20th Anniversary Celebration and Story. 2024.
This year CTS turns 20!! Just starting a business is a major feat, but keeping it alive and thriving for 20 years is simply outstanding and we feel like a celebration is in order. If you are like us, you may find yourself reflecting on the years past as you prepare to celebrate the turning of another one and we decided that this is a story to share. This is a story of determination, perseverance, adaptation, and women supporting women as patients, as parents, and as co-workers. Stay tuned!
April 2004, Kathy White LMHC and Lena Thoresen OTR/L founded Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc. These two women were best friends, more like family really, and throughout their careers to that point realized that the place that they wished they could work at, the environment they sought out, the leadership they hoped for just did not exist. With “a heart for people” they ventured out to create that place- where families could receive Mental Health services along with Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Language Therapy. Their complete vision was to create a great clinic for families to receive quality therapy in a caring and supportive environment as well as a place allowing therapists to grow while being managed with compassion and encouraged to find a work/life balance . Supporting women in the workplace and providing flexibility for women to manage their many roles, has always been of utmost importance.
In the early years, the business employed 3-5 therapists. It was small and cozy, and many families benefited from the new therapy establishment. Meeting the therapy needs of each family in the community has always been a core value at Children's Therapy Solutions which meant working toward becoming Medicaid compliant while also accepting most other major insurances. The lofty goal of “Not turning families away because of finances” led to establishing a non profit, named Manatee Hope in 2007. Manatee Hope continues to run today and is a point of pride for the team. The mission of Manatee Hope is to provide families an option of receiving therapy for a $5 copay and then Manatee Hope reimburses the therapy facility at a discounted rate. In 2008, Megan Halliday, MS, OTR/L was added to the therapy team. She was always an asset but was passionate about our goals and mission in a bigger way which led to her becoming a co-owner of CTS. Kathy, Lena and Megan together worked to engage the community in fundraising to provide therapy for the underinsured and indigent. All of their work to run Manatee Hope has allowed for it to be a blessing to many families over the years and continues to be an option to families in Manatee and surrounding counties.
The first location in 2004 was a single suite in the L- shaped building at 3817 State Rd. 64. Today CTS utilizes all 9 units in the building. Steadily expanding and growing with the need and incorporating a large sensory gym and even a designated feeding unit. Over these past 20 years, it has not just been the amount of square footage to expand but also the specialized care that we are able to provide thanks is big part to the passionate team that we have employed. Their eager spirits have prompted growth within themselves but also inspired us and we are proud to say that we can provide now expert care in the following specialities
In response to lack of access to women’s health in Manatee and surrounding counties, CTS established “The Women’s Center at Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc.” in 2021! Again we knew that the needs of the community were great, that we were passionate, determined and able- so we did. We started to have therapists trained and began providing services that the women in our community so desperately needed to include: Biofeedback to help eliminate incontinence, exercises to relieve abdominal separation after birth, stretches/strengthening to eliminate pain, Pre/post natal care for pregnant women, Dry needling to decrease inflammation and improve function-decrease pain, Breastfeeding support and so much more. The response was immediate and intense, demanding that just 2 years later, an entire separate location was established for the Women’s Center at Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc in Palmetto. Today, at the 20 year anniversary, there are approximately 100 appointments per week at the Women’s Center!
20 years after conception, CTS is having a huge impact on the quality of therapy being provided to our community. We employ 80 women. 65 of that are our therapists. 20 of that 65 service our schools. Together that provides over 1600 appointments a week to the families in our community.
This female owned and operated business has become a place for families to come to experience quality therapy in a supportive and caring environment as well as home for therapists who have a passion for learning, growing and striving to make progress. It is fair to say that in 20 years we have learned a lot, we have grown a lot and we have every reason to celebrate with you.
This year CTS turns 20!! Just starting a business is a major feat, but keeping it alive and thriving for 20 years is simply outstanding and we feel like a celebration is in order. If you are like us, you may find yourself reflecting on the years past as you prepare to celebrate the turning of another one and we decided that this is a story to share. This is a story of determination, perseverance, adaptation, and women supporting women as patients, as parents, and as co-workers. Stay tuned!
April 2004, Kathy White LMHC and Lena Thoresen OTR/L founded Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc. These two women were best friends, more like family really, and throughout their careers to that point realized that the place that they wished they could work at, the environment they sought out, the leadership they hoped for just did not exist. With “a heart for people” they ventured out to create that place- where families could receive Mental Health services along with Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Language Therapy. Their complete vision was to create a great clinic for families to receive quality therapy in a caring and supportive environment as well as a place allowing therapists to grow while being managed with compassion and encouraged to find a work/life balance . Supporting women in the workplace and providing flexibility for women to manage their many roles, has always been of utmost importance.
In the early years, the business employed 3-5 therapists. It was small and cozy, and many families benefited from the new therapy establishment. Meeting the therapy needs of each family in the community has always been a core value at Children's Therapy Solutions which meant working toward becoming Medicaid compliant while also accepting most other major insurances. The lofty goal of “Not turning families away because of finances” led to establishing a non profit, named Manatee Hope in 2007. Manatee Hope continues to run today and is a point of pride for the team. The mission of Manatee Hope is to provide families an option of receiving therapy for a $5 copay and then Manatee Hope reimburses the therapy facility at a discounted rate. In 2008, Megan Halliday, MS, OTR/L was added to the therapy team. She was always an asset but was passionate about our goals and mission in a bigger way which led to her becoming a co-owner of CTS. Kathy, Lena and Megan together worked to engage the community in fundraising to provide therapy for the underinsured and indigent. All of their work to run Manatee Hope has allowed for it to be a blessing to many families over the years and continues to be an option to families in Manatee and surrounding counties.
The first location in 2004 was a single suite in the L- shaped building at 3817 State Rd. 64. Today CTS utilizes all 9 units in the building. Steadily expanding and growing with the need and incorporating a large sensory gym and even a designated feeding unit. Over these past 20 years, it has not just been the amount of square footage to expand but also the specialized care that we are able to provide thanks is big part to the passionate team that we have employed. Their eager spirits have prompted growth within themselves but also inspired us and we are proud to say that we can provide now expert care in the following specialities
- Reading
- Feeding
- Infant development
- Lactation support
- Torticollis management
- Women’s care
In response to lack of access to women’s health in Manatee and surrounding counties, CTS established “The Women’s Center at Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc.” in 2021! Again we knew that the needs of the community were great, that we were passionate, determined and able- so we did. We started to have therapists trained and began providing services that the women in our community so desperately needed to include: Biofeedback to help eliminate incontinence, exercises to relieve abdominal separation after birth, stretches/strengthening to eliminate pain, Pre/post natal care for pregnant women, Dry needling to decrease inflammation and improve function-decrease pain, Breastfeeding support and so much more. The response was immediate and intense, demanding that just 2 years later, an entire separate location was established for the Women’s Center at Children’s Therapy Solutions Inc in Palmetto. Today, at the 20 year anniversary, there are approximately 100 appointments per week at the Women’s Center!
20 years after conception, CTS is having a huge impact on the quality of therapy being provided to our community. We employ 80 women. 65 of that are our therapists. 20 of that 65 service our schools. Together that provides over 1600 appointments a week to the families in our community.
This female owned and operated business has become a place for families to come to experience quality therapy in a supportive and caring environment as well as home for therapists who have a passion for learning, growing and striving to make progress. It is fair to say that in 20 years we have learned a lot, we have grown a lot and we have every reason to celebrate with you.