Chelsea Gonzalez, OTD, OTR/L
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
| Post Graduate Education: | Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona — Doctor of Occupational Therapy |
| Undergraduate Degree: | University of Nevada, Reno — Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Bachelor of Arts, Spanish Literature & Language; Minor, Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment Services; Undergraduate Counseling Certification, Abuse and Addiction Treatment Services |
| Other Skills: | Proficient in Spanish Conversant in American Sign Language |
| Associations & Certifications: | American Society of Hand Therapists American Occupational Therapy Association Arizona Occupational Therapy Association Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment Services Registered Behavior Technician Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society Psy Chi International Honor Society |
BIO
Chelsea Gonzalez is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy, licensed Occupational Therapist, and Hand Therapist at Great Basin Orthopaedics.
She specializes in pediatric therapy and sports medicine occupational therapy, as well as neuromotor and congenital anomalies. Her goal with patients is to help them return to the activities that bring them joy — from playing guitar to caring for grandchildren. Her therapeutic treatments are designed to build the specific skills patients need in order to return to their daily activities.
Growing up, Chelsea played a lot of sports, and got a lot of sports injuries, including a pair of concussions, a broken elbow, shoulder, humerus, hand, foot, a few fingers and ribs. Her first-hand experience with orthopaedic therapists helping her get back to doing the things she loved made the specialty a natural fit for her.
During college, Chelsea Gonzalez got a glimpse of what her professional life could look like when she went to Mexico on a church mission and met a group of American occupational therapists working with orphaned children. Seeing the incredible progress the children and their caregivers made in a short period of time — and the joy the therapists took in their work — inspired her career path.
After that life-changing trip to Mexico, Chelsea returned to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), knowing she wanted to pursue a career in occupational therapy (OT). She earned dual degrees in Psychology and Spanish Literature & Language, along with a certificate in Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment from UNR. She continued her education at Northern Arizona University where she earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy.
Through her doctoral studies, Chelsea gained extensive experience with pediatric hand and occupational therapy, post-surgical hand therapy, and neurologic therapy. She was a co-author on a study of upper extremity injuries. She also spent several years working with the visually impaired and their use of adaptive technology. Chelsea is conversant in American Sign Language (ASL) and proficient in Spanish.
Chelsea was raised in Los Angeles (Disneyland was her playground) and Placerville. She met her husband at UNR during her undergraduate studies. Together they enjoy travel and outdoor adventure, including backpacking, snowboarding, water sports and hiking.
