Why Families Choose The Zigzag Flow
"Finally, someone who sees my child's strengths first."
Label
Neurodiversity-Affirming
We celebrate each child's unique way of being
in the world
Label
Family-Centered
Your child's natural environments and your family's goals guide our work
Label
Evidence-Based
Proven methods like DIR® combined with innovative Co-Flow® strategies
Label
Flexible Locations
Home, clinic, childcare, or community settings
Label
Whole-Team Approach
Coordinated care that includes all the important people in your child's life
Our Mission
We bring providers, caregivers, and educators together to understand each child’s unique profile so they can reach their fullest potential. More than therapy, The Zigzag Flow is about building stronger communities, celebrating differences, and helping children flourish through connection.
Driven by a deep belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive, we've created a human-centered, holistic program delivering flexible, evidence-based supports. Grounded in compassion and connection, our work empowers caregivers, therapists, and families to nurture meaningful development.
Our Director
Natalie Kitts, MS, OTR/L
Bio
Natalie Kitts, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist, entrepreneur, and leader with over 15 years of experience supporting children and families. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Kean University and has worked extensively across early intervention, school-based practice, parent coaching, and private practice.
In 2019, Natalie became the first provider to deliver Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based (DIR) services through New Jersey’s Medicaid system as the founder of Foundations 4 Function, LLC. She later served as Clinical Director at Positive Development, Inc., where she led the expansion of the Northern New Jersey market from its inception to serving hundreds of families.
Inspired by her professional journey and her personal experience as a parent of a neurodivergent child, Natalie is dedicated to building therapist-led systems that empower providers, deliver high-quality care, and create meaningful outcomes for families. She is a frequent presenter on topics including executive function, sensory processing, self-regulation, and transdisciplinary teamwork, and co-developed the Foundations of Executive Functions program for occupational therapists.
Outside of her professional work, Natalie enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, traveling, and adventuring with her family.
Our Guiding Philosophy
Celebrating Differences. Building Connection. Nurturing Growth.
At The Zigzag Flow, our philosophy rests on the belief that every child’s development unfolds uniquely—and that deep, attuned relationships are the bridge to growth. We combine insights from neurodiversity, developmental science, and relational therapy to help children thrive, not just adapt.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices
We believe that neurodevelopmental differences are natural variations of the human brain—not deficits to be “fixed.” The neurodiversity movement invites us to shift from correction to connection, celebrating a child’s strengths while supporting their challenges. Our work centers on helping each child feel seen, valued, and capable in a world that isn’t always designed with their needs in mind.
DIR® Principles
Rooted in the Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR) model, our approach meets every child where they are. Growth begins with relationships, emotionally meaningful, play-based interactions that build trust, spark curiosity, and expand a child’s capacity for thinking, feeling, and relating.
Honoring Individual Differences
Every child has a distinct motor, sensory, emotional, and cognitive profile that shapes how they engage with the world. We take time to understand those unique patterns—because true confidence grows from being deeply understood. Instead of focusing on surface behaviors, we look beneath them to uncover what the child is communicating, allowing us to tailor interactions and environments that feel safe and supportive.
The State of Flow
Flow is the state of joyful engagement—where a challenge feels “just right.” For children, flow often emerges through play. When flow happens together—between caregiver and child—something remarkable occurs: bodies synchronize, stress decreases, and connection deepens. These moments of shared flow foster co-regulation, paving the way for self-regulation and lifelong emotional resilience.
How We Do It: The Co-Flow Framework
Where Development Meets Connection
Our Co-Flow Framework transforms evidence-based therapies into a deeply personalized, relationship-centered process. We bring together expertise from multiple disciplines and weave it into one cohesive, whole-child experience.
Transdisciplinary Therapy Teams
Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Mental Health Specialists collaborate—not in parallel, but in partnership. Together, they create unified goals that reflect the whole child rather than focus on isolated skills.
Sensory Integration Strategies
By understanding how each child processes sensory information, we can design experiences that organize and calm their nervous systems. When a child feels regulated and safe in their body, engagement, learning, and joy follow naturally.
Communication Development
Communication is more than words—it’s the rhythm of shared attention, emotion, and intention. We nurture all forms of communication—verbal, nonverbal, and emotional—helping children connect meaningfully with others through co-regulation and back-and-forth interaction.
Social-Emotional Focused Activities
Our sessions are designed to strengthen the heart of development: emotional connection. Through play, movement, and attuned relationships, children learn to read cues, manage feelings, and build trust. These skills become the foundation for flexibility, confidence, and empathy.
The Functional Emotional Developmental Approach
Using the DIR® model, we guide children through the natural developmental milestones that support thinking, relating, and self-regulation. By emphasizing connection first, we open the door to emotional, social, and cognitive growth that lasts far beyond the therapy room.
Comprehensive Family Systems Support
Families are the heartbeat of a child’s progress. We empower caregivers with the understanding, tools, and confidence to continue the work at home—because when families grow together, change becomes sustainable.
The Co-Flow Difference
Connection First. Growth Always.
The Co-Flow Method brings everything together—neurodiversity-affirming values, developmental insight, and relational flow- into one cohesive system for growth.
In Co-Flow, we don’t stand apart from the child’s focus; we join it. Together, we build on moments of curiosity and joy, co-creating pathways for learning and regulation. Through this shared engagement, children experience safety, mastery, and connection; the essential ingredients for development.
The result: deeper relationships, greater self-awareness, and lasting emotional resilience.
That’s the Co-Flow Difference; where connection unlocks development.
Locations We Serve
Northern New Jersey Counties:
Morris County
Hunterdon County
Somerset County
Essex County
Passaic County
Warren County
Sussex County
The Flow Therapy Center
Coming Soon.
Ready to Begin Your Child's Journey?
Every child's path to growth is unique. Let us help you understand your child's individual profile and create a support plan that celebrates their differences while organizing their development.