Our Story
In February 2013, I sat at our kitchen table and told my husband I was going to leave my position in the school district to pursue starting a private practice. Starting a private practice had always been that "whisper" in the back of my mind - all because of Harrison - the 3 year-old little boy with autism I met in graduate school.
Bringing Therapy Home started with me, my car, and a handful of clients - driving from home to home, doing therapy with the child on the floor.
I would receive a new referral and said "yes" to everything. I worked 7 days a week, often 12-14 hour days. I drove distances further away than the length of the session I was going for. In that first year, I put over 30,000 miles on my car.
I was often told some of my concepts were surprising.
But I knew. I knew it could be done.
I knew every child deserved someone that believed in them, could see their strengths, would collaborate with the family, and that every child had unlimited potential.
Our team grew from just me to a team of speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, a music therapist, special education teachers, and group assistants.
By 2015, Bringing Therapy Home had grown to a capacity where providing in-home therapy was no longer an option. If we were going to continue to serve families and kids, we needed a center-based location. I sat with my business plan working numbers, creating goals, and we depleted our savings account to open the center. Everything was on the line.
But I knew. I knew it could be done.
It's all possible because of the people I have surrounded myself with.
My family - I have a husband that looks at me with amazement when I talk, who is my sounding board and biggest encourager. When I encounter a problem, he says, "You know exactly what to do."
Team members that are incredibly dedicated, who treat Bringing Therapy Home like their own, who have the same purpose - who remember precisely what we are doing -who love deep, think big, and believe with every ounce of their being. We are a village.
Families - the families of BTH - they are inspiring. They are strong, brave, loving, and persistent. "No" is not an option. They have become my family. They are a community and the world is a better place because of their love and advocacy.
The kids - kids that are magical - kids that prove anything is possible. Kids that are so genuine, have the deepest connections, live in the moment, dance without caring, sing loudly, bounce with happiness when they walk, and have life figured out.
All of these people are the reason I knew it could be done.
It is just getting started.
~Marena Mitchell, Founder of Bringing Therapy Home
11/07/2016
Bringing Therapy Home started with me, my car, and a handful of clients - driving from home to home, doing therapy with the child on the floor.
I would receive a new referral and said "yes" to everything. I worked 7 days a week, often 12-14 hour days. I drove distances further away than the length of the session I was going for. In that first year, I put over 30,000 miles on my car.
I was often told some of my concepts were surprising.
But I knew. I knew it could be done.
I knew every child deserved someone that believed in them, could see their strengths, would collaborate with the family, and that every child had unlimited potential.
Our team grew from just me to a team of speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, a music therapist, special education teachers, and group assistants.
By 2015, Bringing Therapy Home had grown to a capacity where providing in-home therapy was no longer an option. If we were going to continue to serve families and kids, we needed a center-based location. I sat with my business plan working numbers, creating goals, and we depleted our savings account to open the center. Everything was on the line.
But I knew. I knew it could be done.
It's all possible because of the people I have surrounded myself with.
My family - I have a husband that looks at me with amazement when I talk, who is my sounding board and biggest encourager. When I encounter a problem, he says, "You know exactly what to do."
Team members that are incredibly dedicated, who treat Bringing Therapy Home like their own, who have the same purpose - who remember precisely what we are doing -who love deep, think big, and believe with every ounce of their being. We are a village.
Families - the families of BTH - they are inspiring. They are strong, brave, loving, and persistent. "No" is not an option. They have become my family. They are a community and the world is a better place because of their love and advocacy.
The kids - kids that are magical - kids that prove anything is possible. Kids that are so genuine, have the deepest connections, live in the moment, dance without caring, sing loudly, bounce with happiness when they walk, and have life figured out.
All of these people are the reason I knew it could be done.
It is just getting started.
~Marena Mitchell, Founder of Bringing Therapy Home
11/07/2016
