What therapy services does Lumiere Children's Therapy provide?

Lumiere Children's Therapy offers comprehensive pediatric services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), social work, early intervention, autism testing, teletherapy, and a therapeutic preschool. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to create personalized treatment plans that support every child's unique developmental journey.

At what age can my child begin therapy?

We serve children from birth through 18 years of age. Early intervention can help address developmental delays before they become more significant, while older children benefit from therapy that supports communication, learning, motor development, emotional regulation, and independence throughout childhood and adolescence.

How do you determine the right therapy plan for my child?

Every child begins with a comprehensive evaluation completed by a licensed therapist. We assess developmental skills, discuss your concerns and goals, and use standardized assessments when appropriate. Based on the results, our team creates a personalized treatment plan that evolves as your child grows and reaches new milestones.

Can my child receive more than one therapy service at the same location?

Yes. Because Lumiere Children's Therapy offers multiple pediatric therapy services under one roof, children can receive coordinated care from speech, occupational, physical, behavioral, and social work professionals. This collaborative approach improves communication among therapists and creates a more consistent experience for families.

Does Lumiere Children's Therapy accept insurance?

We work with many major insurance providers and help families understand their available benefits before therapy begins. Our experienced administrative team assists with insurance verification, claim submissions, billing questions, and payment options, making the process as simple and transparent as possible for parents and caregivers.

What should we expect during our first therapy appointment?

Your first visit focuses on understanding your child's strengths, developmental needs, and family goals. A licensed therapist will complete an evaluation, answer your questions, and explain recommended services. You'll leave with a clear understanding of the next steps and a personalized treatment plan designed for your child.

Why do families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy because we provide individualized care through a collaborative team of experienced pediatric specialists. From evaluations and insurance guidance to ongoing therapy and family education, we're committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that helps children build lifelong skills and confidence.

How can I schedule an evaluation at Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Scheduling an evaluation is quick and straightforward. Simply call our office, send us an email, or complete the contact form on our website. Our friendly team will guide you through every step, including insurance verification, appointment scheduling, and preparing for your child's first visit so you can get started with confidence.

November 30, 2015

Child Speech Therapy: Focused Stimulation

The next strategy in the Receptive Language Strategy Series is focused stimulation. Focused stimulation is a child speech therapy approach to repeat a word or phrase multiple times in a conversation to facilitate comprehension and possible language production. The caregiver chooses a target word and tries to incorporate the word in normal conversation. It should encourage the comprehension of the word more than the production of the word.

Child Speech Therapy Strategies at Home

The best opportunity to use focused stimulation appropriately is when the child is leading. If the child is initiating the play, you can choose a target word during that activity. For example, if the child is playing with cars, the target words might include: driving, fast, slow, stop and go. If the child hears the word multiple times in play, they will hopefully imitate the word. If the child is playing with Mr. Potato head, appropriate target words would be “on” and “off”. For instance, “I put on the nose. I took off the ears.” It would also be great to continue to repeat the terms on and off for each feature of the face.

Books and music are other great resources to incorporate in focused stimulation. Unlike during playtime, books and music can be strategically selected for specific target words. Many children’s books have simple texts with multiple repetitions of certain words or phrases. Here are some great books to use for focused stimulation:

Brown Bearby Eric Carle. This book repeats “What do you see” and “I see ____” on each page. After reading the book, continue using the phrases during a game of I SPY!
I can say that and I can do that by Susan Hendler Lederer. This book is great for teaching foundational vocabulary to children. Incorporate toys and sign language while reading the book. Susan includes the sign language for nouns in the story, such as the word “cow”. You can use a toy cow while reading the story to engage your child with the words “moo” and “cow”.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd. A great book for the target word “goodnight”. Reading it before bed can encourage imitation by saying goodnight to everything in the child’s room.
Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman. If a child is struggling with using the correct possessive pronoun, this book is excellent to work on target words: my, him, her.

For more books click here.

At first it might seem difficult to continue to use the same word multiple times in a conversation, but after practice it will start to become a habit. The more a child hears the word in different contexts, the sooner they will start to understand the meaning and incorporate the word in their own vocabulary.

Past articles on strategies for receptive language include labeling, imitation, and OWL.

References:

Paul. “Three F’s: False Assertions, Following the Child’s Lead, and Focused Stimulations.” The Language Fix. N.p., 30 June 2014. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

Swigert, Nancy B. “Chapter 8: Intervention for Receptive Language.” Early Intervention Kit. East Moline, IL: LinguiSystems, 2004. 85. Print.

“Using Focused Stimulation to Help Speech and Language Development in Young Child.” Speech-Language-Development.com. Speech-Language-Development.com, n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT

Looking for expert pediatric therapy services? Our team specializes in helping children reach their full potential through compassionate, personalized care.

Book an Appointment → Call (312) 242-1665

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos, MA, CCC-SLP/L is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience supporting children and families. After earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University, she gained deep clinical expertise working across pediatric hospitals, early intervention programs, and autism therapy settings.

In 2010, Kitsa founded Lumiere Children’s Therapy to create a holistic, collaborative space where children could receive personalized, multidisciplinary care. Her vision continues to guide Lumiere’s dedicated team of therapists, offering speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy and more, to help every child reach their fullest potential.

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