Nicole LaRue, OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT

• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (post-professional): Eastern Kentucky University
• Master of Occupational Therapy: Chatham University
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology: West Liberty University

Professional Certifications

• NDT- Neurodevelopmental Treatment Technique in the Management and Treatment of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury

• LSVT Big for Parkinson’s- Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for limb motor symptoms

• Prevent Blindness Adult Vision Screener

• CarFit Event Coordinator

• AOTA Understanding and Responding to Suicide Risk Microcredential

• NBCOT- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

• AOTA Fieldwork Educator- American Occupational Therapy Association

Professional Membership

• AOTA- American Occupational Therapy Association

• WVOTA- West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association

• OOTA- Ohio Occupational Therapy Association

• NDTA- Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association

Scholarly Activities

• LaRue, N. (2019). The impact of education on implementation of mirror box therapy across occupational therapy practice settings. Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects. 42. https://encompass.eku.edu/otdcapstones/42
• Kwalarski, H., Koenig, R., Metz, J., & LaRue, N. (2025). Quality and duration of sleep and sports performance in acrobatics and tumbling athletes. West Virginia Academy of Science, 97 (1), 85-89.

Professional Presentations

• LaRue, N., Skubik-Peplaski, C. & Howell, D. (October 2019). The impact of mirror box therapy on patients with CVA in the acute stage of recovery.  Presentation at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Annual conference.  Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

• LaRue, N., Skubik-Peplaski, C., & Howell, D. (March 2020). The impact of education on implementation of mirror box therapy across occupational therapy practice settings. Presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Conference. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA. (Conference cancelled)

• Laska, M. & LaRue, N. (June 2021).  Graded Motor Imagery: Changing How We See Recovery in the Upper Extremity. Presentation at Wheeling Hospital Hand Therapy Journal Club. Wheeling, WV.

• LaRue, N. (March 2023).  The impact of mirror box therapy on patients with CVA in the acute stage of recovery.   Presentation at NDTA 2023 Conference.  Virtual Location.

• LaRue, N. (October 2024).  Enhancing early recovery from stroke: Mirror box therapy in the acute phase of recovery.  Presentation at WVOTA Yearly Conference. Morgantown, WV.

• Bettermann, K., Helton, M., & LaRue, N. (2025, October). Impact of sensorimotor vs motor interventions on handwriting difficulties: Systematic literature review [Poster presentation]. WVOTA Conference, Charleston, WV.

• Gartin, C., King, J., & LaRue, N. (2025, October). The effects of therapeutic interventions for reducing falls in older adults [Poster presentation]. WVOTA Conference, Charleston, WV.

• LaRue, N. (June 2026). Mirror Box Therapy in 2025: Evidence, Clinical Nuance, and Practical Strategies for Neurorehabilitation.  Presentation at AOTA Adult Rehabilitation Specialty Conference. Virtual Conference.

Dr. Nicole LaRue is an occupational therapist, educator, and clinician with almost 2 decades of experience working with the adult population across inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, home health, mental health, and community-based settings. Her primary area of specialization is neurological rehabilitation, with extensive experience treating adults with stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions. She is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) for adults with stroke and brain injury and is also LSVT BIG certified for Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation.

Dr. LaRue currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at the University of Charleston, where she teaches courses related to physical disabilities, evidence-based practice, research, assistive technology, kinesiology, and capstone development. Her teaching emphasizes clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, instructional design, and occupation-centered intervention to prepare students for contemporary occupational therapy practice.

In addition to her academic role, Dr. LaRue continues clinical practice in outpatient rehabilitation, allowing her to integrate current clinical experience into the classroom and laboratory environment. Her clinical interests include neurorehabilitation, vision screening and rehabilitation, occupation-based practice, community mobility, and improving occupational performance and participation across adult populations.

Dr. LaRue has presented regionally and nationally on topics including mirror box therapy, graded motor imagery, neurorehabilitation, and evidence-based occupational therapy practice through organizations including the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association (NDTA), and state occupational therapy associations. Her scholarly work includes research and presentations related to mirror box therapy implementation, evidence-based practice, and neurological recovery.

She maintains active involvement in professional service, mentorship, continuing education, and community outreach initiatives throughout West Virginia, including stroke and Parkinson’s support programs, accessibility initiatives, and educational programming for students and community members.