Occupational Therapy Clinics in San Diego, CA

Out-of-pocket pediatric occupational therapy in San Diego generally runs about $120–$250 per session at private practices, with evaluations costing more. Many providers accept commercial insurance and Medi-Cal, which can reduce your cost to a copay or to $0 for covered, medically necessary services. Military families can also use TRICARE for covered OT, and in-home or intensive models may be priced differently, so confirm rates directly with the provider.

Many California plans cover occupational therapy when it is medically necessary, and Medi-Cal covers OT for eligible children. Because San Diego is home to a large military population, many families use TRICARE for covered pediatric OT — confirm participation with each clinic. Some practices are out-of-network and provide a superbill for reimbursement, and the San Diego Regional Center can fund OT through California's Early Start for qualifying children under three. Verify benefits before starting.

For children, occupational therapy helps them build the skills they need for daily life: fine motor and handwriting skills, sensory processing and self-regulation, visual-motor integration, motor planning and coordination, feeding and picky eating, and self-care tasks like dressing. OTs often support children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and developmental delays.

How long are occupational therapy sessions for children?

Most pediatric OT sessions in San Diego last 30 to 60 minutes, typically once or twice a week. Initial evaluations usually take 60 to 90 minutes. Some clinics also offer intensive models that compress more therapy into a shorter period.

Yes. Several San Diego-area OT providers — including Eat. Play. Love. Occupational Therapy, Radiant Kids Therapy, Kids on the POINT OT, and Collaborative Occupational Therapy Solutions — offer in-home, studio, or virtual services, treating children in homes, schools, and community settings in addition to clinic-based care.

How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?

Consider an OT evaluation if your child struggles with handwriting or fine motor tasks, is over- or under-sensitive to sensory input, has trouble with self-care like dressing or feeding, is an extremely picky eater, avoids age-appropriate play, or has difficulty with attention and self-regulation. A pediatrician referral, a San Diego Regional Center assessment, or a direct evaluation can clarify whether OT would help.

It varies by practice rather than by city, so it is worth asking when you call — a clinic with a long wait for weekly therapy will often book an evaluation much sooner, and some hold cancellation slots. Because of that, most families contact more than one practice on this page rather than waiting on the first. If your child is under three, your state's early intervention program runs on its own timeline and is worth starting in parallel.