Comprehensive Therapy Center

05/06/2026

✨ Final Call for the Magic! ✨

The Read to Me Tea Art Showcase is just a few days away! 🐉🧜‍♀️

What is the Read to Me Tea?
It’s our signature celebration of creativity and growth! This year, our gallery features "The World Betwixt"—a collection of artwork created by CTC clinic clients and students from the many local schools where our therapists work. It’s a chance to see the wondrous world through their extraordinary eyes and honor their hard work.

Caregiver Reminder:
We are finalizing our guest list and want to make sure your student is celebrated! If you haven't yet, please let us know if your family is coming this Saturday, May 9th.

How to RSVP:

Check your texts: Look for the reminder sent yesterday with your private link.

Check your mail: Refer to the letter you received in the mail for all the event details.

Coming or can’t make it?
Please let us know either way! This helps us ensure we have enough "Magic Bean" kits and refreshment packs ready for every student.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! ✨🧚‍♂️

05/05/2026

We had such a great time at our *Buddies & Board Games* event this past Saturday! 🎲

It was a morning full of laughter, new friendships, and (of course) some friendly competition. We loved seeing everyone connect, play, and just enjoy being together in a welcoming space.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us—we’re already looking forward to the next one!

More summer dates are coming soon, so stay tuned.

You can learn more about the program and upcoming sessions here:
https://therapycenter.org/programs/bbg/

05/05/2026

This Thursday evening! 🌟 Our Therapeutic Play & Learn Group is back at DSAWM!

Parents, if you've had questions about your child's development but haven't had a chance to connect with a professional - this is your opportunity! Licensed therapists will be on-site facilitating fun activities AND available to chat with you about your child's growth.

Perfect for:
💜 Kids ages 0-5 of ALL abilities
💜 Parents who have developmental questions
💜 Families looking for community and connection
💜 Anyone who wants their little one to play and learn in a supportive environment

THURSDAY'S SESSION:
📅 Thursday, May 7th
⏰ 4:30 - 6:00 PM
📍 DSAWM Playroom - 160 68th SW, Ste 110, Grand Rapids
💰 Completely FREE!
📝 RSVP appreciated but not required: https://forms.gle/TzXDDNKQqJ5xwzm69

New to our playgroups? No problem! Drop in anytime during the session - stay for 15 minutes or the full hour and a half. We're a judgment-free zone where every child is welcomed exactly as they are. 💙

Can't make it Thursday? Check out other FREE playgroups happening across Kent County: firststepskent.org/play-learn

👉 SHARE this with a parent who could use this resource!
Huge thanks to Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan , First Steps Kent , and Kent County Ready by Five Millage for bringing these playgroups to our community!

05/04/2026

It’s Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and we want to introduce you to the heart of our speech department! 💙

At Comprehensive Therapy Center, we are so lucky to have a team of dedicated professionals who don’t just teach communication—they build confidence and connection for every individual and family we serve.

From helping a child find their first words to assisting an adult with safe swallowing, our SLPs are experts in their craft and advocates for their clients. Please join us in celebrating:

✨ Madalyn Alexander (Department Lead)
✨ Natalie Greenwood
✨ Cheyenne Kaufman
✨ Savannah Kendra
✨ Mikayla Schuller
✨ Katie Peck
✨ Gabby Hendel
✨ Sydney Lancaster

We are so grateful for the passion and expertise you bring to our Grand Rapids clinic every single day! 💛

Help us show them some love! Drop a "thank you" or a favorite memory in the comments below. 👇

Rapids

05/01/2026

It’s finally May, which means it’s Speech-Language-Hearing Month! 🗣️✨

This month, we are celebrating the incredible Speech-Language Pathologists who dedicate their careers to helping us connect, grow, and be heard. While they are experts in speech, their impact goes so much deeper.

SLPs are foundational to unlocking communication, improving social skills, support literacy, and building the confidence that lasts a lifetime.

Take a look at the graphic below to see just a few ways they transform lives every day at Comprehensive Therapy Center. Thank you, SLPs, for all that you do!

04/30/2026

Transitions don't have to be a tug-of-war. 🏁🧡

It’s the final day of OT Month and Autism Acceptance Month! To wrap up our series, we’re looking at one of the biggest challenges families face: Transitions.

Moving from the high-energy fun of the gym to the calm of the car or home can cause a lot of friction. At CTC, our OTs use "heavy work"—like pushing a massive sensory ball—to help kiddos regulate their bodies.

Just look at our OT and Department Lead Teresa and her client! By engaging in this big physical task together, her client is getting the sensory input he needs to find his "calm center," making the transition to the next part of his day so much smoother.

Thank you for joining us this month as we celebrated Occupation Therapy & Autism Acceptance month. While the month is ending, our commitment to neurodiversity-affirming care never stops!

What was your child's biggest "win" this April? We’d love to celebrate with you in the comments! 🏆

04/30/2026

It’s Playgroup Day! ☀️🧩

Looking for a supportive space where your child can play and you can connect with other local caregivers?

Join us THIS AFTERNOON from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM at the DSAWM Playroom. Our Therapeutic Play & Learn groups are "come as you are" environments designed for children of all abilities (ages 0–5).

Why families love these sessions:
✅ Caregiver Community: Meet other local families in a supportive, movement-based space.
✅ On-Site Experts: Our licensed CTC professionals are available to model play strategies and chat about milestones.
✅ Completely FREE: Proudly supported by First Steps Kent , the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan , and the Ready by Five Millage.

🗓 Date: TODAY - Thursday, April 30
🕙 Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Location: 160 68th SW, Suite 110, Grand Rapids (Special Olympics Bldg)

Help us spread the word—share this post with a friend or neighbor! 📢

04/30/2026

Save the Date: 2026 ASK Walk for Autism! 💙

We are thrilled to announce that we will be participating in the 2026 ASK Walk for Autism on Sunday, May 17, from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm!

This year’s event features a brand-new location: the Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) Unified Sports & Inclusion Center (160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids). It’s going to be a fantastic, family-friendly afternoon in the community.

We will have our own table set up with resources and some fun trinkets for the kids, so please come by and say hello! We would love to see our families there.

All proceeds from the walk support Autism Support of Kent County, Inc., helping them provide vital programs and services to our local community.

🔗 Register or learn more here: https://givebutter.com/c/ASKWalk2026

By Autism Support of Kent County Inc

04/29/2026

Help Kids in Grand Rapids Thrive! 💙

At Comprehensive Therapy Center, we help West Michigan children with special needs reach their full potential through play-based therapy. As we gear up for a busy season—including our award-winning Therapy & Fun summer program—we need your help to stock our "toolbox."

This , you can make a direct impact on a child’s progress. From sensory toys to essential clinical supplies, every item purchased from our Amazon Wish List goes straight into the hands of our therapists and students.

Therapy & Fun Wish List: https://a.co/0aoB8pYN
OT Wish List: https://a.co/06etro0M

Will you help us provide the tools for a breakthrough today? 🧰 🌟

04/29/2026

Does the morning routine ever feel like a hurdle before the day has even begun? 👟📉

As we celebrate the final days of Occupational Therapy Month and Autism Acceptance Month, we’re highlighting the "why" behind what we do. For many neurodivergent kiddos, daily routines like getting dressed are complex motor tasks that can cause significant morning friction for families.

At CTC, we turn that friction into Forward Motion using a strategy called Backwards Chaining. The goal is simple: We invite participation in the task, handle the tricky parts, and help the child complete the last step, so they always end with a sense of accomplishment. 🏆

The "Sock Success" Story:
🧦 Choice & Connection: The adult holds up a choice of socks, or places them in the child’s hands if they aren't making a choice yet.
🧦 The Assist: The adult handles the heel and toe, pulling it just far enough.
🧦 The Victory: The child does the final, satisfying pull-up!

By letting the child finish the task, they feel the thrill of success, not frustration. Eventually, we "chain" backward, letting them take on more of the steps as their confidence and independence grows. We celebrate every finish line. 🏁🧡

What’s one small "win" your child had this morning? Tell us in the comments!

Explore our programs: www.therapycenter.org/programs

04/28/2026

Does introducing a new task to your child ever feel overwhelming? 📈

At CTC, we believe that change shouldn’t be a "high-volume" experience. That’s why our OTs use Scaffolding—or what we like to call the "Add-In" Method. 🧱

When we want to help a child master a new skill, we don’t change the play they already love. We keep the "old" favorites and simply add one small, manageable new challenge (like adding a specific flower to a garden!). 🌸✨

This technique allows kiddos to build confidence and problem-solving skills at their own pace, ensuring every step forward feels like a win.

Want to learn more about our specialized approach and meet our therapy team? Visit us at www.therapycenter.org/programs to explore our programs! 🧡

04/28/2026

Is "Winning and Losing" a hurdle for your teen? 🎲✨

We’ve all been there—a game night that ends in frustration because the dice didn’t roll the right way. For neurodivergent teens, the "emotional stakes" of winning and losing can feel incredibly high.

At Buddies & Board Games, we don’t just play; we facilitate.

Having a professional Occupational Therapist, like Megan, on-site means we turn those tricky "game over" moments into healthy learning opportunities. We help students navigate:

🔹 The "Pivot": Learning to adjust their strategy when a teammate makes an unexpected move.
🔹 Social Resilience: Recognizing that a "loss" in a game isn't a reflection of their skill or worth.
🔹 Self-Regulation: Identifying that "rising heat" feeling and using tools to stay calm before a frustration boil-over.
🔹 Perspective Taking: Celebrating a friend’s win while managing their own disappointment.

It’s about more than the board—it’s about building the emotional muscle memory to handle the ups and downs of real life in a safe, supportive environment.

We still have a few spots left for this Saturday, May 2nd event from 10am - 11:30am at the Comprehensive Therapy Center Clinic!

⚠️ DEADLINE REMINDER: Registration closes this Wednesday, April 30th at 10AM. To keep our groups small and supportive, we cannot accept walk-ins.

👉 Secure their spot at the table: https://forms.gle/nYQMELWv8BMuc9yw5