We are now offering Speech and OT services, partnering with ABA Solutions.
We are now offering Speech and OT services with our ABA partners, ABA Solutions.
Believe It and Achieve It, LLC is a premier pediatric therapy practice. We approach the therapeutic process in a holistic manner and specialize in collaborative treatment of children with varying abilities who struggle with speech and language, sensorimotor disorders, gross and fine motor skills and challenging behavior. We are committed to the use of evidenced-based practice. Some of the children we work with are diagnosed with :
* ADD and ADHD
* Apraxia and Dyspraxia
* Auditory Processing Disorders
* Autism Spectrum Disorder
* Cerebral Palsy
* Communication Impairment
* Developmental Delay
* Down Syndrome
* Dyslexia
* Generalized Weakness
* Hyperlexia
* Language Delays
* Neurological Impairments
* Reading and Learning Differences
* Sensory Integration Dysfunction
* Torticollis
* Vision Issues
* Dolphin Neurostim (MPS)
* Handwriting Without Tears
* Integrated Listening Systems
* Interactive Metronome
* PROMPT
* Neuronet
* Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention
* Talk Tools
* Therapeutic Listening
We believe that each child is born with special gifts. As a premier provider of innovative therapies, we are able to help children unwrap these gifts and develop to their maximum potential. We believe that the sky is the limit. We strive to help our clients and their families through our family-oriented and family friendly environment. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Our commitment to these values is unwavering If you can believe it, you can achieve it.
Pain, especially chronic pain, can be an incredibly debilitating condition to experience. It is one of the most unpleasant experiences for any human being to endure and is the number one reason why chronic pain sufferers seek medical attention. Unfortunately, physicians and therapists have little to no formal training in chronic pain management.
Now there is a scientifically proven solution, the Dolphin Neurostim, that may provide significant relief for those suffering from pain.
Autism is defined by the Autism Society of America (ASA) as "a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities".
From birth to at least 36 months of age, every child should be screened for developmental milestones during routine well visits. When such a screening—or a parent—raises concerns about a child's development, the doctor should refer the child to a specialist in developmental evaluation and early intervention. These evaluations should include hearing and lead exposure tests as well as an autism-specific screening tool such as the M-CHAT. Among these screening tools are several geared to older children and/or specific autism spectrum disorders. A typical diagnostic evaluation involves a multi-disciplinary team of doctors including a pediatrician, psychologist, speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist. Genetic testing may likewise be recommended, as well as screening for related medical issues such as sleep difficulties. This type of comprehensive helps parents understand as much as possible about their child's strengths and needs.
Level 3: “Requiring very substantial support
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others.
For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches.
Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 2: “Requiring substantial support”
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others.
For example, a person who speaks in simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and who has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 1: “Requiring support”
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful responses to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to-and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.
Latricia has 20 plus years of experience in Medical Administrative, Clinical back office and as a Medical Assistant Instructor. She has worked in multiple aspects of specialties ranging from OBGYN, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine. While serving next to her husband as the wife of an active-duty military veteran she was privileged to travel abroad and throughout the United States working under various conditions, cultures and medical specialties. One of her most rewarding endeavors was as an awarded Medical Assistant Instructor where she taught young adults and those looking to improve their quality of life the process, procedures and skills needed to assist the running of a proficient medial practice.
"I love the medical field because I get joy when I can see a smile on a patient's face because I was able to provide the answers and care that they need. That makes it all worthwhile and why I decided to choose the medical field as my profession."
When not on company time and I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, dancing, cooking and some exercise.
My favorite quote is by Colin Powell: "Success is the result of profession, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence."
Hi! My name is Tiffanie. I was born in New Jersey but Florida is where my heart is! I love traveling, going to the gym, walking the beach and soaking in the wonderful Florida sun.
I have been in the medical field for over 6 years, starting from a receptionist leading me to an office supervisor. With my 6 years of experience I have grown such a passion for making others happy; in fact, I would do anything to change your frown upside down! I’m a great listener and I’m always here to help if you ever need me.
My name is Vanessa Ford! I was born in Berlin, Germany, and raised in Clinton, Massachusetts until my family relocated to Tampa, Florida when I was 10 years old. I attended Leto High School and graduated in 2002. After graduation I recieved my Medical Assistant certification. Since then, I have worked 20 years using my Medical Assistant certification in various medical facilities to include Physical Therapy sports clinics and Psychiatric care.
I am a mom of three and a wife to my amazing husband of 14 years. We are a sports family supporting our boys in youth baseball and football. In my spare time I enjoy event planning and spending time with my family and friends. My goals is to continue my education to become a certified mortician.
Overall, I am a proud Latin American women who loves God and its people. I believe that with more compassion and kindness, this world would be a better place.
Hello, My name is Estelita but everyone calls me Esta. I'm a proud Mom of Two and a grandma ( LeLa) of three grandkids that mean the world to me. I’ve been in the medical field for eleven yrs. The best part of my years in the field is all the love and trust I’ve gotten from patients. I always say a Smile goes a long way. I enjoy spending time with family, friends, traveling and of cause the Beach.
Speech therapy is a form of therapy designed to address speech and language disorders. Speech therapy is provided by speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants. Speech-language pathologists work with individuals who have difficulty developing speech or who cannot produce speech sounds clearly. They work with individuals who have problems understanding and producing language. They also work with individuals with voice disorders and rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering. Speech-language pathologists provide therapy for accent reduction and therapy for those with cognitive communication impairments such as attention, memory, and problem solving. They also work with individuals who have feeding and swallowing difficulties.
Diagnoses often seen in Speech Therapy
• Apraxia
• Auditory Processing Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Developmental Delay
• Down Syndrome
• Dyslexia
• Hyperlexia
• Language Delay
• Neurological Impairments
• Reading and Learning Differences
Tara is a licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with a Master’s of Science degree from Nova Southeastern. She also has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and holds a Florida certification in Elementary Education.
Tara has 15+ years of experience working with children in private practice/home healthcare and school settings. She is a certified Early Interventionist/Early Steps provider focusing on early intervention services for children ages birth to three. She enjoys working with a variety of disorders and disabilities including language learning delay, autism spectrum disorder and phonological/literacy disorders. Tara loves working with the pediatric population and is passionate about connecting with and engaging each child in a manner that supports their individual needs.
Angi Pizon-Moore is a FL state licensed and ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She graduated with a Master of Science degree from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at USF in 2010. She earned a minor degree in American Sign Language during her undergraduate studies and was a Certified Basic Cued Speech Instructor. Angi previously worked as a full-time school-based Speech-Language Pathologist at a Pasco County elementary school for 2½ years, where she discovered how much she really loves working with children! She enjoys working with a variety of disorders and disabilities, including Autism, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, literacy, phonological disorders, articulation disorders, apraxia, oral-motor based disorders, stuttering, and other language disorders. She has found great success with children using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices and iPad applications. She always looks for new ways to incorporate technology into her therapeutic practice and enjoys working on her iPad as much as her patients do!
Angi received multiple ACE awards over the years for her completion of continuing education courses, over and above what is required! She currently holds the following certifications: ADHD-RSP, ASDCS, DIR-Basic, FastForward, Interactive Metronome, Microcurrent Point Stimulation, PROMPT Trained, and QOM-Candidate. She is always looking for ways to improve how she practices.
Grace is a speech-language pathologist with a Masters in Science degree from the University of South Florida. She holds a bachelors in Communication Sciences and disorders, with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has many years of experience working with children of all ages, with an emphasis on ages 3-10 years old. She has worked in the pediatric private practice setting, and completed an internship at the Joy McCann Culverhouse Center for Swallowing Disorders. Grace has a particular interest in language and feeding disorders. She believes everyone deserves a voice and has a passion for helping the children she works with find theirs!
Grace is a speech-language pathologist with a Master of Science degree from St. Ambrose University. She holds a bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Iowa. She is originally from Iowa and moved down south to escape the cold. She has many years of experience working with preschool and school-aged children. She has experience in both the school setting and clinic setting with children with various disorders including articulation and phonological, receptive and expressive language, autism, and more. Grace enjoys working with the pediatric population and is passionate about tailoring each session to help meet every child’s individual need.
Christie is a speech-language pathologist with a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida Atlantic University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Florida. She has previously worked as a school-based speech-language pathologist with students in K-8th grade. She also has experience in the clinic setting with children of all ages with various disorders, including but not limited to articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, expressive and receptive language disorders, and fluency disorder. Christie has a particular interest in language and literacy disorders. She gained extensive experience in treating reading disorders during her two years at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, a leader in intensive reading instruction. Her passion for the field of speech-language pathology stems from a desire to help all children find their voices and reach their full potential.
Krista is a state licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with a Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Exceptional Education from UCF. She has four years of clinical experience in the outpatient pediatric private practice setting treating children with a variety of medical diagnoses and speech and language disorders. She also has clinical experience with the geriatric population in skilled nursing facilities. Krista has a passion for incorporating meaningful literature into her treatment sessions whenever possible to help unlock a love of language, stories, and creativity in the children she works with!
Sarah is a Florida state licensed SLPA and is currently working on her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLPA) from ASHA. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida. She also holds an Associates degree with a focus on Child Development. When Sarah was 14 years old, she became an assistant for a religious program where she discovered how much she enjoys working with children. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree, she began working as a preschool teacher while she searched for a job at Pepin Academies in Pasco County. She remained there for 2 ½ years when she moved into the outpatient pediatric private practice setting, working with a variety of disorders with children from 3 months old to 22 years old. She has a passion for showing children anything is possible no matter what obstacles they must overcome.
Our Occupational therapists provide services for children from birth to early adulthood. Occupational therapy focuses on helping your child to build the necessary skills needed to participate in their occupation – PLAY. Play is an important aspect of your child’s life that promotes language, social, and cognitive skills. Occupational therapy also focuses on developing fine motor, eye-hand coordination, self-help, and sensory processing skills. Along with developing these skills, occupational therapy services can enhance the potential of a child throughout their developmental years and build skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem that lasts a lifetime.
What is Sensory Integration?
There are seven senses that form the foundation of sensory integration, they are: visual, auditory, touch, smell, taste, vestibular (input regarding the position of one’s head in space in pull of gravity), and proprioception (awareness of one’s body and movement in space). The vestibular and proprioceptive systems work very closely together for one’s ability to develop many skills including attention and arousal, balance, and coordination. When speaking of sensory integration, we are speaking of the abilities of a person to take in sensory information from their environment, process that information within their brain, and then respond to that information appropriately. The appropriate response may be a motor output, emotional reaction, or to ignore the information altogether. Although the actual organs of a particular sensory system may be functioning adequately, if there is difficulty with the processing of that information in brain, then the response to the information may be affected. Sensory integration is the foundation that allows for complex learning and behavior.
Which children would benefit from SI or Occupational Therapy?
If after reviewing the signs and symptoms listed, you suspect your child may have a sensory integrative disorder, an evaluation can be conducted at our center by a qualified occupational therapist. Evaluations usually consist of both standardized testing and structured observation of responses to sensory stimulation, posture, balance, coordination, and eye movements. In general, children with developmental delay, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, down’s syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular accident, traumatic brain injury, autism, pervasive developmental disorder, fine motor delays, sensory integration dysfunction, and handwriting skills benefit from OT and/or SI.
Who will be working with my child
Your child will be seen with one of our highly –qualified occupational therapists who specialize in the pediatric population. Our occupational therapists each have extensive experience in SI treatment for pediatrics, and stay up to date with the latest treatment techniques through continuing education. We will pair your child with the appropriate OT specific to his/her needs.
How do I know if my child needs OT?
Does your child exhibit…
Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to touch, taste, movement, smell or sight?
For example: Your child avoids touch, refuses to wear certain clothing, is a picky eater, covers his/her ears or eyes, or conversely, craves sensations like grabbing others, prefers hot bath water and spice foods, and seems oblivious to sensory cues.
Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to movement sensation?
For example: Your child seeks out movement like swinging, twirling, jumping, or avoids active games.
Unusually high or low activity level?
For example: Your child may be constantly on the go, wearing out everyone around him/her or moves slowly and tires easily, showing little interest in the world.
What diagnoses and treatment do you work with?
Common Diagnosis
• ADD
• ADHD
• Apraxia
• Auditory Processing Disorders
• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Delay
• Down Syndrome
• Dyslexia
• Neurological Impairments
• Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Specialized Treatments
• Integrated Listening Systems
• Interactive Metronome
• The Listening Program
• Neuronet
• Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention
• Therapeutic Listening Therapy
Kimberly Lamke is a licensed Occupational Therapist with a Bachelors of Arts from the University of South Florida in Gerontology in 1996, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Kentucky University in 2000. She earned her Occupational Therapy Doctorate from Eastern Kentucky University in 2022. She has worked in private practices, outpatient hospitals, and home health. Dr. Lamke specializes in sensory integration, Therapeutic Listening, REI, anxiety disorders, and holds an advanced certification in Interactive Metronome, as well as being an early steps provider. She has over 20 years of experience in pediatrics. In addition, Kimberly is a certified health coach, a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical
Specialist (ASDCS), and a Certified ADHD-Rehabilitation Services Provider (ADHD-RSP). Kimberly is the founder and owner of Believe It and Achieve It, LLC .
Elyse Acey graduated from South University- Tampa with an Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy and is a licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. During her Fieldwork rotation within the school system, she continued to develop a passion for providing therapy sessions that fit each child’s unique personality to meet their goals. Originally from the Northeast she moved south to escape the snow to paddle board, surf, fish, and snorkel.
Jamie is a licensed Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, both from Western Michigan University. Prior to recently moving to Florida, Jamie found her passion working with children at a small private pediatric clinic in Michigan. She has experience working with children in the clinic setting addressing fine/gross motor, visual perception/visual motor integration, emotional regulation and sensory processing, and feeding/picky eating. She has advanced training in: Talk Tools, Oral Placement Therapy, Complex Feeding, Anxious Eaters, Zones of Regulation, and Bal-A-Vis-Ix.
Jamie's biggest goal is to continue to take a variety of feeding courses to better serve any child's feeding needs/concerns. She absolutely loves working with children and seeing the smile on their faces as they achieve their goals. In her free time Jamie loves spending time with her two young boys, going to the beach/pool, and spending time exploring walking/running trails.
Patrick is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Keiser University here in Tampa, FL. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science
from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. Patrick is also a high school soccer coach and plays soccer, golf and video games in his spare time. He was a summer camp counselor at a local YMCA for 7
years working with children ages 5-17. After completing his pediatric rotation in school he knew this was the career route for him. Patrick enjoys working on sensory integration and motor planning, keeping
each child active during his sessions. He also enjoys utilizing the Interactive Metronome during his treatment sessions in order to work on attention and focus for his kiddos.
Victoria Lund is a licensed Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant with an Associates of Science degree from Keiser University. She is fluent in English and Portuguese and conversational in Spanish. She has always loved volunteering with children and knew she wanted to specialize in pediatric therapy after shadowing at a clinic where he younger sister received speech therapy services. Victoria enjoys working on sensory integration, and loves using things like games and crafts to make her sessions fun and engaging for her kiddos. In her free time, Victoria likes working on puzzles, volunteering in her community, spending time with her family and friends, and cuddling her dog Bear.
Dr. Kaleigh is a licensed Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Evangel University and a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Kaleigh was a teacher at an Autism Center. She has experience working with children in home health, schools, and the clinical setting addressing fine motor, visual deficits, sensory processing, behavioral disorders, and handwriting. She is passionate about helping children meet their goals and develop through purposeful and meaningful activities. Kaleigh is particularly interested in researching and applying occupational therapy concepts to help children with a history of abuse and neglect. In her free time, Kaleigh enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and spending time outside with her husband and puppy.
Caylee Ann graduated from the University of South Florida with her Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences with a focus on Public Health, which led her to discover the amazing field of occupational therapy. Soon after, she graduated from South University Tampa with an Associates degree in occupational therapy. Her goal is to complete my Masters within the next few years to become a OTR! She thoroughly enjoyed her pediatric rotation when going through school and knew this was the career for her. She loves working with sensory regulation and reflex integration. She also enjoys being able to create sessions that are individually tailored for each child to help build confidence and meet their goals.
Emily is licensed by the state of Florida and is certified by the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy. With 8 years of experience working in pediatrics, she has a passion for working with children. She spends her personal time volunteering with a Mobile Free Market, distributing groceries in neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity in Tampa. She enjoys spending time with her husband and baby, playing the bass guitar, and gardening. Emily is certified in Interactive Metronome and enjoys working with reflex integration, executive functioning, and sensory integration. She is proud to provide play-based therapy sessions that fit each child’s unique personality and ambitions!
What is Physical Therapy (PT)?
PT provides care to people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from, for example, back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions, conditions such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, autism, and injuries related to work and sports. Physical therapy care and services are provided by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. Physical therapists evaluate and diagnose movement dysfunction and use interventions to treat patient/clients. Interventions may include therapeutic exercise, functional training, manual therapy techniques, assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, and physical agents and electrotherapeutic modalities.
Judi is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years experience in both in and out-patient settings, schools, and early intervention programs. She has worked with all patient populations but has specialized in pediatrics. She attended Temple University and completed all course work towards her Ph.D. with a major in Motor Learning and a special concentration in Human Development through play. Judi was a resource clinician and senior physical therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, working in Pediatrics Judi specializes in seating and positioning, assistive technology, developmental play, and an expertise in splinting and casting. She has training in Feldenkrais, Balametrics, Muscle Energy Techniques, and ETPS. Judi is a proud mother of one college graduate son.
Crystal was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. She is a mother to a handsome son, who was born with Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (Club foot). With going through that process with her son, it opened a love for a career in wanting to help other children
reach their goals. She graduated from Rasmussen University in June 2022 with her Associates in Science for Physical Therapist Assistant. She is wanting to continue to expand her education of pediatrics with going back to school and get her bachelor’s in child development. In her off time, she spends her time with her son, family and friends doing anything outside.
We are proud to announce our partnership with ABA Solutions Inc. and Believe It and Achieve It. We provide services in the clinic as well as in the comfort of your home, school or community settings. ABA Solutions Inc. provides applied behavior analysis assessments and therapies to address difficult behaviors, and any associated social, emotional, or learning challenges. Our therapists work closely with parents and caregivers to instill adaptive skills, maximize potential and bring constructive, enduring change. Long-lasting change requires a long-term view. The greatest benefit of applied behavior analysis is the practical knowledge and skills caregivers
gain to address challenges and promote positive responses.
For more information regarding services and funding sources, click the FIND OUT MORE link to visit our website.
What is ABA Therapy?
ABA is short for Applied Behavior Analysis and simply put it is the application of behavioral principles to everyday situations. ABA therapy applies these principles to behavior treatments in a way to help reduce behaviors that may interfere with learning or behaviors that may be harmful. ABA therapy is used to increase language and communication skills. It is also used to improve attention, focus, social skills, memory, and academics. ABA can be used to help decrease problem behaviors.
ABA therapy includes many different techniques. All of these techniques focus on antecedents (what happens behavior a behavior occurs) and on consequences (what happens after the behavior). One technique is “positive reinforcement.” When a behavior is followed by something that is valued (a reward), that behavior is more likely to be repeated. ABA uses positive reinforcement in a way that can be measured in order to help bring about meaningful change.
