Denean Knapp, OTR/L
Pediatric occupational therapist with more than 22 years of experience and over a decade specializing in Craniosacral and Manual Therapy. Denean blends clinical training, hands-on therapeutic skill, movement education, and a deeply relational approach to caring for children, families, and adults seeking improved function, comfort, and whole-body wellness.
Twenty-plus years working with kids and families.
Throughout her career, Denean has worked extensively in school and educational settings, helping children develop the physical, sensory, motor, and functional skills needed to participate more fully in daily life. Her pediatric background gives her a strong understanding of child development, sensory processing, movement patterns, regulation, and the practical challenges families face as they support a child's growth.
From the water.
In addition to her occupational therapy work, Denean owned and operated an aquatic therapy company, giving her a unique background in therapeutic movement, body mechanics, and the restorative benefits of water-based intervention. This experience, combined with her lifelong connection to athletics and movement, continues to inform the way she approaches healing, mobility, and nervous-system support.
A gentler way to move.
Denean brings 15 years of experience as a yoga instructor. She developed the "Release Therapeutic Style" of yoga — a gentle, intentional approach designed to help clients slow down, release stored tension, improve body awareness, and reconnect with movement in a safe and restorative way.
Her yoga background complements her manual-therapy practice by integrating breath, alignment, relaxation, and mindful movement. Whether in a group class or a 1:1 session, the work centers on creating space for the nervous system to settle.
What CST actually is.
Picture the lightest possible touch — about the weight of a nickel — placed gently on your head, neck, lower back, or other tense spots, while you lie fully clothed in a quiet, dim room. The practitioner isn't pressing, kneading, or adjusting. They're listening to your body with their hands and giving your nervous system permission to let go. It's not deep-tissue massage, not chiropractic, not energy work — it's a recognized form of manual therapy used by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and osteopaths.
A major part of Denean's work centers on Craniosacral Manual Therapy, often referred to as CranioSacral Therapy or CST. Cleveland Clinic describes craniosacral therapy as a gentle, noninvasive hands-on technique that may be used alongside other forms of care to support pain relief, relaxation, and stress reduction.
CST focuses on the relationship between the body's structure, connective tissue, nervous system, and patterns of tension. In a session, the practitioner uses gentle contact around areas such as the head, neck, spine, sacrum, and other regions of the body where restriction or tension may be present. Sessions are usually quiet, fully clothed, and deeply calming, with the goal of supporting the body's natural ability to self-regulate.
Denean's approach to Craniosacral Manual Therapy is informed by her occupational therapy training, pediatric experience, yoga instruction, and advanced manual therapy education. She has trained with the Upledger Institute, an organization recognized for CranioSacral Therapy education, and with internationally respected manual therapy educator Dr. Ed Stiles. The Upledger Institute describes CST as a gentle, hands-on approach developed by Dr. John E. Upledger following work at Michigan State University from 1975 to 1983.
For Denean, Craniosacral Manual Therapy is not simply a technique; it is part of a broader commitment to seeing the whole person. Her work is client-centered, attentive, and individualized. She seeks to create a calm therapeutic environment where clients feel safe, respected, and supported. Whether working with children, families, or adults, Denean brings a combination of clinical insight, intuitive listening, and skilled touch to each session.
An athlete's understanding of the body.
Before her professional therapy career, Denean was an All-American swimmer at Texas A&M University. Her background as an elite athlete gives her a deep appreciation for discipline, body awareness, recovery, performance, and the connection between physical movement and emotional resilience.
Life outside the clinic.
Denean's life and work are grounded in her bold love for Jesus, her devotion to her daughter Presley, and her appreciation for family, friendship, learning, and community. Outside of her professional practice, she enjoys swimming, reading, spending time with loved ones, and continuing to grow personally and professionally.
Through her broad experience in occupational therapy, pediatric care, aquatic therapy, yoga, and Craniosacral Manual Therapy, Denean offers a distinctive and compassionate approach to care — one that honors the body, supports the nervous system, and meets each client with patience, skill, and genuine presence.
Want to work with Denean?
Restorative Bodywork is offered alongside Foundations Direct Care — visit the program page to see all four pathways, or head back to the team.