Tracy Murnan Stackhouse, MA, OTR, (she/her) co-founder and executive director of DFX, is a leading pediatric occupational therapist (OT) involved in clinical treatment, research, mentoring, and training regarding OT intervention for persons with neurodevelopmental differences, especially Fragile X syndrome and autism. She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology/developmental cognitive neuroscience from the University of Denver and was grateful to work with Dr. Sally Rogers during her research training. Tracy has a bachelor’s in occupational therapy from Colorado State University and found her work with Eleanor Gilfoyle pivotal in her training. She is NDT trained, and SIPT Certified with advanced autism training including DIR/Floortime, TEACCH, and the Early Start Denver Model. Tracy also has training in craniosacral therapy and myofascial release, as well as Therapeutic Listening and Porges’ Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Most recently Tracy has been focused on incorporating the principles of polyvagal theory, trauma-informed care, Theraplay, and interpersonal neurobiological/relationship-based approaches, as well as Germer and Neff’s self-compassion into her work.
Prior to establishing DFX, Tracy was the clinical specialist in sensory integration at The Children’s Hospital in Denver as well as the OT for the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. Tracy continued her clinical and research work with Dr. Randi Hagerman at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute during its start-up year. She has written several book chapters on sensory integration and neurodevelopmental disorders and teaches nationally and internationally on sensory integration, polyvagal theory, autism, Fragile X, and related topics. Tracy enjoys mentoring and spends many hours a month mentoring clinicians from around the world to improve their clinical reasoning skills. Tracy is the originator of the SpIRiT Model, an extension of the STEPSI that was the original fidelity model for sensory modulation written with colleagues Julia Wilbarger and Sharen Trunnell at Children’s Hospital Colorado. These models are utilized in OT practices around the globe and included in the model at Camp Jabiru in Australia. The tools are shared through DFX’s training platform, Learning Journeys, as well as the ‘Spirited Conversations’ Podcast that she co-hosts with colleagues Cory Dundon and Michelle Maunder of Seed Paediatric Services in Australia. Tracy has ongoing courses offered through iLS/Untyte (remote training use of the Safe and Sound Protocol) and Medbridge. She is a member of the National Fragile X Foundation Clinical Research Consortium, the Scientific And Clinical Advisory Committee, and the NFXF Advisory Council, and an expert advisor to the CDC and RTI Fragile X Priorities Panel. She is also an honorary member of the Polish Association Sensory Integration Therapists SI (PSTIS).
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