For 25 years we have been providing therapy services for children and their families located primarily in the greater Tampa, Brandon, and Lakeland communities of Florida. Unlike a larger traditional hospital, we are a therapist owned, private practice.
Our only focus is on providing quality therapy specifically for children.
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Aetna
Cigna
Coventry Health Care
Health Net
Humana
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1215 E Orange,FL,33801
Get in Contact
(863) 802-3800
Reviews
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My foster daughter was placed with me 3 months ago and I quickly noticed she had some physical and speech delays. PTS was my first call. They quickly informed me shed need a referral so I made the soonest appointment I could get which was with a Dr. in Tampa. Drove her there to get her the referrals and sent them to PTS right away so we could get in as soon as possible. There was a lot of back and forth and hoops to jump through because of Medicaid and the foster care system but we finally had her eval about two weeks ago and we were ready to get her the services she needs. At her first physical therapy appointment I let the therapist know that a dining bench had recently fallen on her foot and it was badly bruised but we had gotten X-rays the day before and the Dr. said she was fine. It was sore and she was acting as such. Within 5 minutes of taking her back they came back to the lobby to express concern over her foot since she wouldnt let the therapist touch it - shes a 4yr old with trauma of course shes not going to let strangers touch her bruised foot but I heard their concerns. The therapists expressed a desire to review her x-rays so as soon as we left the appointment I drove straight to the urgent care where we got x-rays taken to sign permission for PTS to get all the information they needed to verify that her foot was in fact fine I communicated this with PTS right away and asked them to please call me if they have further concerns. Six days later and the day before her next therapy appointment they called to inform me that they must have clearance from a doctor before continuing therapy services. This didnt make much sense to me since the doctor saw no medical issue with her foot to begin with but I reminded them they had the ability to call the urgent care and get the visit notes to see that there was in fact nothing medically wrong with her bruised foot. I finally received a phone call from the physical therapist who told me she refused to see my foster daughter for therapy until I got clearance which meant I would need to make an additional appointment for them to tell me what they already told me which was that her foot is fine. To press her point she told me her license was on the line over this issue - a bruised foot - obviously not being honest. It was made clear this was some sort of power struggle and I bowed out. Im a foster mom but I also have three children of my own and I work full time. I was trying to do right by this sweet girl and get her the therapies she needs to thrive. I didnt mind jumping through all of the hoops to make it happen because I knew it was what she needed. Instead of walking along side of me in this effort PTS chose to fight against me over a bruised foot. My hope in writing this review is that PTS will take a look at how they work with foster parents Fostering is an absolute joy but it is hard so when things that should be so simple like getting therapies for these children are made difficult for literally no reason it adds stress that just doesnt need to be there. PTS please do better. Signed - a foster mom just trying to do her best.
Tara Johnson
17 March 2024
google review
So helpful The staff and therapist are so kind its a great place to be Would recommend
shana boutin
17 March 2024
google review
My daughter been going here for about a year now its truly amazing the kids always comes out with happy smiles. My daughter loves her therapist. Shes very caring loving not only to my child to another of her patients she works with. My daughter has shown so many millstone its truly amazing. The place is super clean my daughter has asthma they truly understand when I have to cancel as time. Thank you to the whole crew there Lakeland area
Daisy Martinez
17 December 2023
google review
100 will recommend to a friendfamily. We love going here and finn does not want to leave. Teachers are very helpful and very patient as well. I love how they are very accommodating and very understanding to us.
Alicia Saddler
17 November 2023
google review
Our daughter has been going to PTS since she came home from the hospital at 3 months old receiving PT and ST she is currently 5 receivingPTSTOT.... this year our daughter has been hospitalized multiple timesduring hospitalizations she still received all therapy services.... In July of this year PTS tried putting her on on call I let PTS know we did NOT want that for our daughter we wanted to keep our scheduled sessions as therapy is the key to helping my daughter thrive... PTS discharged my daughter in a very unprofessional way they contacted our pediatrician without our knowledge or permission for at home therapy because her medical condition changed... well that was news to me because her condition is the SAME it has been...as evident from the Doctors that released her with resume all normal therapies...after all the hospitalizations this year it is imperative to her recovery to receive therapy and have professionals evaluate her progress and guide us as parents to help her the best we can..... this place cares only about the not the caregrowth and development of their patients....Karen is the worst and truly lives up to her name as she told me it was what was best for their business.... disappointed to say the least. The people I thought were on our side and would help my daughter to thrive again dropped her like a sack of potatoes...with a 6 month waiting list for at home therapy.
Nikki Hajian
17 November 2023
google review
PTS has been SO wonderful for my kids. We have seen a lot of the speech therapists and every single one of them is incredibly talented and helpful and SO great with the kids and communicating with us as parents. Office staff is top tier and makes the entire process easy for us
Heidi Miller
17 October 2023
google review
We LOVE PTS Everyone from the office staff to the therapists are so polite and welcoming. Even when my son is in a bad mood and doesnt want to come they manage to brighten him up
Alexia Taylor
17 October 2023
google review
Im giving this place a one-star which would have been 0 if I could. My daughter is 2 years old taking speech therapy at this place. This WednesdaySeptember 13th 2023 was her 3rd session and she came out of there telling me butt and pointing to her butt she never done that before and since she cant talk properly she cant not explain to me what happened to her. So when we got home I found she had a welt on her inner thigh by her private area that she did not have before we left. Also she had little red dots on her private area it was not a diaper rash Im upset cause I have no clue what happened to my daughter or why would she tell me butt something she never has done. I just know I didnt like it at all and her telling me that was very suspicious. I dont know but I dont trust this place at all She will not be going back
Jess Nunez
17 September 2023
google review
My son Marlo has been going to PTS since he was 3 months old and now he is 10. Best place for kids who are in need of Therapy. Marlo has grown so much and achieved so many goals where doctors just gave up but the all girls and stuff did what was best and I was said they always did extra for Marlo always had what he needed and more. Im always Thankful
Destini Richardson
17 September 2023
google review
I called about two weeks ago for services for my son. I spoke with Karen who assured me they had space for new services but could not guarantee a time. I was okay with that because we would have made the time work for my son. After calling and chasing for information I was finally told my insurance would cover 100 but now they are unavailable. The sad part is I waited two weeks with insurance coverage only to have to call and do all the following up. When they requested my insurance information they had it within minutes. When they needed the referral the doctor faxed it over immediately. This is a disappointment because my son s now having to wait and look for another facility after we were told we could get in. Worse they didnt even attempt to call me and I had to request a call back to be told this information.
Anthony Lang
17 July 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
responding to questions
starting or ending conversation
changing conversation topics
using gestures like pointing
understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.
Once you find a quality physical therapist you want to work with, here are a few things you need to know:
There will be an evaluation. First, you can expect an assessment to identify your child’s areas of strength and needs. A physical therapy evaluation usually lasts 30 minutes.
You’ll review and approve the care plan. The physical therapist will create a care plan, also known as a plan of care (POC), outlining the goals and strategies. They will review this with you and your care team before moving forward with therapy sessions.
Physical therapy sessions will be fun. PT with children is designed to be enjoyable. The therapist will use strategies and exercises based on your child’s needs. Exercises might involve playing on large stability balls, obstacle courses, movement equipment, stretches, and other hands-on activities.
Expect home exercises. Physical therapists commonly assign exercises to work on at home. Doing these exercises with your child outside therapy sessions can improve your child’s overall progress.
Yes! Most providers offer physical therapy in their offices or a clinical setting, but many are offering at-home options. Virtual options have become more popular in recent years. You might facilitate care with the guidance of the physical therapist.
Pediatric physical therapy is considered safe and should not hurt. Autistic children spend their time in PT moving and exploring their environment. If you are concerned about your child experiencing pain during certain exercises, especially if they may struggle to communicate and advocate for modifications, speak with their physical therapist about your concerns.
Get in touch with Pediatric Therapy Services - St. Lakeland
Children
Address: 1215 E Orange
| St Lakeland, FL
33801
Rating: 3.70
(41 reviews)
Insurances:
Ages Served:
Care Settings:
In-clinic
English
(863) 802-3800
