Bayside Therapy Specialists

06/15/2026

A quick peek into today’s feeding therapy session with our wonderful graduate student, Stephany!

We worked through the sensory hierarchy while exploring new tastes, textures, and smells with apricots and oranges. Our patient squeezed fresh oranges to make juice and used fun shape cutters to create fruit shapes while building confidence with new foods.

Feeding therapy is always an adventure at Bayside Therapy Specialists! 🍑🧡

🍊✨

05/13/2026

✨ Glitter + Play-Doh = instant speech therapy magic ✨

Today we turned simple Play-Doh balls into a glitter explosion and the kids were OBSESSED 😂💖

We worked on so many L words while playing:
🌟 glitter
🌟 roll
🌟 ball
🌟 love
🌟 a lot

The best therapy happens when kids don’t even realize they’re practicing 💕 Fair warning though… your Play-Doh table may sparkle for the next 6 months and you’ll probably need to restock your Play-Doh soon 😅✨

05/08/2026

Direct Step Up Providers for homeschool families.

No waitlist for evaluations within the next month. Convenient locations in the Safety Harbor/Clearwater area and New Port Richey.

We specialize in speech, feeding, occupational, and orofacial myofunctional therapy. If you’re wondering whether your child may benefit, scheduling an evaluation is a great place to start.

05/07/2026

Making silly faces… but actually doing something really important 😄

This is what feeding therapy can look like.

Before a child ever takes a bite, we focus on comfort, connection, and reducing pressure.
That might mean:
✔️ Playing with the food
✔️ Holding it up
✔️ Smelling it
✔️ And yes… making silly faces with it

Because when kids feel safe and in control, they’re much more willing to explore.

Today, bread wasn’t scary… it was fun.

And that’s where progress begins.

✨ Sensory-friendly
✨ Child-led
✨ No pressure, just exposure

05/05/2026

Sometimes the missing piece in speech… isn’t more words.
It’s the mouth.
Oral motor work can be a powerful tool to help kids make progress in speech.�Not always the answer… but something we see make a BIG difference when it’s the right fit.
We’re building:�✔️ Stronger, more coordinated movements�✔️ Better control for sound production�✔️ Confidence to communicate
And we always pair it with speech—because that’s where it carries over.
The right tool. The right time. Real progress.
EarlyIntervention BaysideTherapy ChildDevelopment SpeechPathology TherapyTools CommunicationSkills FeedingTherapy

05/05/2026

First time trying a PB&J… and it was a WIN 🙌

This is what feeding therapy is really about.

Instead of pressure or “just take a bite,” we used sensory-friendly techniques to help him explore the food at his own pace:
✔️ Touching it
✔️ Looking closely
✔️ Smelling
✔️ Interacting without pressure

And then… he tried it AND loved it 🎉

That’s the power of safe, supportive exposure.

For many kids, new foods can feel overwhelming. When we focus on reducing sensory stress and building trust, real progress happens.

✨ Exposure over pressure
✨ Curiosity over control
✨ Confidence over compliance

So proud of this moment!

05/05/2026

✨ Exciting News! ✨
We are so honored to share that Bayside Therapy Specialists has been nominated for Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best 2026 in the Speech-Language Pathologist category! 🎉

Voting opens May 13th, and we’ll share simple instructions when it begins so you can participate if you’d like to support us

As a small, 100% therapist-owned clinic, we truly feel like a hidden gem when it comes to speech and feeding therapy. Our mission has always been to provide meaningful, root-cause care for the families we serve, and it means so much to be recognized in our community.

If you’ve had a great experience with us, we would love your support in helping us spread the word!
Thank you for being part of our journey 💫

04/24/2026

Our staff outing this month was sewing by the water
So grateful for this team, hardworking, fun, and always showing up for each other 💛

04/23/2026

Could sound and energy-based practices help your child feel more calm and regulated?

We’re sharing a recorded parent training with Michelle Colombo, a licensed Reiki and sound therapist, who offers a different perspective for families who are open to exploring additional ways to support their child.

In this session, she explains how sound can help support the nervous system. There is growing evidence that sound-based approaches can promote relaxation and regulation, which may be helpful for children with anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or difficulty staying calm and focused.

This is not meant to replace therapy, but to give parents another option to consider as part of a well-rounded approach to supporting their child.

If you’re curious and open to learning more, this may be a helpful resource.

Learn more or connect with Michelle here: https://ascensionmbs.com/

https://youtu.be/q7ucEMVlb2A

Understanding Sound and Energy-Based Practices for Child Regulation

04/13/2026

✨ Parent Information Night ✨

We’re excited to invite you to a special parent session featuring Michelle Columbo, Crystal Reiki & Energy Therapist 🌿

This will be a chance to learn about sound therapy and how it may support regulation, relaxation, and overall well-being in children. Sometimes it’s helpful to stay open and explore different approaches that could make a difference 💛

📅 Date: April 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 – 7:30 PM (EST)
💻 Location: Zoom

🔗 Join here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81364769586

Meeting ID: 813 6476 9586

We hope you’ll join us with an open mind and curiosity ✨