Multiple therapy services all in one place.
We offer all therapy services at LIFE. We support students from our Academy and Adult Program as well as clients from the community.
Physical Therapy
gross motor skills such as mobility, coordination, and strength
Occupational Therapy
daily activities or occupation
Speech Therapy
expressive/receptive language, articulation, augmentative alternative communication
Feeding Therapy
oral motor skills and sensory concerns that limit feeding ability
Music Therapy
creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music to address functional goals
Aquatic Therapy
using medium of water to address functional goals
- Northern Arizona University: OT and PT
- A.T. Still University: OT and PT
- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences: PT
- Pima Medical Institute: PTA and COTA
- Arizona State University: SLP, undergraduate kinesiology and exercise science majors
- AT Still University- SLP
- Carrington College- PTA
- Gateway CC – OTA
- Rocky Mountain College – OT
- Brookline College- OTA
We often take students for clinical internships or observations. If you are interested in a possible clinical experience at L.I.F.E. please contact:
Richard Elicio PT, DPT
Director of Therapy Services
Lauren’s Institute For Education
480-621-8361
[email protected]
THERAPY LEADERSHIP
Role:
Here at L.I.F.E. I have the opportunity to guide the therapy team. My focus is to make sure that the therapists can provide the very best services to their consumers. That includes working closely with therapists for training and instruction. It also goes beyond that to collaboration with other individuals on our campus such as back office/administrative staff, Academy staff, and Behavioral Support staff. It also extends to collaboration with representatives from the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and parents.
Education:
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, 2013
- B.S. Elementary Education, Northern Arizona University, 2008
Continuing Education and Certifications:
- Myofascial Release clinical application workshops, John F. Barnes PT
- Pediatric Myofascial Release 2/7/15 to 2/8/15
- Myofascial Release I 3/12/15 to 3/15/15
- Myofascial Release II 3/17/16 to 3/20/16
- Water-Based Interventions for the Pediatric Therapist, Kiki Dickson MPT, PAqI 5/13/16 to 5/14/16
- Out-of-Sync Child: Sensory Challenges and Sensible Solutions, Carol Kranowitz 6/16/17
- Social Thinking Across the Home and School Day: The ILAUGH Model, Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP 6/1/17 to 6/2/17
- Prevent and Support trained through DDD, Chris Garcia 5/29/18
Specific Treatment Strategies, Equipment, or Expertise Utilized:
- Myofascial Release for range of motion, deep pressure (sensory)
- Use of LiteGait system for gait training
- Aquatic Therapy
Career History:
I currently serve as the Director of Therapy Services here at L.I.F.E. I started my career in Physical Therapy here at L.I.F.E. in August of 2013 as a treating therapist. I provided skilled physical therapy interventions for a diverse group of individuals. I have experience working in the hospital setting, outpatient orthopedics, and school settings prior to coming to L.I.F.E.
Personal Treatment Philosophy:
I believe in treating the whole child. The entire team has valuable ideas that I can implement into my treatment to target as many areas of function as possible. I also believe that therapy should be fun. Work yes, but also fun.
Personal:
I am one of the few Arizona natives. I grew up a few hours down the road in the Gila Valley. I grew up participating in sports including basketball, football and track in Jr High and High School. I am married to Chelsey Curtis, also from the Gila Valley. We moved here for me to attend PT school and have been here ever since. We have 8 kids. Yes, 8! Tucker (13), Hayden (12), Camilla (10), Carmen (8), Cora (5), Reed (3), Matthew (2) and Jeffrey (7months). The kids keep us busy with sports, choir performances, band concerts, strings performances and drama productions. In my free time I enjoy carpentry work and home remodel projects.
Role:
As a Mentor Therapist, in addition to my caseload, I help manage my discipline’s team. I assist the Director of Therapy Services with onboarding new therapists, overseeing assistants, maintaining documentation and session quality, leading discipline-specific meetings, and advocating for my team.
Education and Special Certifications:
- M.A. in Occupational Therapy from California State University, 2002.
- SIPT (Sensory Integration & Praxis Test) certified, 2003.
Specific Treatment Strategies, Equipment, or Expertise Utilized:
- I have always been interested in sensory integration and in treating sensory processing deficits. Most of the training and courses I have taken over the years was to expand my knowledge base in this area. I have received mentorship on sensory integration from Lorna Jean King who collaborated with Jean Ayres on sensory integration. I have taken several courses on sensory integration, on sensory-motor including Neurodevelopmental Treatment from Lois Bly, sensory modulation and self-regulation including How Does your Engine Run, Diana Henry’s Tool Chest, Carol Kranowitz’s Out of Sync Child, The Listening Program, Zones of Regulation, Julia Harper’s RISE (Reflex Integration to Support Education) and How to be a Sensory Chef, and other courses on the Wilbarger Brushing, sensory diets, and other sensory-based courses. From there, I naturally progressed to taking courses on feeding as eating is highly sensory in nature. I recently received training on the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Feeding Approach by Kay Toomey and Associates. I have also taken courses on feeding and oral-motor assessment and treatment through Lori Overland’s Sensory-motor Approach to Feeding, Debra Beckman’s Oral- motor Treatment, and Jessica Hunt’s Complex Feeding Issues. Currently, I am focused on increasing my feeding skills and will be taking more feeding courses in the future. Having worked and trained for many years, I have found that my best training instructors have been my clients. I have honed my skills and have become the occupational therapist that I am today because of them.
Career History:
- I started at L.I.F.E. when it first opened in July of 2007 and was one of the 2 occupational therapists. From there, I worked my way up from a mentor to eventually a Clinical Director until 2018. I have treated, created programs, and managed therapists for L.I.F.E. since then. I recently returned to treating full-time in September of 2018 and enjoying every minute of it. My very first job as an occupational therapist was at a pediatric outpatient clinic at Simi Valley Hospital in California in 2002 where I did my pediatric rotation. When I moved to Arizona, I worked at a skilled nursing facility for a few months and at the Children’s Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies working in their private school and clinic for a year. Following that, I worked for Horizon Pediatric Therapy at their clinic and in clients’ homes until 2007. I also worked at a rehabilitation hospital in Mesa in their in-patient unit to work with adults and the elderly for a year on the weekends while working at L.I.F.E.
Personal Treatment Philosophy:
- I see every child I treat as a child of God and deserves my utmost respect, compassion, love, and patience. I believe in gaining their trust and meeting each client at their level and pace and being part of the therapy process and environment, which we call the ‘therapeutic use of self’. I also like to have fun as I am silly and playful in nature. But more importantly, I believe in having the parents and family members as my treatment partners especially when coming up with goals that are relevant, functional, and meaningful to them and their children.
Personal:
- I have been happily married since 2005 to my husband who is my best friend. I spend my free time teaching the faith to typical and children with special needs at my church, volunteering for my church and the community, spending time with my husband, and living my Catholic faith to live a holy life.
Role:
As a Mentor Therapist, in addition to my caseload, I help manage my discipline’s team. I assist the Director of Therapy Services with onboarding new therapists, overseeing assistants, maintaining documentation and session quality, leading discipline-specific meetings, and advocating for my team.
Education:
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, August 2013
- B. A. in Health Promotion and Exercise Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May 2009
Specific Treatment Strategies, Equipment, or Expertise Utilized:
- Telehealth and in-person
- Aquatic Therapy (when pool is open for use)
- Neurodevelopmental treatment strategies
- Lite Gait harness system for weightbearing and gait training
- Easystand sit to stand system for weightbearing and standing
- Bal-a-vis-x treatment for visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and brain/body integration
- Exergaming systems (Xbox Kinect and Wii)
- Yoga for special needs
- Orthotic management (recommendations, wearing time, and education)
Career History:
I started at Lauren’s Institute for Education in August 2013 as a physical therapist. I have been at L.I.F.E. for 6 years as a full-time treating physical therapist. I took on the role of supervising a physical therapy assistant in June 2018. For the past 4 years, I have served as a clinical instructor and mentored physical therapy students completing a clinical rotation at L.I.F.E. I also have experience in several different settings, which include outpatient orthopedics, school-based, acute care hospital, and home health.
Personal:
I grew up in Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa. I am a huge fan of the Hawkeyes and their football team. I moved to Arizona in 2010 for graduate school, and I decided to make this state my home after graduation. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, running long distances, reading books, watching football and soccer, and spending time with my family, friends, and two dogs (both boxers).
Role:
As a Mentor Therapist, in addition to my caseload, I help manage my discipline’s team. I assist the Director of Therapy Services with onboarding new therapists, overseeing assistants, maintaining documentation and session quality, leading discipline-specific meetings, and advocating for my team.
Education:
- BA in Dance from New Mexico State University, 2006
- MS in Communication Disorders from Eastern New Mexico University, 2012
Career History:
I began my “adult job” career in 2006 when I graduated with a degree in Dance and worked at New Mexico State University working in their dance department. I taught dance to young children and created literacy programs that were integrated into the Las Cruces public schools in Las Cruces, NM. Additionally, I oversaw a grant funded after school dance program. As well as working at NMSU, I also was a lead teacher at a preschool creating and integrating lesson plans for toddlers.
In 2010 I was accepted into graduate school and completed the program in 2012. I completed my clinical fellowship year in a skilled nursing facility working with adults. I transitioned to AZ’s early intervention program working with birth to age three children and coaching their families. In 2017 I began working for a private clinic that specialized in working with neurodivergent and Autistic individuals. In May of 2022 the universe brought me to LIFE!
Personal Treatment Philosophy:
I am committed to providing neurodivergent affirmative therapy that focuses on strength-based objectives. I enjoy working with individuals from the Autistic community and supporting them in reaching their personal goals.
Personal:
I live in Chandler with my husband, son, two Italian mastiffs and one outrageously naughty Siamese cat. I am a self-proclaimed desert rat, taco lover and movie buff. I am from New Mexico and put green chile on everything. Some of my special interests include cats, outdoor activities, various art mediums, and exercise. Adventurous at heart, I also love to explore and travel.
Contact Us for More Information About L.I.F.E.
call us at 480-621-8361 EXT 136 or complete this form