About Thera-Play Pediatrics

I completed my Master’s in Communication Disorders (1999) from the University of Houston and my PhD in Rehabilitation (2009) from the University of Arkansas. My experience includes working with children and adults in a diverse array of medical and outpatient settings. In 2015 I had the opportunity to rejoin Thera-play. Prior to returning to Thera-play, I was a clinical assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for six years.I have a passion for understanding the relationships between social, cognitive, emotional and language development in children.

I approach therapy through engaging, joint cooperative activities (e.g., play, new learning and work) that promote the development of social interaction, attention, memory and self-regulation. This cognitive focus facilitates speech, language and social skills that can be easily transferred to settings outside of the clinic. I am passionate about exploring and developing hands-on activity-based approaches to addressing speech, language, and literacy-related issues with clients in a manner that fosters independence, self-efficacy, and healthy self-identity.

An activity consists in producing some tangible outcome following an apprenticeship model of learning. For example, building a wooden model (e.g., catapult); a rubber-band airplane; bookmaking, programming a computer game or computer art (via Scratch, Android App Inventor 2 and Processing programming language). Such activity-based approaches can provide a rich and motivating context for addressing a multitude of speech therapy objectives.

The purpose of specific therapy objectives become more readily apparent to clients in activities with tangible, understandable real-world goals. Clients acquire new knowledge, vocabulary, language structures and discourse practices. Literacy skills can be incorporated in ways that highlight their usefulness within a motivating activity. As a clinician and clinical educator, I have been working on distilling these ideas, developing materials (i.e., literacy related materials) and exploring means of sharing this approach via alternative platforms with a broader audience.

In my spare time I spend as much time as possible with my son, Zach and daughter Rye. I also enjoy martial arts, computer programming, bike riding, reading, and exercising.

Hi! I’m Alicia Kettler (pronounced uh-lee-see-uh), a cajun from Southwest Louisiana. My family is so excited to explore the natural beauty of Arkansas. I’ve been married to my husband, Kyle, for 16 years and we have 4 amazing daughters. We also have 2 cats (and I constantly have to stop myself from bringing home more!) When I manage to squeak out some free time you can find me under a weighted blanket with a cup of coffee lost in a fantasy novel! I also love thrifting and refinishing furniture for fun.

I am passionate about helping children learn to communicate and to safely eat and learn to enjoy eating. I have worked as a Speech Language Pathologist for more than 10 years. I have previously worked in schools, clinics, and traveled to families homes or favorite community places. I’m so excited to join the Thera-Play team!

Once observing an Occupational Therapist I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I received my degree in December of 2014 and began practicing as a licensed OTA in February of 2015. I really enjoy providing OT services as it involves teaching and beyond. Offering my patients additional support while attending school, daycare, online classes, etc. is an important part. I also recognize my patients play more roles than just students. These may include son, daughter, brother, sister, grandchild, or possibly even helping a caregiver at times, etc. Every occupation or task needed for each role can vary.

My passion is getting to know my patients and their families while taking these roles into account. This helps me to provide the best support possible based on that patient’s individual needs.

I am originally from the Kansas City Missouri area which is also where I met and married my beautiful wife in 2018. A year later, in 2019, I finished my Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. After working for 3 years in Kansas, my family and I visited Arkansas. We fell in love with the beautiful nature and decided to make NWA our home. We have one little boy and are excited to welcome a little girl into our home in June 2022. We look forward to staying in the area for many years as we raise and grow our family.

I’ve been married to my wife since 2008 and have a mix of biological and adopted children 3 boys and 3 girls. I enjoy supporting foster care families and helping find resources to better serve children in NWA. I love the outdoors (fishing especially) and the ways it teaches us about life. Some days the outdoors is picturesque and beautiful, and sometimes it is rough and treacherous. In each scenario, I try to see it as a new opportunity for different experiences to be had. I try to learn/teach from both the beautiful and the treacherous situations in life. I love the connections I get to build with our patients and families when treating our patients. It has been a wonderful experience.

The fruits of consistent developmental care and attention improves it lends to our patients’ lives. I strive to build rapport with each patient and contour treatments to be not only effective but also enjoyable for the patient. Providing consistent structure and expectations in my treatments helps children know what is expected of them and how they can be successful. I am also certified as a Kinesio-taping Practitioner and enjoy helping patients through various taping methods.

I was inspired to pursue a career in physical therapy when I was 12 years old after having to have hip surgery. I had to learn how to walk all over again, and I had a physical therapist that specialized in pediatrics to help me recover. Since becoming a PTA, I have enjoyed getting to help children meet and exceed their developmental milestones/goals to better their quality of life, and in doing so, have helped the parents too.

My name is Kerra Thompson and I am from Van Buren, Arkansas where I graduated in 2002. I attended the U of A @ Fort Smith and Ultimate Medical Academy with a Certification in Medical Administration. I am happily married to my husband Clint. We have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy and 2 dogs. My family and I enjoy kayaking, camping, fishing, and many other outdoor activities.