Happy Monday Friends!!

It's time for a fun introduction that I've been excited to share with you!

As some of you may have seen, we've made some changes over the past several months. 

We've changed our name, created a new logo and now we have a few new faces and we'll be introducing them over the next couple months!!

My good friend Haylee from JMH Photography took time to snap some pictures of one of our new therapists, Sydney Carlson, who is working with clients in the Grand Rapids area and Haylee's message when she sent over the pics was, "She's so sweet." And, she totally is!

I met Sydney when she was a graduate student and had the privilege of being her preceptor throughout a semester of her work and trust me when I say, this woman has it ALL. She's smart, creative, motivated, kind-hearted and genuinely cares about providing great services to kids and families. Throughout our work together at New Branches Academy, a charter school in the GR area, I realized how well our philosophies aligned and could see her potential from the start.

So, when thinking of therapists who embody our mission of play-centered therapy, she was the one!

So, without further ado, meet "Ms. Sydney" and learn a few things about 
what makes her great. ;)

 (And if the pics are a bit blurry...blogspot 💆).

Where did you grow up and attend college?

Like Michelle, I’m a small town girl from Northern Michigan--except I’m a west-sider! I grew up in Charlevoix, Michigan, and I loved every second of it. I earned my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degrees from Grand Valley State University. I fell in love with the Grand Rapids area while going to GVSU; it introduced me to a busier, more urban lifestyle than the one I’d grown up with, but kept me close to my beloved Lake Michigan. :) 

What settings have you worked in so far and what work have you've done since graduating?

In graduate school, I worked mostly in the school setting. My students’ ages ranged from preschool through twelfth grade. I had one clinical placement in an outpatient practice that served adults and children that had experienced brain injuries. It was an awesome experience, but I didn’t have as many pediatric clients on my caseload as I would have liked. 

Since graduate school, I’ve worked primarily in the schools. Right after graduating, I spent a few months filling in as a long-term substitute SLP at Lakeview Middle School with Calhoun ISD in Battle Creek, Michigan. I genuinely enjoyed working with middle schoolers, but I missed my littles. I also spent a year working with Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD in Indian River, Michigan. In this position, I worked in three separate districts with students from preschool through twelfth grade. I also had the opportunity to work in a contained classroom for cognitively impaired middle school-aged students. I absolutely loved my time with COP, but I am very grateful to return to Grand Rapids to grow my career! 

Recently, I began working part-time with a company that contracts with schools to provide digital-based therapy. I am working with students of all ages to provide speech and language intervention services within a virtual setting. It’s been a really interesting learning experience, and I’m excited to see what else I can take from this opportunity to help me grow as a clinician!

Why did you choose to become a speech-language pathologist (SLP)?

When I was headed into my freshman year at GVSU, I had NO IDEA what to study. I had a close family friend that was in college studying to be an SLP; I didn’t know much about the field, but I knew I looked up to her, and I was very much undecided on my major. I took an Intro to Communication Disorders class, and that was it. I fell in love with the versatility of the field. I loved that speech-language pathologists could address so many areas of need across so many different settings. To me, that meant constant and continuous opportunity for learning, zero possibility for boredom, and lots of potential to impact the lives of my future clients, patients, and students. 

Do you have any pets?

I have a Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog/Poodle Mix, for those that aren’t familiar) named Mera. She is almost one year old and she is 75 pounds (and counting!) of fun, cuddles, and goofiness. 

Of course, I have to mention my family’s pups. They live at home with my parents and siblings, but Izzy and Tillie still take up quite a bit of real estate in my heart. :) 

I have two younger siblings who are both just about as messy as animals--and maybe even a little less domesticated than our dogs. Is this where I talk about them, too? 

Favorite food?

French Fries! Tacos! Pizza! Oh, my! 

Favorite place to visit in Michigan?

Am I allowed to say Charlevoix? I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a town that is known as a popular vacation destination from May through October--even if that does mean we suffered through some pretty miserable traffic during summers (thanks, drawbridge!). My family spends a lot of time out on the lake during the summer, and we were lucky enough to sit on two of them: Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. Charlevoix is also just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Torch Lake!

If I had to pick somewhere besides my hometown, I’d say Comerica Park. I love the Tigers, even though they’re not exactly winning the World Series anytime soon--or really any games, for that matter. 

What do you look forward to most with working with Fun First Therapy?

I think I am most excited to work with families to provide child-centered, play-based intervention services. I genuinely enjoy the silly, endearing, and challenging moments that are inevitable when working with children. Those little moments remind me why I chose to work in this field and carry me through the more difficult times (e.g., when I am drowning in paperwork). I cannot wait to take advantage of the many opportunities to learn, coach, and teach while working with Fun First Therapy’s clients and their families. 

Overall, I’m just excited to continue learning and growing in my career with a company that embodies my approach to therapy--FUN FIRST! 

Any good children's book recommendations?

YES. Anything and everything that Kate Dicamillo has ever written--especially The Tale of Desperaux. This will always be my favorite book! Not only is it a sweet story, but Kate creatively provides LOTS of opportunities for learning and discussion of unfamiliar vocabulary for young readers! 

I’ve also recently discovered Dan Santat. He’s an American author and illustrator who writes quirky, adorable stories with sneaky lessons and themes that inspire some very fun therapy activities. So far, my favorite story of his is After The Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again). It is charming, endearing, and a bit of a tear-jerker. I LOVE IT. 

One activity or game that you'd recommend for parents to have in their back pocket? 

Spot It! Another thing I learned from Michelle. :) This game is quick, engaging, and versatile, and it LITERALLY fits in your back pocket!

The biggest lesson you've taken away thus far from your career?

I promise I’m not brown-nosing my boss, but the most significant lesson I learned was during graduate school when I worked as a student clinician under Michelle. Not only did she help me realize I wanted to focus my career on kiddos, but she inspired a professional and personal mindset change that altered the trajectory of my future career. She fostered my passion for play-based learning and encouraged me to dip my toes in the unpredictable pool of Letting Go. Without Michelle, I would have learned the *extra* hard way that clinging to control is not the most productive way to build effective relationships with the clients/patients/students that I work with. Today, I’m still learning, but I consider my ability to develop trusting and mutually-respectful relationships with children a strength, because no one wins--and, more importantly, no one LEARNS--when a session is spent in a power struggle. 

Welcome to the Fun First Therapy team Sydney! We are SO excited to have you. :)