Adam Suedel, PT, DPT; co-owner
Adam Suedel, PT, DPT is a doctor of physical therapy with more than 15 years of experience in the field. Throughout his career, he has provided care in many different client settings, but his skill and passion lies in sports rehabilitation and orthopedic care. Adam has an unprecedented level of skill and knowledge regarding muscle function and kinesiology and how it impacts function, performance, and outcomes. He has built his practice to provide expert care including additional training including:
- PRRT
- ASTYM
- Dry Needling
- KinesoTaping
- Orthopedic conditions and techniques
In addition to his practice in the field of Physical Therapy, Adam is the owner of Ironworks Gym, where his expertise in physical fitness, weight training, and sports medicine and personal training techniques assist members with ensuring safe and effective training to assist them to reach their goals. Adam has been very involved his entire life with physical fitness, and was a multi-sport athlete, as well as a national level powerlifter as an adult. He has also served as the ND USAPL State Chairman. He truly seeks to practice what he preaches to his clients and continues to regularly train at his gym.
Most recently, Adam has also added in an additional role of co-owner of Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness, which he owns and runs with his wife, Stephanie Suedel, MOTR/L who works as an occupational therapist in the same practice.
Adam has passion for his family first and foremost, and enjoys watching his children grow and be successful in their chosen activities and sports endeavors. He also loves his time at the family lake cabin, playing hockey, hunting and fishing, and watching Sioux Hockey with his wife!
Stephanie Suedel, MOTR/L; co-owner
Stephanie Suedel, MOTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with 20 years of experience working with children and young adults. Her specialty areas and focus of care include treatment for sensory integration and self-regulation difficulties; feeding difficulties; development of skills for life and learning; and education and support for families to improve the quality of life for their children, and reduce stress on the family unit as a whole. She has built her practice to meet the needs of many types of pediatric clientele and therefore has specialty areas and trainings that include:
- Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding
- Infant-led Feeding Approach
- Sensory Integration and Regulation
- Reflex Integration Programming
- Visual Processing and Functional Vision
- Learning Difficulties and dyslexia
- Therapeutic Listening
- Astronaut Training
- Integrated Energy Healing, Reiki Master
- Mental Health First Aid Certification
- Infant Massage
- Ear Seeding
-Fast ForWord
Stephanie also works closely with Occupational Therapy programs within several educational institutions to assist in providing educational opportunities for future OT professionals. She guest lectures at UND and at NCTC on a regular basis.
Stephanie is very family-centered, and enjoys cheering on her children and watching them grow in skill and in confidence while moving through their activities and sports endeavors. She is also a dog-mom who hopes to one day be able to provide animal assisted therapy programming with her fuzzy babies. Stephanie is so excited to be working along side her husband, Adam, as they work together to provide excellent care and skilled programming for clients of all ages and stages within the community.
Bella Jean Suedel, ATD Certified Therapy Dog, Emotional Support Animal
Bella Jean is the Suedel family's newest fluff baby! She has been in training since the day she came home. Stephanie had been dreaming of the perfect dog for use as an animal-assisted therapy or certified therapy dog for several years. In COVID summer 2020, the kids and family spent 24/7 with Diesel (our lonely 3 year old German Shepard). We knew that he would not do well alone at home all day as we returned to work and school. So, we began researching for the best breeds and temperament attributes needed to achieve the coveted role of "Certified Therapy Dog". We decided on a Goldendoodle because they are typically very trainable, people-pleasing, and best of all- hypoallergenic! We made some connections and found her and her littermates, and picked her up within the week! Bella has been going to the 117 office, to stores, and visits to family and friends' houses since she was a tiny lil ball of fluff. She gets along very well with other dogs, small children, families, and elderly people. She has worked very hard and is so excited to have attained her degree; an ATD certification, so she can be a "dog with a job" and come to visit families at Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness, play, and get snuggles n' loves! Her favorite things are (in this order): PEOPLE of any kind, FOOD of any kind, and TOYS of any kind!
AnaLynn Suedel, ATD Junior Handler
AnaLynn Suedel is Adam and Stephanie's youngest child. She has worked very hard to become an Alliance of Therapy Dogs Junior Handler. She enjoys working with her dog, Bella Jean, to bring joy and calmness to clients in the clinic and in the community. She has taken great initiative to seek out this opportunity and takes her job very seriously. She has been involved in the therapy world her entire life, and she is naturally seeking out further opportunities in the fields of health care and therapies. She hopes one day to become a counselor, mental health social worker, or pediatric play therapist.
In her free time, AnaLynn is very involved in dance at North Dakota Ballet Company. She is in the Apprentice Dance Academy as well as the Competition teams there. She also enjoys playing her cello, going to the lake and enjoying the sun, and hanging out with her friends.
Chassidy Strege, HT2, Reiki Master Practitioner
Chassidy Strege is a beautiful soul who opens her heart and mind to those who are in need. She has passion for learning about all cultures, faiths/non-faiths, and ways of living. Chassidy is currently a Counseling Master’s student at the University of North Dakota, but her diverse background speaks to a multipotentialite identity: she has experience as a skin care and makeup consultant, lay clergy and organization builder, and a student and interfaith activist. For a decade she volunteered as a UND Interfaith Week Planning Committee member and volunteered for events, regularly engaging both majority and minority faiths including: First Nation/Native American, Atheist, Baha'i, Pagan/Wiccan, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian practitioners.
A self-described spirituality nerd, Chassidy has a constant drive toward self-improvement, learning, and growth; with an aspiration to strengthen her skills and do her part to promote social justice. Her academic research interests center around how to continue and advance existing research on the use and effectiveness of applying a client's theistic or non-theistic values, identity, culture, or religion (and associated spiritual technologies) within their therapy process. Chassidy aspires to begin doctoral work in the fall of 2023 after completing the master's program.
Given her background and experience, Chassidy prioritizes the inclusion of an individual's personal beliefs and preferences into her practice. She is driven by a desire to make people feel important, supported, and at peace. This inspired her to gain certification as a Level 2 Healing Touch practitioner in 2013, a Master Level Reiki practitioner in 2018, and—in partnership with Mimzi—a Therapy Dog Handler in 2019 (see Mimzi's Bio).
Both Reiki and Healing Touch are heart-centered gentle-touch or no-touch techniques designed to induce relaxation and support healing. Aspects of our modern lives, like chronic stress, often sabotage our health and well-being. When an individual is able to fully relax, the stress response is short-circuited and our body's natural ability to heal and be well is enhanced.
Abby Beck, COTA/L
Abby is an Occupational Therapy Assistant who graduated with her Associates degree in Applied Science and Occupational Therapy from Northland Community and Technical College. There, she was involved in student council and the OTA club. Abby found her passion while working with children when completing her Level II Fieldwork at a pediatric outpatient clinic in Fargo.
Before moving to Grand Forks, Abby was very involved with her church back home in Aberdeen, SD. She has been on two mission trips to Peru and Haiti. Abby has a heart for helping others, and can’t wait to share that when working within our clinic with our clients.
Abby loves spending time with her family. Abby’s husband, Landon, is finishing his Commercial Aviation degree at the University of North Dakota. Abby and Landon like to spend time outdoors, going on walks with their dog, and spending time with family back home. They both are very involved with their church community in Grand Forks, and are leaders in lifegroups. Abby also enjoys volunteering at Hope Church Community Care Center and Food Pantry.
Abby looks forward to collaborating with Stephanie to provide excellent care and offer more programming to all of the clients here at Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness.
Dani Helgeson, MS, CCC-SLP
Dani Helgeson is an ASHA-Certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of combined clinical and school-based experience. Dani graduated from the University of North Dakota with both a BA degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Dani possesses an in-depth knowledge of speech and language development and disabilities. She has years of experience in treating individuals with Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Cognitive-Communication Impairments, Apraxia of Speech, Fluency Disorders, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Feeding Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, Auditory Processing Disorders and Language-Based Learning Disabilities. Dani has had specialized training in Visualizing and Verbalizing Lindamood Bell Programming, Beckman Oral Motor, Kaufman Speech Praxis, SOS Approach to Feeding, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson Talk Tools, Social Thinking - Social Skills Curriculum along with training for CAPDOTS Auditory Processing Treatment. Dani is passionate about helping children and families be their best version of themselves. She enjoys collaborating with families and other professionals to treat children using a team-based approach.
Dani is married and has 3 teenage children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring outdoors, traveling and spending time with her family and 2 Golden-Doodles.
Heidi Miller, OTD, OTR/L
Heidi is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with her
doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of North
Dakota. Heidi began working with children when she was a junior in high school, as she started teaching guitar lessons to children as young as three years old. This ignited Heidi’s passion for engaging in meaningful activities with children and finding that “just right challenge”. During OT school, Heidi completed two fieldworks with Stephanie Suedel for a total of 7 months. During this time, she spent around a thousand hours observing and learning directly from Stephanie. Heidi was able to create two programs during her fieldwork, both of which are used every day at Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness. Heidi is a lifelong learner with a passion for sensory integration, interception-based supports, self-regulation programming, and occupation-based therapeutic activities and life skills training. She is very excited to build her professional identity as a pediatric occupational therapist and to have the opportunity to develop innovative programming for children and families.
Heidi has many hobbies and was raised in a home that valued the power of occupation as a modality for mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. During her free time, Heidi spends countless hours with her three horses—Trigger, Jagger, and Old Tom. She can usually be found trotting down the trail on a trusty steed with her chocolate lab Festus at her side. Heidi is also a lifelong learner when it comes to horsemanship and has worked with troubled horses and has started a colt from the ground up. In addition to working with horses, Heidi has a
knack for music and can play a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, ukulele, banjo, and the harmonica to name a few. In the spring and fall, Heidi spends many hours riding in the buddy seat of a tractor with her significant other, Dillan, and greatly values the agricultural community and lifestyle.
Heidi is eager to continue to develop her career skills and professional identity. She is very excited to use the art and science of occupational therapy to empower children and their families, so that they may achieve the highest degree of health and wellbeing.
Michayla Burckhard, OTD, OTR/L
Michayla is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with her Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota. She first heard about OT as a freshman in college, and quickly found a passion for the field due to its focus on helping others enrich their lives and well-being. Michayla has wanted to work with children for as long as she can remember, and has over 10 years of experience assisting and teaching dance classes at a local studio. She completed a Level II Fieldwork placement at a pediatric outpatient clinic where she later created and implemented her doctoral project, a dance program for children with disabilities. In her free time, Michayla enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Phoebe, and continues to teach a handful of dance classes. Michayla is so excited to be part of the Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness team and to continue to learn and enhance her passion for Occupational Therapy!
Heidi Thompson, MS, CCC-SLP
Heidi Thompson is an ASHA-Certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 10 years of combined clinical and school-based experience. Heidi graduated from the University of North Dakota with an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders as well as a Masters's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She had the great opportunity to work with children in a home-health setting throughout her college years which helped pave the way for her love of working with exceptional children and their families.
During her professional career, Heidi has had the privilege to work with a variety of populations and disorders. She also has gained experience working as a speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings including elementary schools, pre-schools, daycares, and homes. Heidi has extensive experience working with children of all abilities and also has a great deal of knowledge and experience in early intervention.
Heidi has had the opportunity to professionally work with children with Developmental Delays, Receptive/Expressive Language Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Cognitive-Communication Impairments, Auditory Processing Disorder, Language-Based Literacy Disorders, Fluency Disorders, Medically Fragile Children, and Speech Sound Disorders. Heidi has a professional passion for working with individuals on the autism spectrum disorder and has completed specialized training in a variety of augmentative and alternative communication approaches. She is rooted firmly in the belief that communication is a right for every individual and greatly enjoys seeing her clients become independent in their communication abilities. Heidi is passionate about collaborating with families and other professionals to ensure that children have the best possible chance for growth, independence, and continued success.
Outside of her workday, Heidi is seen often chasing her two children to their various activities or attending UND sporting events with her husband. She greatly enjoys music, reading, being outdoors with her dog, and physical fitness activities. She is very excited to be a part of the Suedel Therapeutics family and is looking forward to continuing to help children achieve their highest potential in the area of communication.
Caitlin Volkmann, COTA/L
Caitlin is an occupational therapy assistant who graduated from Northland Community and Technical College. Caitlin also has a degree in exercise science and psychology from Bemidji State University. While in school Caitlin participated in student senate, volleyball, and was the OTA club president. Caitlin found her love for working with children through working at the YMCA while she was in school and doing a level II fieldwork at a school district in Palmer, Alaska.
Caitlin is from Wadena, Minnesota where she grew up on a farm outside of town. Caitlin has two sisters, Courtney and Casey. Caitlin loves spending time with her friends and family and being outside any chance she gets. Caitlin is excited to start working with children from an occupational therapy standpoint and is excited to be part of the Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness team!
Kristin Sethre, M.S. Special Education
Kristin Sethre, M.S. is a learning specialist with 18 years of experience working with children and adolescents within both the public and private education sectors throughout the United States and Norway. Kristin graduated from the University of North Dakota with a double-major Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Norwegian, and Master of Science in Special Education. Most recently, Kristin has held the position of mental health and social-emotional learning specialist for the Grand Forks Public Schools’ Mentor Center and SAIL (Social-emotional and Academic Intervention Learning) program. Kristin specializes in teaching learners who are neurodiverse including those who identify as having dyslexia (or find themselves on the dyslexia spectrum without a diagnosis), various learning challenges, mental health and social-emotional challenges, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or autism spectrum disorder.
Kristin’s unique training profile includes:
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Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
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Lindamood-Bell’s Seeing Stars: Symbol Imagery for Phonological & Orthographic Processing in Reading and Writing
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Orton-Gillingham-based literacy program, Barton Reading and Spelling System
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Read Naturally
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Global Family Yoga’s children’s yoga training programs
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iRest yoga nidra guided meditation for children program through Global Family Yoga
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Reiki integrated energy healing Levels 1 and 2
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Proactive Circle training
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Restorative Practices and Circle training
Kristin is exceptionally passionate about promoting and advocating for mental health and social-emotional wellness and awareness for our youth and community as a whole. She is excited to grow and learn within Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness as we build our mental health and wellness tool-kits. She is looking forward to sharing techniques and modalities to promote peace and calm within ourselves. Kristin advocates for strengthening mind-body awareness and self-regulation while nurturing and developing social-emotional intelligence. She believes fostering relationship-building with oneself and others in a relevant experiential learning manner cultivates greater self-confidence and resiliency to promote enhanced overall functioning and quality of life. Kristin asserts the combination of mental health/social-emotional wellness tools with academic/intellectual earning is key to facilitating optimal holistic growth in each individual. She recommends each learning environment integrate a holistic multi-sensory approach to learning in order to provide an enriched and innovative teaching and learning experience that fosters creativity and allows each individual’s inner genius to shine!
Kristin is excited to offer two types of learning sessions at Suedel Therapeutics. As a strong advocate for dyslexia awareness and family support; she is delighted to offer educational therapy-based multi-sensory learning sessions geared towards individuals on the dyslexia spectrum (with or without diagnosis) and/or other individuals who experience literacy learning challenges. Additionally, she is offering social-emotional/mindfulness learning sessions geared towards individuals who are looking to strengthen their social-emotional skills while enhancing their ability to focus and nurture their mind-body connection through learning mindfulness tools and participating in multi-sensory game-based learning.
During Kristin’s career experience while teaching for the Special Needs program at Oslo International School and as a learning specialist at an educational therapy center in Santa Barbara, CA, she discovered many students with learning challenges were also experiencing mental health and/or social-emotional challenges simultaneously due to a number of factors including associated levels of trauma their learning challenges may have produced in a social-educational setting, or otherwise. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic also brought mental health and wellness to the forefront of significant issues affecting our youth and their ability to access capacity for learning academic and social-emotional concepts. Such discoveries combined inspired Kristin to integrate educational sessions with tools to build self-confidence and self-efficacy in each individual. She weaves a therapeutic approach utilizing game-based learning and calm-and focus-building mindfulness activities which facilitates the individual’s social-emotional and mental resilience when facing academic, or other challenges. Kristin’s professional passions include mental health and physical wellness, mindfulness, holistic approaches to wellness and balance, literacy, innovative multi-sensory teaching and learning, cultural diversity, environmental studies, human rights, and equanimity which has driven her commitment to the field of education and providing a pathway for neuro-diverse learners.
Kristin’s other passions include spending time with her soon-to-be 6 year old daughter, Linnea, spending time in nature, (especially in forests, on the beach, and near the ocean and mountains), the healing arts, hiking, practicing yoga and mindfulness, mental health and physical wellness, traveling (especially to Norway and California!), jogging, reading, attending outdoor concerts, indulging in delicious flavorful plant-based cuisine, spending time with friends and family, and ultimately, growing and learning in all areas of life! Kristin is so grateful and thrilled to join the Suedel Therapeutics multi-disciplinary team! She looks forward to growing and learning with the team and community of clients!
Kelsey Demester, MOTR/L
Kelsey Demester, MOTR/L is an occupational therapist who graduated from UND with her Master’s in Occupational therapy, and received her Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Services with a Major in Child, Youth, and Family Studies specializing in Family Science. She received this degree from the University of Lincoln Nebraska. During college, Kelsey was a part of Love Your Melon where she served as the president of her campus crew her senior year. She has also been a part of Make-A-Wish as a wish granter.
Kelsey carries many Specialities/Certifications, including:
~Certified Lymphedema and Wound Therapist
~Dry Needling Certification
~Graston Technique Provider M1
~ Therapeutic Cupping
Kelsey’s initial working experience focused on treating upper extremity orthopedic conditions and she plans to continue to carry out programming at Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness with orthopedic patients across the lifespan. Kelsey is excited to be able to expand her knowledge to serve pediatric clients and families in her hometown of Grand Forks, ND and is dedicated and passionate about all the clients she serves. From a young age, Kelsey spent time babysitting and nannying for many different families which helped her realize that she wanted to be a part of a career where she could continue caring for children and families. So, she is excited to expand her career to encompass care across the lifespan. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys reading, doing puzzles, going to the lake, traveling, and playing with her goldendoodle, Olive. Her and her husband, Joe, served as youth instructors for Sunday School for many years at their church, United Lutheran. Kelsey and her husband are excited to "plant roots" here in her hometown, and grow their family and careers further!
Liz Kratochvil, MS, CCC-SLP
bio coming soon!
Lindsey Anderson, Staff Support Associate
bio coming soon!
Services
Physical Therapy
We currently offer Adult/Orthopedic Physical Therapy.
Adult/Orthopedic Care addresses client concerns and diagnoses including:
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Acute and Chronic Injuries
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Pre-surgery and Post Surgery Interventions
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Sports Rehabilitation
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Pain Relief
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Weakness and Decreased Activity Tolerance
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Decreased Work Abilities
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Decreased Quality of Life
Occupational Therapy
We offer both Adult/orthopedic as well as Pediatric occupational Therapy Programming.
Adult Services include:
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Pre and Post-surgical intervention for Upper Extremity and Hand Injuries
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Wound Care
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Lymphedema Care
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Graston, Cupping, and Dry Needling to address pain and limitations in function.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services Include:
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Sensory Processing
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Self Regulation and Emotional Regulation
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Feeding and Eating
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Learning Difficulties
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Visual Processing Concerns
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Infant Torticollis
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Developmental Concerns
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Neurological Concerns
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Interpersonal and Social Skill Difficulties
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Interoception Difficulties
Speech - Language Therapy
Speech - Language Therapy addresses the following concerns:
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Language Delays
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Dysphagia/Swallowing Issues
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Articulation and Understandability Concerns
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Augmentative Communication Devices
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Feeding and Eating Concerns
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Language-based Learning Difficulties
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Auditory Processing Concerns
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Dyspraxia/Oral Discoordination
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Myofacial Therapy
Specialty Programming
Suedel Therapeutics and Wellness also offers specialty programming to augment therapy outcomes, including:
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Oral Motor Programming: Beckman, Kaufman, Talk Tools
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Animal Assisted Therapy
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Small Group offerings
Wellness Services
A variety of Wellness Services are available to assist with mind/body/spirit concerns including:
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New Baby Check-Ins
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Sensory Community Site Visits
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Infant Massage Parent Training
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Personal Training
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Integrated Energy Healing
Educational and Social-Emotional Learning Programming
Diverse programming to provide alternative teaching strategies to learners who are neurodiverse including those who identify as having dyslexia or other various learning challenges, mental health and social-emotional challenges, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or autism spectrum disorder.
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Special Education/Dyslexia Assessments and intervention
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Educational therapy-based multi-sensory learning sessions
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literacy learning
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social-emotional/mindfulness learning sessions