What our families are saying:
"You're growing such a wonderful practice into something even more wonderful - if that's possible. It's really awesome and I feel so fortunate to be part of it. Our child has come so far and we're so lucky to have you and everyone at Peer Projects Therapy From the Heart. I hope you know how much we think of you and you have such talented, passionate therapists working there."
"On the OT side, our son spent a year working with Mary Lou. He and I both learned more about physical interventions to address being overstimulated, and as a result have adopted a whole-body mindset when it comes to solving problems. Can't recommend these programs enough. The staff members are smart, caring, just the right mix of firm and fun. We've learned a lot, and progressed. Thanks!"
"Linda and her team are fantastic!"
Our Story
Mary Lou Gagnon OTR/L is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience working with children in both clinic-based and school system practice. She also holds a degree in Elementary Education and taught in private and public school settings prior to choosing to stay at home to raise her two children. Mary Lou was a founding member of the Danvers Special Education Parent’s Advisory Committee, serving 8 years as the president. During this time, she also served on the Massachusetts Regional Advisory Board for Special Education and volunteered at the Office for Children compiling resources for after school activities for children with special needs.
After many years of working long hours as a stay at home mom, her husband urged her to slow down to pursue her interest in Occupational Therapy. Mary Lou returned to school and found her passion in this field, first in adult rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities, then in outpatient therapy and pediatric practice.
Mary Lou has a strong commitment to continuing education. She has advanced training in sensory processing and is certified in the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. She is a provider for Integrated Listening Systems and the Advanced Brain Technologies therapeutic listening programs and is a certified provider for Interactive Metronome. She is trained in Brain Gym, Musgatova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration, and Myofascial Release. Mary Lou has advanced training in Cranial Sacral Therapy for adults and children, serving as a teaching assistant for the Upledger Institute.
Mary Lou has been a visiting instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Salem State University teaching Pediatric Occupational Therapy and Clinical Reasoning and Professional Judgment courses. She has presented on Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, The Impact of Disabilities on Family Quality of Life, Using Movement to Enhance Classroom Performance, and Sensory Integration in local schools. In 2012, Mary Lou found new joy in her occupational therapy practice when Linda invited her to join forces to create Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, walking her dog, and doing yoga.
After many years of working long hours as a stay at home mom, her husband urged her to slow down to pursue her interest in Occupational Therapy. Mary Lou returned to school and found her passion in this field, first in adult rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities, then in outpatient therapy and pediatric practice.
Mary Lou has a strong commitment to continuing education. She has advanced training in sensory processing and is certified in the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. She is a provider for Integrated Listening Systems and the Advanced Brain Technologies therapeutic listening programs and is a certified provider for Interactive Metronome. She is trained in Brain Gym, Musgatova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration, and Myofascial Release. Mary Lou has advanced training in Cranial Sacral Therapy for adults and children, serving as a teaching assistant for the Upledger Institute.
Mary Lou has been a visiting instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Salem State University teaching Pediatric Occupational Therapy and Clinical Reasoning and Professional Judgment courses. She has presented on Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, The Impact of Disabilities on Family Quality of Life, Using Movement to Enhance Classroom Performance, and Sensory Integration in local schools. In 2012, Mary Lou found new joy in her occupational therapy practice when Linda invited her to join forces to create Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, walking her dog, and doing yoga.
Linda Murphy M.S., CCC-SLP, CEIS (she/her) has been working with individuals, ranging from infant to adulthood, for over 25 years. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Boston College in 1993 but after working for two years with adults with developmental disabilities in supported work and residential settings, she discovered her true passion and pursued a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Emerson College. Linda began her career as an speech language pathologist in Early Intervention. There she gained experience working within a variety of natural environments, working as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing service coordination for families, and acting as senior supervisor to the speech language pathologists on staff. Linda has completed additional graduate courses in infant/toddler development and vision impairment, is a Certified Early Intervention Specialist, and has received formal training in PROMPT.
Consideration of the whole family and thinking about how to make therapy meaningful across settings have remained priorities for Linda since her beginnings in EI. This led her to Relationship Development Intervention® (RDI), and in 2007 she became an RDI Consultant. She brings this clinical expertise to all sessions and is dedicated to educating others on the powerful ways of thinking and being with others that RDI emphasizes. Linda has published several articles in magazines including Autism Spectrum Quarterly Magazine and Autism Asperger's Digest on these topics, and co-authored the book Social Thinking and Me with Michelle Garcia Winner. She also wrote Declarative Language Handbook: Using a Thoughtful Language Style to Help Kids with Social Learning Challenges Feel Competent, Connected and Understood, released in March 2020!
In addition to providing therapy, Linda regularly provides trainings to parents and professionals on topics near and dear to her heart such as RDI, dynamic communication, social pragmatics, and how to create authentic, sustained peer interactions. She founded Peer Projects in 2005 upon starting a social pragmatics group for preschoolers at Emerson College. Though initially started out of the back of Linda's car, Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart has grown to offer a range of services provided by highly skilled and dedicated clinicians who have worked closely with Linda over the years. She is thrilled to now be partnered with Mary Lou and Therapy from the Heart, and continues to learn from her team members every day. When she is not working, Linda is kept quite busy at home with her family life and two young, energetic boys!
Consideration of the whole family and thinking about how to make therapy meaningful across settings have remained priorities for Linda since her beginnings in EI. This led her to Relationship Development Intervention® (RDI), and in 2007 she became an RDI Consultant. She brings this clinical expertise to all sessions and is dedicated to educating others on the powerful ways of thinking and being with others that RDI emphasizes. Linda has published several articles in magazines including Autism Spectrum Quarterly Magazine and Autism Asperger's Digest on these topics, and co-authored the book Social Thinking and Me with Michelle Garcia Winner. She also wrote Declarative Language Handbook: Using a Thoughtful Language Style to Help Kids with Social Learning Challenges Feel Competent, Connected and Understood, released in March 2020!
In addition to providing therapy, Linda regularly provides trainings to parents and professionals on topics near and dear to her heart such as RDI, dynamic communication, social pragmatics, and how to create authentic, sustained peer interactions. She founded Peer Projects in 2005 upon starting a social pragmatics group for preschoolers at Emerson College. Though initially started out of the back of Linda's car, Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart has grown to offer a range of services provided by highly skilled and dedicated clinicians who have worked closely with Linda over the years. She is thrilled to now be partnered with Mary Lou and Therapy from the Heart, and continues to learn from her team members every day. When she is not working, Linda is kept quite busy at home with her family life and two young, energetic boys!
In November 2012, Mary Lou and Linda partnered to form Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart, thereby bringing their clinical skills, varied areas of expertise, and talented teams together under one roof. After having many opportunities to work together informally, Mary Lou and Linda found that they shared many values in working with families: the importance of including families as much as possible in treatment, maintaining the quality of their work by not becoming too big, and providing a space for families to come and feel comfortable. They both also believe in meeting children where they are, accepting them for who they are, and helping them to become the best that they can be. They hope that together their team will be able to meet a variety of needs.