Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Carol Leibovich-Mankes.
Hi Dr. Carol, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since childhood, I’ve felt a deep pull to support others and help them grow, an instinct that only intensified as I faced infertility, parented a child with learning differences, and endured the profound loss of my husband and my mother within three weeks. Those experiences reshaped me in ways I never expected, teaching me resilience, compassion, and the value of true connection. Today, those lessons guide how I walk beside families and children through their challenges, helping them find steadiness, hope, and the strength that’s already within them.
Professionally, for more than two decades, I’ve worked as a pediatric occupational therapist, inspired by the resilience and potential in every child. I’ve worked with children facing developmental delays, learning differences, and emotional or behavioral challenges, and I’ve seen firsthand how they thrive when the adults in their lives understand their unique needs and come together to support them. I believe deeply in every child’s potential and am committed to helping each one shine in their own way.
My journey as a parent became another powerful teacher. I supported my daughter as she navigated learning differences that challenged her confidence and sense of belonging. Walking beside her strengthened my compassion, sharpened my advocacy for children who feel misunderstood or overlooked, and deepened my understanding of the need for families and children to be supported and guided through these challenges. Through this journey, I also connected with parents on a deeper, more personal level, a connection that continues to inform my work today.
As my work expanded, I began writing and speaking to reach more families and educators with clear, compassionate guidance. I wrote On the Road to Handwriting Success: A Resource Guide for Therapists, Teachers, and Parents to help families and educators understand the foundational skills behind effective handwriting and learning. I also authored My Brain, My Body, and Me: The Inside Story, a children’s book that introduces self-regulation, emotional literacy, sensory processing, and body awareness in a simple, empowering way. Building on that book, I created a program with practical tools, strategies, and an in-person group, giving children real-life opportunities to practice and apply these skills every day.
Guiding children and families through the grief process remains a meaningful part of my work. My daughter and I co-authored Sophie’s Butterflies: A Story of Love, Loss, and the Power of Healing to help young hearts navigate loss with gentleness and hope. I also contributed to Shattered Silence: Stories of Loss and Healing. These works remind young readers and adults alike that while we may never fully move past grief, we can grow through it with courage, connection, and hope. My belief is that transformation and healing are possible when we approach life with an open, resilient mindset.
In addition to clinical work, I served as an adjunct professor and currently mentor occupational therapy students at the master’s and doctoral levels. I’m also involved in continuing education platforms for professionals, helping them stay current with the latest research, strategies, and best practices. This work keeps me engaged with emerging developments, inspires the next generation of therapists, and ensures my practice evolves alongside the changing needs of children and families.
Today, I teach, write, and lead groups and programs for parents, educators, and children, sharing the insights and strategies I have gained over more than two decades of professional experience and personal growth. I also speak about “Boundless Living,” my approach to nurturing self-care, mindset, and emotional growth, because I believe that when adults heal and strengthen themselves, the children around them flourish. Every step of my journey from my childhood calling to my professional work and personal challenges has shaped this mission and continues to guide everything I do.
Families and readers who want to learn more can visit my websites: www.KerenOrProject.org, www.thehandwritingdoctor.com, www.drcarolmankes.com, or www.parentingtogocoaching.com; connect with me on social media at https://www.instagram.com/parentingtogo/; or email me at drcarolkerenorproject@gmail.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter at https://www.parentingtogo.com/ebook to receive information on upcoming groups and programs, guidance, encouragement, and practical insights for raising confident, emotionally healthy children.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been meaningful, shaped by both personal challenges and professional experiences that have taught me resilience, compassion, and how to support others through theirs. Before becoming a mother, I faced five years of infertility, a deeply emotional journey filled with hope, loss, and uncertainty. Finally, welcoming my daughter was an incredible gift, and navigating that experience taught me so much about faith, perseverance, and the strength we find within ourselves.
Years later, losing my husband and my mother within just a few weeks shook my world and changed me in ways I could never have imagined. I was grieving while raising my 10-year-old daughter, working full-time, and trying to maintain a sense of stability for everyone around me. That period tested me emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and it pushed me to discover strengths I didn’t know I had. It showed me how to hold space for grief while still finding purpose and direction in life.
Professionally, I’ve faced my share of challenges too. Supporting children with complex needs asks for patience, creativity, and steady advocacy. There were many moments when I stepped in to help schools and educators recognize a child’s strengths and challenges, especially when busy systems made it easy for their needs to be overlooked. Those experiences, both the victories and the setbacks, showed me how much persistence, teamwork, and compassion truly matter in helping a child feel understood and supported.
Walking alongside my daughter through her learning differences and grief taught me invaluable lessons. It strengthened my empathy, sharpened my advocacy, and deepened my understanding of how crucial it is to support families and children through challenging times. These experiences continue to shape my work and allow me to connect with parents on a genuine level, because I understand the worry, the hope, and the resilience that define their journey.
In my work supporting families and children, I’ve had to learn how to care for others while also taking care of myself. When you give your heart fully, burnout can become an unavoidable reality. Balancing professional responsibilities with the emotional demands of parenting and personal loss has been difficult, but it inspired my approach to Boundless Living, emphasizing that adult wellness is essential for children to thrive. Just like on an airplane, you have to secure your oxygen mask before helping others; caring for yourself first allows you to truly support those around you.
This journey has had its rough patches, testing me deeply through infertility, loss, parenting challenges, and professional hurdles I never anticipated. I’ve had to advocate persistently in schools, balance parenting with clinical work, and learn to care for myself while fully investing in others. Each challenge shaped me, strengthened my resolve, and fueled my mission to create programs and resources that support both children and the adults who guide them. These experiences continually remind me that even in life’s hardest moments, we can grow, inspire, and make meaningful change in the lives of others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mankes Pediatric Therapy Services, doing business as Parenting To Go Coaching, The Handwriting Doctor, & Keren Or Project, reflects the full spectrum of the work I do to support children, families, and educators. My mission is to guide children toward greater confidence and skill development while also empowering the adults who care for them with practical tools and compassionate understanding.
At the heart of my work is pediatric occupational therapy. I specialize in helping children with developmental delays, learning differences, sensory processing needs, emotional regulation challenges, and difficulties with attention, motor coordination, and handwriting. I am known for blending clinical expertise with a deeply nurturing, strengths-focused approach. I spend time understanding each child, their environment, their story, and their unmet needs so we can build a foundation for genuine and lasting growth.
Through Parenting To Go Coaching, I empower parents who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or unsure how to help their child thrive at home or at school. I provide guidance on navigating new diagnoses, such as ADHD, learning differences, or sensory processing challenges, as well as support with behavior, routines, emotional regulation, communication, and advocacy. My mission is to help parents gain confidence, feel equipped with practical strategies, and build meaningful connections with their children. By providing clarity, tools, and encouragement, I aim to turn moments of stress or uncertainty into opportunities for growth, understanding, and lasting family empowerment.
The Handwriting Doctor focuses on helping children build the foundational skills they need for writing, learning, and school success. I work with children who struggle with weak pre-writing skills, motor delays, attention, sensory challenges, or low confidence. My book, On the Road to Handwriting Success, gives teachers and caregivers a practical guide to understanding and supporting these skills. I also provide workshops and webinars that equip adults with realistic expectations, effective strategies, and tools to help children grow their abilities, build confidence, and develop a love of learning, all while honoring each child’s unique pace and potential.
Through The Keren Or Project, I aim to transform lives by combining my clinical expertise and written word with my passion for nurturing emotionally healthy, self-aware children. One program, developed from my children’s book My Brain, My Body, and Me, brings essential skills to life, helping kids understand themselves, manage emotions, navigate social situations, and build confidence, laying the foundation for lifelong growth and success. It also equips parents and teachers with practical strategies to reinforce these skills at home and in the classroom.
What sets my brand apart is the combination of clinical expertise, personal lived experience, and a whole child, whole family approach. I understand the journey not only as a clinician but also as a parent who has walked through learning differences, grief, and resilience building with my child. My work is shaped by empathy, clarity, and a genuine belief that every child wants to do well and can do well with the right support.
My brand is rooted in compassion, evidence-based practice, and a desire to make life easier, calmer, and more successful for children and families. Whether through direct therapy, parent coaching, handwriting support, books, speaking events, or educational programs, my goal is always to help children reach their potential and help the adults in their lives feel empowered and supported.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are many meaningful ways people can work with me, collaborate with me, or support my mission.
Families can work with me through pediatric occupational therapy services or through Parenting To Go Coaching, where I help parents create calmer routines, gain practical strategies, and better understand their child’s unique needs, particularly for children with diverse learning profiles or distinctive strengths. I also offer virtual coaching for families outside my local area who want guidance grounded in experience, compassion, and practical tools they can use right away.
Schools, educators, and organizations can partner with me for workshops, trainings, and speaking engagements. I regularly teach about emotional regulation, sensory needs, foundational skill building, handwriting, classroom supports, and ways to better understand children who learn or behave differently. I love collaborating with teachers and leadership teams who want to create environments where every child can thrive.
Professionals who share a commitment to child development, mental health, grief support, or family education are always welcome to reach out. I enjoy partnering on programs, curriculum development, podcast interviews, parent education series, articles, and community initiatives. My work through the Keren Or Project especially lends itself to collaborations focused on healing, resilience, and whole child wellness.
People can also support my work by sharing my books, programs, and resources with families, therapists, teachers, and schools. Every time someone places these tools in the hands of a parent or educator, a child benefits. Book links for purchase are available on my website, www.KerenOrProject.org, or directly on Amazon.
Those who want to learn more can also visit www.thehandwritingdoctor.com, www.drcarolmankes.com, or www.parentingtogocoaching.com, or connect with me on social media at https://www.instagram.com/parentingtogo/.
I welcome connection in any form. When we work together, children receive the understanding and support they truly deserve. Feel free to contact me at 754-273-5830 or by email at drcarolkerenorproject@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thehandwritingdoctor.com/, www.parentingtogocoaching.com, www.KerenOrProject.Org, and www.drcarolmankes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingtogo/
- Amazon link for On the road to handwriting success: https://a.co/d/8KpXeYy
- Amazon link for My Brain, My Body & Me: https://a.co/d/75kK4od
- Amazon link for Sophie’s Butterflies: https://a.co/d/9TO9exF
- Business Google Reviews: https://share.google/ie67gU3JvkHjF2C2U
- Phone Number: 754-273-5830
