OUR FOUNDER
Octavia is the Owner/Founder, Lead Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and CEO of “Outside the Box”. The program was started in her living room in 2007 with ten (10) original OTB moms! It all started with the idea that parents could learn to teach their children “through play”. Sensory learning at that time was prioritized primarily for special needs children, but she saw the need for it with “typical” children as well. Octavia was a certified Labor Doula, Childbirth Educator, International Infant Massage Instructor, Reiki Practitioner, Massage Therapist, Hypnosis Instructor for labor and delivery, and Reflexologist. Her career changed drastically in 2000 when she changed professions from the corporate world to a much more holistic arena helping parents and their children. She is the mother of three adult children herself. Her academic background started in Law, then transitioned into Medicine when she lost her 4-year-old sister to cancer in 1990. She stayed in the Hematology-Oncology field until moving to Industry in 2001 where she was then the Director of Operations for a Medical Education company that specialized in HIV and Urology research. It was when she became pregnant with her 3rd child that she decided to switch professions and started dedicating her life to families. Her interest in the human brain was apparent in college where she studied Child Development, Sociology, and Neuroscience.
After working with many families and children, she decided she wanted to concentrate on helping parents learn infant massage, especially parents with children that were experiencing colic, premature birth, or sleep disturbances. Her interest in the infant brain grew stronger, and that is when the concept for an educational program for infants with “developmental value and benefit” came into existence. It was obvious that many parents were not exactly sure how to “play” and/or just have fun with their young infants, and of course, the obvious benefit of attachment and bonding was important. Octavia felt that this needed to be remedied! Octavia is an avid researcher and started researching the value and importance of multi-stimulation in the infant brain, and how to accomplish this through specifically designed activities. Following much of the work of Physicians/Scientists such as Margot Sunderland, Dan Siegel, T. Berry Brazelton, and Stanely Greenspan – the program was designed to teach parents activities to participate with their babies at home, build community, and enhance attachment and bonding. These groups were not designed to create an environment that is attached to accomplishing milestones, rather, develop a pathway for future learning. Octavia feels strongly that the learning and stimulation that the infants receive today will create a pattern of healthy stimulation, learning, and brain function for the future. As well, socialization is a main objective. OTB is committed to assisting parents in becoming their child’s “first and most effective” teacher!
Octavia is committed to creating an environment for children where their brains can grow. She is the founder of the adult program “Brain Builders” which focuses on seniors with dementia, cognitive decline in adults, and head trauma. She is a public speaker and has two unique and popular learning lectures that she presents frequently entitled “The Science of Sleep” and “The Science of Tantrums”. Octavia was also the Owner of a Metaphysical Health & Wellness Center called “Breathe” (www.breathewh.com) and a Sensory Center for Children called “Blue Planet” (www.blueplanet4kids.com). Both were located in Woodland Hills.
New developments for Octavia inlcude the closure of the Woodlamd Hills Center location in May, 2026, the move of Breathe to Northride, the clsoure of Blue Planet, and the continuance of Outside the Box with mobile/satellite field classes only. Octavia is relocating to Sedona, AZ where she will work with a Center there committed to Metaphysical Healing modalities, such as a Tachyon Chamber, Light Table, Sound/Frequency Table and more. She will also be launching her “Brain Builders”program there, that services seniors with all types of Cognitive Decline, such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She will also be working with military veterans suffering from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
Octavia is the mother of three adult children, the grandmother to one, and has three Pit Bull fur-babies. She is married, 26 years.