Biography

Tracey DeMaria began her professional journey began in 1992 in  Colorado as an undergraduate at Colorado State University, where she  studied occupational therapy. After college, she worked in clinic and  farm-based occupational therapy settings, learning about the power of  music, animals, and the earth for helping children and adults play,  regulate, grow, and flourish.

Upon  moving home to the east coast in 1997, Tracey settled in North Western New Jersey, where she worked in outpatient clinics, early intervention,  schools, and hospitals. She ultimately became owner and director of  Sensation Whole Child Center, LLC where, for many years, she honed her skills through advanced training (SIPT certification, STEP-SI, etc.) and clinical work. She hosted parent advocacy groups and guest speakers,  ran therapy groups and camps, housed a parent resource library, and assisted with educational advocacy for parents of children with  disabilities. Tracey has always been passionate about mental health and sensory processing and has provided countless lectures about these  topics at the national, state, and local level over the years, including the American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference and the School Social Workers National Conference.

In 2007, Tracey moved away from private practice to devote more time to her role as a parent. Since then, Tracey has worked in public schools as an occupational therapist. She  continued her professional studies in the field of occupational therapy and attended Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Tracey  first received a  post-professional master's degree and eventually earned her Doctorate in  occupational therapy in 2015. Recently, she has begun her sharing her love and knowledge of OT as an adjunct professor in the Occupational Therapy Master's program at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA.

In addition to being a full-time clinician and adjunct professor, Tracey is an author with her first book, How to Surf the Waves: A Sensory and Emotional Regulation Curriculum, is currently in he publication process with an anticipated release date of September 2023. She also has a chapter Surviving the Tsunami in the book, Life After Lockdown: Changing Perceptions of Autism.

Tracey  lives in Easton, PA. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 22 years, her teenage son, and their two dogs, Max and  Navigator.  Tracey is proudly neurodiverse and passionate about helping people, young and old,  learn about the power of sensory and emotional regulation.