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Professional Mentoring with Karen

1-on-1 Mentoring Appointments with Get Permission Institute Co-Founder Karen Dilfer, OTR/L







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Welcome to GPI Mentoring

We look forward to supporting you! If you are struggling to make progress with a client or complex case and unsure of your next step, private mentoring will give you the tools to strengthen your clinical reasoning and move forward with confidence.

To get started, you'll complete a case review form before your initial meeting. From there, you and Karen will explore what's already working, problem-solve together, and identify how to apply Get Permission Principles and treatment strategies to keep your client progressing.

This is a great fit for therapists supporting children with emotional regulation or mealtime difficulties, anxious eaters, and infants and toddlers.

Packages designed to fit your needs

We offer packages of 1, 3, or 5 sessions with your mentor. We recommend purchasing at least 3 sessions so you can work with your mentor to establish a clear goal, follow up on your progress, and adjust your approach as needed.

Meet Karen

The Official Bio

Founder and Senior Instructor Karen Dilfer, MS, OTR/L

Karen Dilfer is an occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and food enthusiast. She has a strong pediatric background and loves to help children with motor, sensory, and mealtime challenges. A Chicago native, Karen enjoys discovering new restaurants and cooking with friends and family. She is a founding member of the Chicago Feeding Group, a non profit organization that seeks to support parents and professions who work with children who struggle to eat. Karen was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune. Karen has a bachelor of science degree from Calvin College and a master’s of science degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) trained and has also completed post-graduate education in Sensory Integration. Karen trained under Marsha Dunn Klein at Mealtime Connections, LLC, in Tucson, Arizona. Karen is a contributing member to the Get Permission team and regularly teaches Get Permission workshops and webinars. She maintains a private practice and actively treats children with feeding challenges. You can learn more about her work here: www.eatwithkaren.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

More detail on how professional 1-on-1 mentoring works

No, Karen will work with any professional practitioner, across disciplines, including OT, SLP,  MD, R/D, and early intervention providers. 

1 on 1 professional mentoring is not designed for parents or caregivers.

After purchasing your session, you'll be able to book via Karen's online scheduler, which will show available timeframes to request your session. 

Karen continues as a active practitioner with clients and childhood development, so her availability can shift from week to week.

While it's not required, many of the GPI courses cover the core concepts that we build on for advanced cases-the courses are highly encouraged.

Sessions range from 45-50 minutes

Coaching sessions will be scheduled via Zoom or Google Meet to meet HIPAA compliance. 

Email Karen at [email protected] to discuss options that might work better for you.

Still have questions?

Head back to our main page — we'd love to help.

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MEET KAREN

Let's Talk

Hey there! When I started my career, I had the degree and credentials, but nothing compared to the incredible practical experience I gained with Marsha Dunn Klein. 

Now after 20 years of my own experience treating kids, I'd love to help you in the same way. Together, I believe we can:

  • Build your confidence on applying Get Permission principles
  • Find breakthroughs for tricky clients
  • Accelerate your professional experience and career
  • Help the children (and families) who depend on you!