Dr. Allison Kops PT, DPT, IBCLC
Hello! My name is Allison Kops, and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) practicing in Alexandria, Virginia. I live here with my husband, three daughters, and two dogs.
Educational Background and Training
I received my Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science and my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, both from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. I have been a licensed physical therapist since 2012 and have dedicated my entire career to pediatrics. I became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) in 2022 and an IBCLC in 2024.
Why Infant Physical Therapy?
Infancy represents the most rapid period of neuro-motor change of any time in the lifespan. For this reason, infancy an especially impactful time to intervene! Plus, I have just always loved babies and think they are the most amazing people to work with!
My Journey into Feeding Support
While feeding support isn’t often a primary focus area for physical therapists, I recognized that feeding is an early developmental motor skill just like head control and rolling. My path into this specialty began through pursuing additional trainings shortly after PT school to support infants and toddlers through feeding struggles. At that time I was mostly supporting families of infants and toddlers transitioning off of tube feedings, or introducing solid foods.
In 2017, my approach was further shaped by personal experience when my own healthy, full term baby struggled with significant reflux and “colic” symptoms. Despite seeking support from various lactation consultants and breastfeeding medicine providers, I found it challenging to locate professionals who conducted thorough infant assessments, addressed digestive concerns, or had the therapeutic background to be able to provide more than compensatory strategies. This experience led me to pursue additional education in lactation, lip and tongue ties, infant food allergies, digestion, and motor skills and sensory considerations for typical development of infant breast and bottle feeding.
My Practice Philosophy
I approach everything from a whole body functional perspective, whether the primary concern involves gross motor developmental skills directly or is more focused on lactation and feeding challenges.
My philosophy is centered on a gentle, baby-led approach. I believe learning happens best when babies (and their caregivers) are regulated, comfortable, and active participants. I don’t believe in pushing babies to the point of crying through sessions, and I don’t believe that therapy should be completely passive either. Instead, I value taking time to find activities that achieve therapeutic goals while being well-tolerated by the baby and realistic for the family carry over at home.
My practice style blends several techniques to create a comprehensive and customized plan for you and your baby. This may include: gentle passive stretching and manual therapy techniques, active, functional strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation techniques, and caregiver education.
What Sets My Practice Apart
In terms of physical therapy practices, the most obvious difference is that I work exclusively with babies and their families! This means that I get lots of opportunities to refine very specific expertise that only applies to this narrow patient population.
For lactation, I feel strongly that my background as an infant physical therapist is what makes me a good IBCLC.
I’ve developed my services to blend all the pieces I feel are most important to support babies and their families comprehensively during this critical time.
I understand that parents have questions about their babies that come up and can’t wait until next visit. I make myself available between sessions via text messaging and secure patient portal messaging to address questions and concerns in a timely manner. I also intentionally maintain a small caseload, so I am often able to fit in additional appointments if an urgent need comes up.
I pride myself on truly listening to families and helping them problem-solve in a really personalized way!
Thank you!
