lots of exercises to improve his low muscle tone. This really helped before and after school to help him self regulate.
At school, the teachers were requesting help on how to work with George's challenges. Markus worked closely with them to give them ideas about what would work best for George.
Personally, I had read many books trying to help support George. I never fully understood George's challenges until Markus explained them to me. As a parent, I felt helpless at times not knowing how to support George. Markus helped me to understand George's unique differences and why they happen. I learned more from Markus than any book I read on how to support my child. He empowered me through his compassion, patience, and abundance of experience to feel confident in handling the challenges that come with a child with differences.
Markus has a magical way of connecting with everyone. His calm and connected approach really resonated with George and created trust.
In-person OT • OT Evaluations Ozlem, mother of Zozan
I came across the name, Markus Jarrow, when I was desperately researching for an occupational therapist who could help with my daughter’s sensory issues. His convincing article on sensory processing explained how sensory integration therapy can help children with their anxiety and develop confidence in them. I was thrilled to see that he was offering therapy in NYC.
From the first evaluation session on, Markus was a great observer, assessing changing needs, talents, and developments at every step. He had a deep sense of children’s and families’ wellbeing with a focus on both areas of strength to build upon and areas which are challenging for the individual child.
What impressed our family most was that Markus was not interested in picking a category for a child and offering therapy from this generalized category, such as autism, ADHD, etc. but rather figuring out the complexities of an individual child and coming up with each session accordingly. He was understanding, sympathetic, and playful. He challenged my daughter to help overcome her anxieties, but did so gently and playfully.
As a result, my daughter had great pleasure in going to each session, which was previously difficult with other therapists, who were too repetitive in their sessions. She considered Markus a good friend and remembers him as such, now years after our last session.
In-person OT John, father of Jaya
Markus is an extraordinary person and occupational therapist. From the first few minutes of our initial phone conversation, I knew we had finally found the person we were looking for in New York. Markus has a unique combination of authenticity, knowledge and skill, sensitivity, creativity and joyful care which makes him an extraordinary therapist. My nine year old son built an incredibly tight bond with Markus over the course of ~2 years and benefited enormously from the time they spent together. He looked forward to weekly OT sessions with Markus and was enthusiastic both about the fun he had, and the impact it had on his ability to focus his attention. We noticed marked improvement in the duration of our son's attention span and are grateful to Markus for all of his help. I can not recommend Markus enough.
In-person OT Carey, mother of Gavin
Markus was referred to us at a time when it seemed like there was no one else on the planet with the skills and knowledge to help my 3 year old son and I navigate the most difficult time in his life that we’d had so far. My son had completely stopped being able to tolerate wearing any clothing whatsoever, and at the time I had no idea what Sensory Processing Disorder was, or if we were ever going to be able to go out in the world together again. Markus was amazing at connecting and establishing trust with my child from the start. He taught me so much about SPD and helped me learn by demonstrating things like how to use dramatic play (such as pretending his stuffed animals were doing the talking) to help my son communicate with me. He is clearly gifted with children, dedicated to his work, cares for his clients well-being, and will go above and beyond to support them. I’ll be forever grateful to Markus and highly recommend his services.
In-person OT • OT Evaluations • Baby Treatment Amaiur, mother of Luken
I met Markus when my son Luken was 7 months old. We had just been told he had low muscle tone and he wasn’t meeting his milestones. It was a really scary time, not knowing how he would develop, or if any other issues would come up. Beginning therapy with Markus was the best thing that could have happened to us. My son LOVED working with him, they got to develop a very close relationship and that was very soothing for us as parents, knowing that we were in the best possible hands. Not only did he do an awesome job with Luken, using the NDT approach which did wonders for Luken, he also taught us how to work with him at home and made the whole journey of him getting better a pleasant one.
Not being from NYC or even the USA, we had no close relatives nearby, and knowing that Markus was there for Luken was very reassuring for me as a parent. He focused on his whole body rather than only on his low tone, working on his gross and fine motor skills as well as on his sensory issues. We are so grateful for all that he did for us.
In-person OT Jen, mother of Jamie
At two years old, my daughter’s sensory condition kept her at a distance with people, objects and food, which limited her ability to be comforted, socialize with peers and develop proper muscle tone. Textures caused extreme discomfort whereby getting dressed, bathing and eating became a daily struggle. Seemingly ordinary activities would induce an extreme emotional response due to her heightened sensory response.
I had become discouraged after ending 9 months of occupational therapy at a local facility. Each visit produced a great deal of tension and anxiety for my daughter and she was not able to bond with the therapist.
Our introductory session with Markus left a lasting impression. He was able to connect with my daughter at her level - gently, gradually and endearingly, building trust and confidence through playful activities that sparked her curiosity. In our follow up, Markus explained to me how my daughter was experiencing the world, finding the words that she could not speak herself. I went into the session a skeptic and emerged full of hope that I had found someone who could help.
Over the years, Markus has presided over my daughter’s treatment wholly attuned to her changing needs, interests and challenges. He is keenly aware when to make adjustments, push a little more, reinforce, regroup or switch gears. He equipped me with tools to support her between sessions and took a quick assessment of her present state prior to applying new therapeutic techniques.
It took me some time to understand that progress could not be measured incrementally from session to session. It presented more as a series of peaks and valleys, some sharper than others in both directions. Markus and I celebrated each tiny milestone that chipped away at my daughter’s defensive barrier.
Markus has committed to this journey with us for nine years. His continuous support has enabled my daughter to cope, function and thrive at every age. He has also been both my coach and cheerleader, reminding me of my strength, advising without judgment and bringing a welcome dose of humor into every interaction.
My daughter’s challenges were a mystery to me, but Markus understood her condition and knew exactly how to help her, and he knew how to help me help her. His continues to inspire my daughter to reach beyond herself week after week, as she grows and moves through the world.
In-person OT Taryn, mother of Ryan
Markus created a unique intensive home program for us, incorporating exercises and games for sensory processing integration, posture improvement, as well as core and body strengthening. He was able to target my son’s needs and continually modify the program to match his progress. As a homeschooling mom, it was wonderful to collaborate and incorporate these therapies into my son’s school day, taking normally rote curriculum and turning it into active, fun learning. Spelling and multiplication tables became favorites as we created a practice that involved jumping, spinning and rolling amongst other activities. My son, who never liked to sit still for very long, loved meeting these kinds of kinetic challenges, and as a result, the learning became concrete and lasting.
Markus is a real healer – he brings his therapeutic expertise as well as a profound sensitivity to each child’s unique needs, taking the time to form a personal bond. He brings energy and creativity to each session and has a super cool vibe. My son loved playing and hanging out with him, while also growing in strength, resilience and skill. He could talk with Markus about anything, including all things Pokemon. Markus was able to meet him on many levels, and create an environment in which he could feel safe, competent and keep growing in ability. He even built a rock climbing wall when my son showed interest.
When my son started OT with Markus, he was very anxious, had low frustration tolerance and couldn’t catch a ball from 8 feet away. In working with him, my son made incredible gains in strength, coordination, and problem solving. He became an accomplished competitive indoor rock climber, making it to top 10 at USA Climbing Bouldering Nationals, (twice!), as well as to top 3 at Canadian Bouldering Nationals. Without the work we did with Markus, I’m not sure he would have developed the problem-solving skills, strength, self-awareness, and self-confidence he has today. Nothing short of a miracle, really.
In-person OT Karen, mother of Abby
Our daughter started working with Markus when she was 2 years old. His compassion, kind demeanor and incredible skill at reaching all kinds of kids, changed her trajectory. Not only did he help her manage her sensory challenges in their sessions, he also set up equipment and a program at home that she loved. In addition, he identified language processing issues long before her teachers did. Markus was our captain and steered her (and our family) on the path to success and a more healthy and secure place for her in the world.
In-person OT • OT Evaluations • Therapy Intensives Mary, mother of Frank
My son Frank at age 5 was struggling with fine motor, gross motor and some weird sensory behaviors. As parents desperate for answers, we decided to take him to The SMILE Center in NYC for a week-long comprehensive evaluation and intensive therapy session. At home we were going from therapist to therapist without any progress. It was expensive, time consuming and stressful for my child.
At the SMILE Center we met Markus who immediately gave us tremendous insight into our son’s sensory and specific proprioceptive issues. Only then was I able to understand some of the unique behaviors. We literally saw progress after the first day.
Markus and his team coached us on a variety of techniques, so Frank could literally feel his body. Throughout the week we learned so much, and Frank had a blast swinging and jumping with no idea he was working really hard.
Regular trips to New York were not feasible, so instead Markus came to us for a consultation in Memphis. We set up a couple of swings and home modifications, and Markus coached my husband and I along with our local OT on how to perform a home program and best engage our son. Doing therapy daily at home ended up being way more cost efficient and effective for my son than racing around town to therapy appointments. Not to mention, both of my children thought it was really fun.
My only regret is that I could not talk Markus into moving to Memphis to open a practice here!
In-person OT • Baby Treatment Jen, mother of Phoenix
Our son has been working with Markus since he was 10 months old. We were frustrated with other programs and services and felt stuck until we met Markus. We've watched our son blossom, grow and steadily make progress on many fronts in large part thanks to Markus. He is warm, positive, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable, and our son lights up when they are together. We are so thankful he is part of our support system, and cannot recommend him highly enough!
In-person OT • Custom Equipment • OT Evaluations Lou / Kathy's mother
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