Joint Effort Physical Therapy

05/28/2026

Do any of these behaviors sound familiar? What often seems like poor behavior is actually just a child who can’t regulate their nervous system. Most children don’t want to do bad things, they just don’t have the ability to control their behaviors. If your child presents with any of these behaviors, and you’re at a loss of how to deal with it, reach out so we can point you in the right direction.

05/24/2026

Hi! I’m Aviva Lazarus,DPT-founder of Joint Effort Therapy 💜
I’m a pediatric physical therapist specializing in DIRFloortime®, sensory integration, emotional regulation, motor development, and helping children build confidence through connection and play.

I created Joint Effort Therapy because I truly believe that every child deserves to feel understood, supported, and capable — and that meaningful progress happens when we first build trust and connection.

My approach is playful, relationship-based, and individualized to each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Whether your child struggles with sensory processing, motor skills, regulation, coordination, social interaction, or confidence, my goal is to help them grow in a way that feels safe, engaging, and empowering.

📍Serving families in Suffern, Wesley Hills, Monsey, Pomona, Chestnut Ridge, Spring Valley, Airmont, and surrounding Rockland County areas.

Follow along for:✨ Parent tips✨ Sensory & regulation education✨ Child development insights✨ DIRFloortime strategies✨ Practical tools for everyday life

Connection first. Growth follows. 💫

ChildDevelopment SensoryProcessing EmotionalRegulation PlayBasedTherapy RocklandCounty SuffernNY Monsey WesleyHills PomonaNY ChestnutRidge AirmontNY SpringValleyNY RocklandMoms HudsonValleyMoms SpecialNeedsParenting ChildTherapy PediatricPhysicalTherapy

02/11/2026

Welcome to my page!! Just to introduce myself, my name is Aviva Lazarus. I am a pediatric physical therapist, Floor time (Play) Therapist, and highly trained in sensory integration. I work with children of all ages, from babies until teens, dealing with a whole range of challenges. I specialize in social challenges, behavioral, emotional, and physical. I also work with a lot of clients remotely, if you’re not local! Follow along for daily information, and tools and tips, and of course reach out with any questions!

02/05/2026

12/30/2025

03/23/2022

Spot markers are a great way to create a visual for the child to know where to jump and make it more exciting and dynamic!

03/21/2022

Sensory swings not only help to cultivate children’s sense of balance and physical senses, but also provides children with a fun play space and a quiet and comfortable place to rest.

03/18/2022

Aliza was so excited to pose for a picture!

She came in very fearful and is now swinging around like a monkey!

Thanks for being our cutest therapy model!!

03/14/2022

A Bosu Ball is a great piece of exercise equipment for adults and children alike.

A Bosu helps to work on balance, trunk control, strength, endurance, motor planning and body awareness.

A Bosu is flat on the bottom and round on the top; and it can be used either with the flat side down on the floor or with the round side on the floor. Even a more simple body position, such as lying in prone (on stomach) over the Bosu, with your hands flat on the floor, and arms and shoulders supporting your body in an extended position, really helps to work on your upper back and neck strength, endurance, and weight bearing through your upper body.

03/11/2022

Meet the bosu ball.

Although this is not an item geared to children and is very popular in most gyms, the bosu ball is something we use here often to encourage activating core muscles to improve balance as well as core/leg strength.

We use it in a variety of different fun ways.

Our girls group, who a few weeks ago were unable to even stand on it for even a second, are now jumping off it like pros! 😃