What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm Thursday 8:30am - 6pm Friday 9am - 12pm

North Florida Therapy Associates

Home
United States
Orange Park, FL
North Florida Therapy Associates

We are a private speech therapy practice with 2 convenient locations in Orange Park and Mandarin. We

Our second location is 12025 San Jose Blvd., Suite 101
Jacksonville, FL 32223

09/06/2025

📚 Today is National Read A Book Day! 📚
Reading is so important for kids of all ages. It helps with developmental growth, critical thinking, deductive reasoning, memory and recall, and so many other areas of brain development. Turning pages also helps with fine motor skills!

What's your favorite type of book to curl up with? Fiction, non-fiction, mystery, romance?
Do you prefer hardcover, paperback, or audiobook?

09/05/2025

Are you a diehard audiobook listener? Or do you prefer the feeling of turning pages? One of our moms recently got into a debate with her husband about whether audiobooks are "cheating" when it comes to reading. Her argument is that reading is reading, no matter the format and if someone is visually impaired, they're able to glean the same information as someone who does not have a visual impairment. Fair point. But is there something to be said for reading comprehension when it comes to school? The short answer: there's no right answer. Both forms of reading have benefits, and here they are:

Print reading:
📖 better focus and concentration that results in better retention
📖 screen-free time that helps relieve eye strain, anxiety, and digital fatigue

Audio reading:
🎧 allows you to multitask while listening, such as cleaning the house, gardening, or engaging in other activities that allow you to listen without losing focus or attention
🎧 allows you to get through books quicker if you don't have to sit down and physically read
🎧 perfect for car rides and for the whole family to be engaged

A good mix of traditional print reading as well as audio reading is a great way to increase your child's reading appetite and help them foster a love of reading.

09/04/2025

The old adage says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that's especially true for a lot of our neurodivergent friends!

Here's why:
If given the choice, do you think your kiddos would choose carbs like waffles, toast, and cereal, or do you think they'd choose eggs, meat, and dairy? Chances are most kids would gravitate towards the sugary goodness that the carby foods are enhanced with. While not all carbs are bad, it's good to mix in proteins for a balanced meal. Sugar spikes lead to crashes. A solid amount of protein helps with focus and concentration to keep us running smoothly and steadily throughout the day.
Additionally, there have been several studies that show a direct correlation between academic success and a protein-packed breakfast, including increased test scores, less anxiety, and improved attention and behavior.

What are some good options?
Don't eliminate carbs. Instead, add some different toppings to pack a protein punch.
Smoothies!
Muffins-but hide some nutritious ingredients in the muffins when baking. Greek yogurt is a great baking ingredient!

Did you know that our office offers feeding therapy? We can help you with your picky eaters 🙂 Please reach out to one of our offices to discuss how we can help you.

09/03/2025

A lot of what we do in our therapies is teach executive functioning skills. Neurodivergent individuals struggle with executive functioning skills or have deficits that make it more difficult for them to complete tasks. A lot of the success in ex*****on comes in the plan and preparation. Many of our friends are visual learners and a physical calendar or schedule can help lead them on the path to success.
Here are some ways to help your child with understanding the concept of time and being on time:

1) Sequencing. This concept is learned as early as infancy. Children learn routines and what to expect based on repetition. An event that becomes familiar to them is due to sequencing of first this happens, then this happens, and so on. Routines are formed based on the concept of sequencing and as such, timeliness falls into play. Set routines in sequences. For example, first we use the toilet, then we wash our hands. First we brush our teeth, then we get into bed. Start with simple two step sequences and build on them with consistency. Reinforce by asking your child, what comes next? Let them fill in the blanks to ensure they nail the routine.

2) Use a paper calendar. You and your child can work on this together by having a weekly visual calendar so they know what to expect on each day. Add in some fine motor skills by having them color in activities on the calendar to help them remember! Be sure to write the month and day on the calendar to help them learn months and days. Want less paper stacks? Try one of the new digital wall calendars! Everyone can color code their calendar and be in sync with the family schedule.

3) Set alarms or timers. Have a smart phone or a smart device in your home? Lean on Alexa or Siri to set reminders or alarms so that you and your child don't forget things!
Many of our patients thrive on routines. If the calendar or schedule is visible and accessible to them, they will know what to expect and this process can help for smooth transitions and experiences.

09/02/2025

As parents of neurodivergent and/or disabled children, we sometimes encounter ignorant or uninformed individuals in public. These encounters tend to involve people who have no filter or aren't educated enough in social etiquette, which makes the interaction unpleasant or even cringey. As we know, hindsight is always 20/20 and we tend to come up with great retorts, one-liners, and even zingers after the moment has passed. As much as it would feel great to tell someone where to go or what to do with themselves, try to lead with kindness.

Here are some things you can use in the future when faced with what could be an uncomfortable interaction:

"I'm glad you're able to identify that my child is communicating that they may need some support or assistance. How can I guide you in a way that supports their autonomy, dignity, safety, and overall well-being in a neurodiversity-affirming way?"

"We all respond differently to our environments, and right now my child is responding to their environment. Their reactions can come from boredom, not feeling safe, being unsure what others are expecting from them, or feeling insecure out of fear of being corrected or punished for something they don't understand."

"Behavior is communication. Right now my child is communicating something and and it's my job to help figure out what is going on so that I can find the trigger and assist them in being more comfortable in this environment."

Or just simply:
"Why?"
"Why are you laughing?"
"Why are you pointing?"
"Are you making fun of them?"

What are some of the things you say to strangers when faced with these situations? Comment below!

08/31/2025

Please join us in wishing Mr. Ed a very happy birthday!

08/25/2025

Did you know that board games are a great way to practice speech AND occupational therapy? Our game closets are full of amazing board games and activities that we adapt to work on targeted speech and OT practice with each of our patients. Even though games are designed with specific instructions, we like to change the rules and play the games differently so that we exercise many different skills in one fun game!

A great game for achieving this is Build or Boom. According to the game’s directions, each player has to build their structure according to the blueprints and the player who builds theirs the fastest gets to destroy the other player’s structure. While this method focuses on skill and speed, we like to change it up a bit to focus on fine motor skills, speech and language articulation, sequencing, and comprehension. Here’s a different way of playing:

One player is the builder and the other person serves as the “project manager.” The project manager has to draw a blueprint card from the pile and not show the builder what the structure should look like. The project manager has to instruct the builder through each step of the build, using descriptive words so that the builder can construct the building properly. Once the structure is complete, the project manager can then make the building go “boom.” Switch roles with your child so that they practice giving instructions using descriptive words and language, sequencing, and fine motor skills as both the project manager and the builder.

08/24/2025

Now that we have 2 weeks of school under our belts, it's time to give ourselves a little TLC...we're talking self-care! Remember, self-care isn't selfish! Add booking a massage or facial or scheduling time to grab coffee with a friend or a few hours of solitude at the beach to your calendar. These mini breaks do a world of good for our minds and bodies!

08/23/2025

👀 Here's your friendly reminder to schedule an eye exam to make sure your child's prescription is up to date for the new school year. The proper prescription lenses can have a huge impact on their learning and success! 👓🤓

08/21/2025

Should I sit in on my child’s therapy session?
It’s the million-dollar question: should I stay or should I go?
The answer: it depends.
Shuttling your child to daily or weekly therapy sessions is an arduous task, and you should congratulate yourself first for recognizing that your child can benefit from resources provided by therapies, and second for making the effort and putting in the time to ensure your child attends the sessions! That being said, we all have busy lives and those precious minutes that your child is engaged in their therapy session can be valuable time to run a quick errand or grab dinner for your family. We get it. We’re in the trenches with you, too. On the flip side, we wholeheartedly encourage parents and caregivers to attend therapy sessions on a regular basis so that you can keep up with the techniques and strategies that the therapist is working on with your child so that you can continue the practice at home, stay up to date on their goals and achievements, and maintain an open line of communication with your therapist to address any concerns or questions you may have. There are times when your child’s therapist may suggest that a one-on-one session would be best and that depends on your child’s mood, demeanor, whether an evaluation is being performed, to avoid distraction, or just to give mom and dad a break. Our best piece of advice on this subject is to reach out to your therapist either before the session or upon arriving for your appointment. Let your therapist know what kind of day your child is having and ask if they’d like you to sit in on the session. We love receiving your questions! If you have questions regarding anything related to therapy, please ask one of our skilled therapists or office staff and we’d be happy to guide you! If you’d like to submit anonymous questions that you think would be helpful for other parents and that can be featured on our social media pages, please ask for a form at the front desk!

08/19/2025

Did you know that August is National Make A Will Month? Do you have a will? Sometimes the thought of a will makes people uneasy, and many people put off getting a will because they don't want to think about or talk about death. But as parents and caregivers to special needs children, it's important to think about who will take care of your loved one in the event that you're no longer able to. There are so many factors that go into drafting a will and planning for future care of both yourself and your loved ones. We recommend reaching out to an estate planning attorney to discuss all of your options so that you can ensure your loved one is cared for.

08/14/2025

August is Don't Be A Bully month and it couldn't be more timely with the start of school. Bullying and social complexities seem to be starting as early as elementary school. Lots of young children have cell phones or other devices that make it easy for them to access social media and other platforms where bullying is rampant. It's so important for parents to have productive conversations with their children about bullying, social media, technology, friendships, peer pressure, and situations they may expect to encounter. Let's face it, we won't be able to shield our children from every bad thing in life, but we can take the opportunity to educate them to make smart choices and help them navigate situations and circumstances in which they may find themselves. Making mistakes is usually the best way to learn and grow. Aside from monitoring technology, social skills groups are often helpful, especially for our neurodivergent children who may not easily pick up on social cues.
Are you concerned about your child being a victim of bullying? Do you think they are well prepared to handle situations where they might be bullied? Please talk to one of our therapists to discuss how we might be able to work on social skills in our office. Also, we can provide resources related to bullying, particularly if it occurs in school. We are here to help!

Address

784 Blanding Boulevard , Suite 108
Orange Park, FL
32065

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 6pm
Thursday	8:30am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 12pm

Website

http://www.northfloridatherapy.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North Florida Therapy Associates posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to North Florida Therapy Associates:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Orange Park?

Welcome to North Florida Therapy Associates!

We are the premier speech therapy practice in Orange Park, Florida, serving people of all ages and abilities in the greater Jacksonville area. For over 10 years, we have been leading the area in the most innovative speech therapy techniques and providing support to individuals, children and their families both in the clinical setting and at home. It is our belief that everyone has the capacity to learn to communicate effectively to the best of their abilities, even if it is one syllable at a time. Our goal is to work collaboratively with clients to develop the best and most productive plan of care to be implemented both in our facility and at home. This enables a child to successfully participate in the most developmentally appropriate activities within family, social-emotional, and academic settings. For our adult clients, a comprehensive approach to treatment facilitates rapid progress.

In addition to our private individual therapy sessions, North Florida Therapy Associates provides a full range of services to those with speech, language, voice, oral-motor, and swallowing/feeding disorders. Melissa Gillmer, M.S., CCC-SLP is recognized by the national organization, Apraxia Kids, for advanced training and expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Our office performs highly in-depth screenings, consultations, and evaluations for use in our private treatment as well as in collaboration with schools, physicians, and other certified specialists. Please contact our office to discuss how we can help you or your loved one achieve their greatest potential.