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What we do....
Step OuTside OT provides private pediatric Occupational Therapy Santa Clarita Valley and Castaic area. Therapy services are held either in the family's home or outdoors in the community. Additionally, clients can schedule sessions with Step Outside OT at a privately owned property located in Castaic, CA. Little Oak Ranch features a 1+ acre permaculture food forest garden, small duck pond, and edible plants for foraging. The outdoor space also offers opportunities to explore a variety of multi-sensory art mediums and loose parts play. The ranch includes interactions with farm animals such as ducks, chickens, goats, cats, and dogs. The ranch is home to beautiful large oak trees that provide plenty of shade and opportunities for kids to move their bodies and get their sensory needs met. StepOuTside OT is now a proud vendor with Regional Center's Self-Determination program. Funds for those who qualify, may be used for inclusive enrichment classes and camps which are held seasonally.
Jamie Cruz OTR/L
Who we are...
Jamie Cruz is a highly respected licensed pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of Step Outside OT, a nature-based occupational therapy practice serving children and families across the Santa Clarita Valley and Castaic, California. With close to 20 years of diverse experience in school-based OT, early intervention, and clinical settings, Jamie has developed a unique approach that blends evidence-based practice with the healing power of play, nature, and relationship.
Jamie’s work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe in their body, connected to their environment, and empowered in their daily life. Her sessions are child-led, strengths-based, and deeply attuned to each child’s sensory, emotional, and developmental needs. She sees therapy as a collaborative process—not only with the child but with the entire family system—and believes meaningful progress happens when children feel seen, valued, and supported just as they are.
She has a particular passion for supporting mental health and emotional regulation through sensory-informed, nature-immersed practices. Jamie incorporates the outdoors as a co-therapist, often using local Santa Clarita and Castaic parks, as well as private land at Little Oak Ranch—a peaceful permaculture garden and farm where she offers both individualized therapy and inclusive enrichment groups for neurodivergent children and their families.
Jamie is trained in Ayres Sensory Integration and has extensive experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, trauma histories, and sensory processing challenges. Her approach is grounded in compassion, connection, and the belief that behavior is communication.
Outside of her professional work, Jamie and her husband have homeschooled their three children for nine years and remain active members of their church community. Her children participate in local sports, and she loves cheering them on from the sidelines. Jamie is involved in the College of the Canyons Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee and is a founding member of the SCV Parents of Children with OCD Support Group. She also serves as a collaborative consultant for several play-based preschools in the Santa Clarita Valley, where she advocates for developmentally appropriate, inclusive practices. A passionate voice for children and families, Jamie continues to build bridges between therapeutic, educational, and community systems. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, boating, and competing in obstacle course races.
Little Oak Ranch
We are a family with 2 young kids living on a beautiful 2-acre ranch in Castaic. We’ve always had the goal of living off the grid and having a sustainable life. We started by learning to grow veggies, create a food forest, build an earth house, raise bees, chickens, ducks and goats! Our journey is looking for, or remembering, the way humans are supposed to live harmoniously with nature. We want to find like-minded people to join us, who share the strong belief of building a healthy community and environment for the younger generations.
Testimonials
"My kids love Ms Jamie. She makes learning so fun and she's very patient with the kids. We are so glad we found her. My son's handwriting has improved some much since we started!"
"Jamie has gone above and beyond for our family. She always has creative ideas and fun ways to use toys and objects in nature. We love coming to the ranch and exploring the garden. My child thrives in the outdoor setting and we see a big shift in his behavior at home"
" Jamie has a way of quickly connecting with kids and getting them excited about trying new things. She is able to challenge my daughter in a way that has really improved her coordination but most importantly, her confidence."