For families actually living in Dehradun and across Uttarakhand, the starting point is a familiar one: a pediatric occupational therapist trained specifically in children's sensory, motor and developmental needs is not something the Doon Valley has in easy supply, and hill-state travel to reach one elsewhere adds real time and difficulty most families would rather avoid. An online consultation removes that barrier - the same assessment, guidance and therapy planning a specialist clinic would offer, without the travel.
This holds even within Dehradun itself, and more so for families in the smaller hill towns across Uttarakhand - Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Nainital, Mussoorie and beyond - where hill terrain can turn what looks like a short distance on a map into a genuinely long, winding drive. An online consultation removes that terrain problem entirely: the same consultation is available whether you're in central Dehradun or a couple of hours up into the hills. Families typically reach out around familiar concerns - sensory overwhelm, delayed motor skills, handwriting difficulty, or a child who simply isn't settling into school the way a parent expected - and a first consultation is a low-pressure way to get a clear, honest read on what's going on.
Dr. Charu Arora, a Delhi-based pediatric occupational therapist, works online with Dehradun and Uttarakhand families on the concerns that most commonly bring a child to occupational therapy: sensory sensitivities to sound, touch or movement; delayed motor milestones; handwriting and fine motor coordination; gross motor and balance difficulties; independence in daily self-care routines; and difficulty settling into school or play with peers. This applies to children with a diagnosis of autism or ADHD, a general developmental delay, and children where a parent has a concern but no diagnosis has been made yet. Our pages on sensory processing therapy, gross motor and coordination therapy and self-care and daily living skills therapy cover these areas in more depth.
Sessions are conducted over video, during the 9 AM-1:30 PM daily online consultation window, with simple household materials and a parent working alongside the therapist and child throughout.
For School Counsellors & House-Parents
Dehradun and the wider Doon Valley are home to a large number of boarding schools, drawing students from across India and, in some cases, abroad. School counsellors and house-parents are often the first to notice when a child is struggling - with handwriting, with sensory overwhelm in a hostel or classroom environment, with coordination, or with settling into routines - well before a family based elsewhere is even aware there's a concern.
If you're a school counsellor or house-parent who has noticed something in a student and want to help connect their family with a pediatric occupational therapist, online consultation is a practical way to do that even though the student's parents may be based in another city or country entirely. The family can consult directly with Dr. Arora online, on their own schedule, without needing to travel to Dehradun or coordinate an in-person visit at the school. If this is a situation you're navigating, reach out via our contact page or have the family book a consultation directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
We live in Dehradun - is it worth trying online therapy before looking for someone locally?
Online consultation with a specialist pediatric OT is often more practical than continuing to search locally, given how limited dedicated pediatric occupational therapy still is within Uttarakhand. It's a complete, standalone option, not a stopgap.
I'm a house-parent/counsellor at a Dehradun boarding school - can I refer a family directly, or does it have to come from the parents?
The consultation itself is booked by the family or the student's guardian, but you're welcome to flag your observations to them and point them toward booking - many families appreciate a school raising a concern early and directly.
If a student is at boarding school in Dehradun but their parents live elsewhere, how do sessions work logistically?
Sessions are held over video during the 9 AM-1:30 PM window, and can be joined by the parents from wherever they are based, with the student available at school if that's practical, or during a break at home - this is worked out individually with the family.
Does the school need to be formally involved in the therapy process?
No - occupational therapy sessions and the resulting home programme are built around the child and family. A school's role, if any, is something the family decides on, not something the practice requires.