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.

September 7, 2015

Child Speech Therapy: Imitation Strategy for Receptive Language

Receptive language deals with what we hear and how we interpret the information. Receptive language allows the child to understand the world around them. In one of our previous blog posts, we introduced the child speech therapy strategy of labeling to help develop receptive language. The next strategy in this series of child speech therapy strategies for receptive language is imitation.

What Does Imitation Mean?

Imitation is an important skill that is used to acquire new words, word formation, and semantic structures. Turn taking is important in order for imitation to be effective. Your child will not understand how to imitate a person without someone modeling the action first. A great way to incorporate imitation and turn taking is during DIR floor- time. DIR floor-time is when you are on your child’s level and joining in on their playtime.

Activities to Try at Home

There are three steps to implement the strategy of imitation:

1. Join your child at play (DIR floor-time).

2. Mimic the child’s actions or sounds by taking turns.

3. Introduce new actions or sounds for your child to imitate once your child is comfortable.

Here are some examples:

If your child is not ready to talk yet, actions and signs can be a great alternative for effective communication. For example, waving bye-bye, blowing a kiss, or shaking the head “no”. The more the caretaker models the behavior with the meaning of the phrase, the easier it will be for the child to understand the motion. Wave goodbye to your child every time you separate from them so they can start to associate waving with leaving. Once they understand the meaning of the wave, they will begin to imitate the action.
Once your child is starting to make sounds, imitate the sounds they are making. If your child says, “ooh” repeat “ooh” back to teach the concept of turn taking. Once your child is familiar with how turn taking works, try to incorporate a new sound such as “aah”. You might be surprised to hear your child say it back to you! It is important to only introduce new sounds instead of words.
If your child is becoming more vocal, join him or her at playtime. For example, if a child is playing with a toy cow and says “moo,” you can take the toy and imitate the same motion by saying “moo” back. The child is now aware that you want to play. Continue to take turns by moving the cow and saying “moo”. The child will begin to anticipate your response after every time he or she says “moo”. Once the child is comfortable, you can introduce new sounds or words to improve their communication skills. For example, pick up the cat toy and say “meow”. Your child might realize it is their turn and imitate you by saying “meow” in response.

Receptive language develops best in the child’s natural environment. It is important to implement these strategies into your daily routine to see the most success from your child. For more great activities and examples click here.

References:

Heidi. “Using Turn Taking & Imitation to Encourage Communications.” Mommy Speech Therapy. Mommy Speech Therapy, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015.

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

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.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

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.