Uplifting children through pediatric speech, feeding, & occupational therapy

greater des moines area

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Play-based therapy session with child and clinician

Neurodiversity affirming, play-based, pediatric therapy.

Rise Pediatric Therapy offers speech, occupational, and feeding therapy services to Urbandale, Ankeny, Ames, and surrounding areas. At Rise we understand your child's journey begins with establishing a trusting relationship and a safe space to explore new skills. Our sessions include direct interaction and parent education as we work together to best facilitate learning opportunities to reach developmental goals.

Free Consultation

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Comprehensive Evaluation

Individual Treatment Sessions

Our Services

We provide in-person speech, occupational, and feeding therapy for children in central Iowa. We are a team passionate about access to quality care - accepting majority of major insurances

Meet the Team

Our dedicated team of speech, occupational, and feeding therapists are committed to empowering children to communicate effectively, develop essential life skills, and thrive in their daily environments. Supported by an incredible administrative team who ensures our therapists can stay focused on your child’s care, we prioritize building trusting relationships and providing a safe space for children to explore and master new abilities. Our holistic approach includes parent education, ensuring that each child receives comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs.

of Certified Speech Language Pathologist and Pediatric Occupational Therapists

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Group of enthusiastic children playing with plastic color balls.

Kind Words from Our Families

"If you are looking for therapy services for your child, I cannot recommend Rise Speech Therapy enough. Since the very first phone conversation with the owner Rachel, and the first day we walked through their doors, it has been nothing shy of a loving, safe, friendly environment for my daughter. Before I knew about Rise, we had worked with (or attempted to work with) 3 other entities around town. All were overbooked, on a waitlist completely, or just simply not quite what our expectations were hoping for. Being a mom of a child that relies on professionals and their expertise with therapy, I cannot put into words the incredible weight that has been lifted off my shoulders knowing we have found our forever home here. Thank you Rachel, Lily, Grace, Nicole, and everyone at Rise. You have filled my heart with unconditional gratitude for everything you do for my family!"

-Mom of a 2 year old

🧡🍁 Holiday Hours 🍁🧡

As we head into Thanksgiving, here’s a quick reminder of our hours:
✨ Wednesday, 11/26: OPEN
✨ Thursday, 11/27: CLOSED

We’re grateful for our amazing Rise families—have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Meet Lauren, our new Front Desk Receptionist! 👋

Lauren graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Health and Human Services and has spent most of her life working with kids with autism. She began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician and later became a Lead RBT, which sparked her interest in the administrative side of the field. Now, she’s excited to welcome families at the front desk while still getting to spend time with the kiddos she loves. 💛

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys time with friends and family, playing guitar, reading, and watching movies!

✨ Celebrating our very own Ms. Abbie and her beautiful new chapter! ✨
At Rise, we don’t just work together—we cheer each other on, in and out of the clinic.
Here’s to love, laughter, and a team that feels like family. 💛🎉

✨🤝 Parent Support Group — December 3rd at 5:30 PM! 🤝✨

Our Parent Support Group offers a warm, supportive space for families to connect, share experiences, and lift each other up through every part of the journey of raising children with developmental delays.💛

We’d love for you to join us! Contact us by phone or email to get registered today!
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#ParentSupportGroup #RisePediatricTherapy #SupportForParents #CommunitySupport #StrongerTogether

🎁✨ Our Holiday Gift Guide is here! ✨🎁

We’ve put together 5 age-specific guides filled with therapist-approved toys that support play, connection, and development — and most importantly, bring joy this holiday season! 💜

🎄 0–1 years
🎁 1–3 years
🧩 3–5 years
🚀 5–8 years
🌟 8+ years

There’s one easy link in our bio that will take you to all of our gift guides — making your holiday shopping simple, meaningful, and fun!
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#RisePediatricTherapy #HolidayGiftGuide #TherapistApprovedToys #PlayToLearn #GiftIdeasForKids #LearningThroughPlay

🌟Ames families — we’re officially open for scheduling!
Rise Pediatric Therapy is now booking speech and feeding therapy in Ames, IA! 💜
We specialize in early communication, language delays, speech sounds, feeding, and more — all in a fun, family-centered environment.
📍 Located inside Complete Connection Chiropractic at Ames Fitness Center
📞 515-207-9655
✉️ ames@risepediatricspeechtherapy.com

#AmesIowa #PediatricTherapy #SpeechTherapy #FeedingTherapy #RisePediatricTherapy

✨ Don’t forget! ✨

Our free parent and caregiver class, Solids Starting 101 is this Thursday, Nov 14th at 10:00 AM!

Join our Speech Therapist to learn all about introducing solids and supporting your baby’s feeding journey. 🍎🥣

📍 Rise Pediatric Therapy — 3100 100th St, Urbandale
👶 Childcare available
📲 Limited spots — text 515-207-9655 or email office@risepediatricspeechtherapy.com
to save your seat!
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#FeedingTherapy #ParentEducation #FeedingMilestones #RisePediatricTherapy

❄��️ Winter Clothing Drive: Nov 10 – Dec 30 ❄️

Rise Pediatric Therapy is collecting NEW or GENTLY USED winter clothing of all sizes! 🧣🧤🧥

Items can include:
Winter boots & footwear
Warm jackets & coats
Sweaters & socks
Gloves, hats, and more!

All donations will go to Families Forward in Des Moines to help local families in need this winter. 💜

📍 Drop off your items at Rise Pediatric Therapy and make a difference in someone’s season!
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#WinterClothingDrive #RisePediatricTherapy #FamiliesForward #CommunityGiving #DonateWinterClothes

✨ Meet Our OTs! ✨

Our occupational therapists help kids build independence, confidence, and everyday skills—while making therapy fun and engaging! 🖐️💜 Get to know the team dedicated to supporting your child’s growth and success.

✨ Meet Our SLPs! ✨

Our speech-language pathologists are here to help your child find their voice, build confidence, and make communication fun! 💬💜 Get to know the amazing team who makes every session supportive, playful, and personalized.

Another Special Interest Group in the books! We’ve had so much fun the past 8 weeks sharing our special interests, working as a team, moving our bodies, and using our creativity through artwork! 🎨😊

During group time we have been working on a variety of skills, including:

⭐️Increasing mental flexibility

⭐️Building relationships with peers

⭐️Enhancing communication and collaboration

Thank you to all of our families for allowing us to work with and get to know your kiddos! Until next time! 👋🏼

#specialinterestgroup #risepediatrictherapy

🍎 Solids Starting 101 🍌

A free class for parents and caregivers taught by a Speech Therapist! Learn how to confidently introduce solids and support your baby’s feeding journey.

📅 Friday, Nov 14th at 10:00 AM
📍 Rise Pediatric Therapy — 3100 100th St, Urbandale
👶 Childcare available
✉️ Limited spots! Text 515-207-9655 or email office@risepediatricspeechtherapy.com
to register.
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#FeedingTherapy #ParentEducation #FeedingMilestones #RisePediatricTherapy

Don’t forget — our next Parent Support Group is this Monday, Nov 3rd at 5:30 PM!

A safe space to connect, share, and find support. 💛
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#RisePediatricTherapy #ParentSupportGroup #ParentCommunity #RiseTogether #YouAreNotAlone

Big things are happening at Rise! 🎈
Our Ankeny clinic is opening soon — and we’re hiring!
If you’re a Speech or Occupational Therapist who loves collaboration, creativity, and a supportive environment— we’d love to have you on our team. 💙
✨ Apply today & come grow with us!
#RisePediatricTherapy #AnkenyIowa #SLPJobs #OTJobs

We had so much fun at the Nevada trick-or-treat event promoting our new locations in Ames! We open on Dec 1st and have immediate openings! 🎃

Happy Halloween from the Rise Family! 👻💜

Our kiddos had so much fun this week dressing up in their costumes and painting pumpkins! Wishing all our kiddos, families, and friends a day full of smiles, costumes, and spooky fun! 🕸️✨
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#HappyHalloween #RiseFamily #TherapyIsFun #SpookySeason

🎤👻 AAC says: Happy Halloween! Because everyone deserves to be heard — even on the spookiest night of the year!

Here are a few tips & tricks to prepare:
1️⃣ Customize vocabulary in advance: Add Halloween phrases like “trick or treat,” “happy Halloween,” and “thank you.” Don’t forget responses to questions like “What’s your costume?”
2️⃣ Practice beforehand: Help your child find and use these phrases so they’re ready for the big night.
3️⃣ Plan for safety: Make sure their device includes important info like a parent’s name and phone number.

🎃💬 Communication is for everyone — all year long!
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#AAC #Halloween #SpookySpeech #AACAwareness #TrickOrTreat #SpeechTherapy #InclusiveCommunication

👀 did you guess right ⁉️

We will see you soon Ankeny! Excited to serve even more families in the area 💜

Opening January 2026!

Parent Support Group is back! 💬

Come connect, share, and grow with other parents in a warm, welcoming space. 💛

📅 Monday, Nov 3 | 🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Rise Pediatric Therapy, Urbandale
📧 office@risepediatricspeechtherapy.com
📱 515-207-9655

Limited childcare available!
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#ParentSupport #ParentCommunity #NeurodiversityAffirming #RisePediatricTherapy

We have more news to share!! 📣 Any guesses on where we are headed next?! 💜 Drop your guess in the comments below ⬇️

Urbandale: ✅
Ames: ✅
3rd location:❓

#feedingtherapy #occupationaltherapy #speechtherapy #desmoines #desmoinesparent #urbandale #desmoinesmom

✨ Play. Laugh. Connect. Grow.
Because real progress starts with relationships — and a little bit of fun! 💕
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#TherapyThroughPlay #PediatricTherapy #RisePediatricTherapy #JoyfulLearning #RelationshipBasedTherapy

🎃 We want to see your Halloween costumes at Rise! 👻

Get ready to show off your Halloween spirit next week— we can’t wait to see your creative costumes! ✨
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#RisePediatricTherapy #HalloweenAtRise #CostumeFun #PediatricTherapy

Healing happens when trust grows. 💛
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#ClientSpotlight #AAC #BuildingTrust #RisePediatricTherapy

Spooky season…. Peds therapy style 👻🎃

Which is your fav pose?

Goals are amazing.

But belief? That’s magic. ✨
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#RisePediatricTherapy

🚨We’re ready for you, Ames! 💛❤️

Rise Pediatric Therapy is bringing play-based, family-centered care to your community — opening December 2025.

🙌🏻 We can’t wait to meet more Ames families — what’s your favorite thing to do with your kids here? Drop it in the comments below ⬇️

#feedingtherapy #speechtherapy #amesiowa #childdevlopment #earlyintervention #amesmom #infantfeeding #breastfeeding

💛 Congratulations to our recent Infant Feeding Program graduates! We’re celebrating all their little milestones and the big achievements along the way! ✨🌈
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#InfantFeeding #PediatricTherapy #FeedingMilestones #RisePediatricTherapy

✨ Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us of the beauty of diversity, the power of community, and the importance of honoring every story. 🌟
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#HispanicHeritageMonth #CulturalPride #RiseTogether #Risepediatrictherapy

🎃✨ Decorating a pumpkin picture with FOOD = playful food exploration!

Food play activities like this one are an amazing way to help kids interact with foods in a fun, no-pressure way.

It’s not about bites — it’s about comfort + curiosity. Every playful interaction builds a positive relationship with food!
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#SensoryPlay #KidsActivities #FoodExploration #NoPressureEating

✨ October is AAC Awareness Month! ✨
Every voice matters! Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) gives children the tools to express themselves, connect, and be understood. Let’s celebrate the power of communication in all its forms! 💬💛
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#AACAwarenessMonth #AAC #CommunicationForAll #SpeechTherapy #EveryVoiceMatters #Risepediatrictherapy

Does your child shy away from messy textures at mealtimes? Tactile defensiveness is common in picky eaters or kids with sensory sensitivities!

✨ Yogurt is a great starting tool! Why?
✅ Smooth, cool, and easy to manage
✅ Comes in fun colors and flavors
✅ Great for exploring texture in a low-pressure way

Here are a few messy play ideas using yogurt:
👉 Finger painting with yogurt on a tray
👉 Dipping toys or spoons and washing them off
👉 Smearing on hands, arms, or cheeks in a game

🔁 The goal? Build comfort with texture over time, reduce anxiety, and pave the way for better eating experiences without the pressure to taste!
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#SensoryPlay #FeedingTherapy #PediatricTherapy #SensoryFriendly

✨ Social stories can be adapted in so many ways to meet each child’s unique needs—including pairing them with AAC for extra support and accessibility! 📚 Every child deserves tools that help them learn, understand, and feel confident.
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#SocialStories #AAC #PediatricTherapy #InclusiveLearning #ChildDevelopment

We’re hiring! ✨

We're looking for a Rehab Technician to help keep our busy clinic clean, safe, and running smoothly so kids can thrive. 💙

If you or someone you know would be a great fit, apply today at this link:
https://www.indeed.com/job/rehab-technician-part-time-or-full-time-ec0a39f8bafff148

#NowHiring #RehabTech #PediatricTherapy #JoinOurTeam #RiseFamily

A simple fall-themed sensory bin isn’t just fun—it’s powerful for child development! It’s such a fantastic way to target so many skills:

👐 Fine Motor: Scooping, pouring, and pinching build hand strength for writing and self-care tasks.

🧠 Cognitive: Sorting, counting, and problem-solving sneak early math + science into play.

👂 Sensory: Textures, colors, and smells support regulation and sensory processing.

🗣️ Language: Rich new vocabulary—crunchy, smooth, rough, harvest, autumn.

💛 Emotional: Sensory play can be calming and grounding, helping kids regulate big feelings.

👉 The best part? Kids think it’s pure play—while they’re actually building critical foundations for growth and learning.
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#risepediatrictherapy #FallSensoryPlay #SensoryBinFun #ChildDevelopment #PlayBasedLearning

Zooming on scooters = building strength, balance, and coordination while having fun! 💪
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#risepediatrictherapy #strengthbuilding #childdevelopment #occupationaltherapy

✨🪄 Magic Week at Rise was full of wonder, smiles, and a little bit of sparkle! Our kiddos had a blast exploring, creating, and letting their imaginations shine. 🌟💫
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#RiseMagicWeek #ImaginationInAction #FunAtRise

Remembering the lives lost, honoring the heroes, and reflecting on unity and resilience.

👶💡 Did you know? The rooting reflex is one of your baby’s earliest survival skills—and it’s key to successful feeding and oral development!

🍼 Before offering a bottle, breast, or engaging in oral play, take a moment to gently stroke your baby’s cheek or corner of the mouth. This helps elicit the rooting reflex, signaling that your baby is ready to feed or explore.

✅ Why it matters:
✔️ Encourages proper latch
✔️ Supports feeding readiness
✔️ Builds trust and sensory awareness

Starting with this small step can make a big difference in your baby’s feeding experience and oral motor development! 💕
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#RootingReflex #InfantDevelopment #FeedingTips #BabyReflexes #occupationaltherapy

Happy Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

As a reminder, Rise is closed today! Sessions will resume tomorrow, Tuesday 9/2. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday!

✨ Hear from the wonderful families who make Rise so special! Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child’s growth and development. 💛
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#RisePediatricTherapy #ChildDevelopment #GrowingTogether

✨ Last week at Rise was nothing short of SUPER! Our little heroes showed off their strength, courage, and creativity during Superhero Week. From big smiles to even bigger victories, every child reminded us of the power within them! 💪💛
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#SuperheroWeek #RisePediatricTherapy #PediatricTherapy #StrengthAndCourage

🎉 Celebrating 1 Amazing Year with Emerson! 🎉

Emerson brings joy, dedication, and a genuine passion for helping children grow. Whether it’s cheering on every small win, supporting a child through challenges, or lifting the team’s spirits, her energy and commitment shines in all she does.

Thank you, Emerson, for all that you do—Rise is so lucky to have you! Here’s to your first incredible year and all the exciting moments still ahead! 💛
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#RisePediatricTherapy #MakingADifference #CelebrateSuccess #OneYearAnniversary

��🌟 Way to go, Everly! 🎉 She has officially graduated from our Infant Feeding Program, and we are celebrating all of her amazing growth and progress!💖
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#InfantFeeding #FeedingJourney #RisePediatricTherapy #MilestoneMoments

💬 AAC Win of the Week! 🎉
One of our amazing friends who used to never use his device is now letting us model language 💡 and even chose messages on his own — including “therapy” and the very important “you want Chick-Fil-A bye bye.” 🐔🍟

Every click is a step toward confident communication, and we are so proud of him! 💛👏
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#AAC #CommunicationMilestones #TherapyWin #PediatricTherapy #SLP #OT

Welcome Grace B!🎉

Grace is a recent graduate from Drake University, where she earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She is passionate about working with children and supporting their growth through a neuroaffirming approach—recognizing and celebrating each child’s unique way of thinking, feeling, and engaging with the world. Grace strives to create a safe, supportive environment where children feel empowered, understood, and respected as they build the skills they need to thrive in daily life.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors going on walks, reading a good book, and spending time with friends. Grace is excited to be part of the team and to support the growth and development of the amazing kids and families we serve.

Please join us in welcoming Grace to the team! 💛

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! 🌎

At Rise, we’re proud to support families on their feeding journey—whether that’s breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a combination of both.

Our collaborative speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists specialize in infant feeding, oral development, body tension, and tethered oral tissues. We’re here to help babies feed safely and effectively, while supporting parents every step of the way. 💜

Feeding is more than nutrition—it's connection, comfort, and growth.
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#WorldBreastfeedingWeek #InfantFeedingSupport #RisePediatricTherapy #FeedingTherapy #SLP #OT #BreastfeedingSupport #TetheredOralTissue #BodyWork #ParentSupport

🥕✨ Who says mealtime can’t be exciting? In feeding therapy, we turn new foods into fun adventures—building confidence, curiosity, and variety one bite (or lick, or touch!) at a time!
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#FunWithFeeding #PediatricFeedingTherapy #PlayfulEating

Team Bonding at the Iowa Cubs game last night ⚾️ 🤍

👁️🍼 Boost your baby’s brain with contrast!

Newborns are still developing their vision and are especially drawn to high-contrast colors like black and white. Using contrast cards, toys, or books helps strengthen their visual tracking skills—an essential part of their cognitive and motor development.

🎯 Try this: Gently move a black-and-white object side to side about 8–12 inches from your baby’s face. Watch those little eyes follow—it’s their brain growing in real time!

🖤🤍 Start early and keep it fun—just a few minutes a day makes a difference.
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#InfantDevelopment #VisualTracking #occupationaltherapy

🍼✨ Sidelying play: small position, big benefits!
Placing your baby on their side to play encourages core strength, midline awareness, and hand-eye coordination—all essential skills for reaching, rolling, and eventually crawling.

🧸 Tip: Support their back with a rolled towel and place a toy in front to encourage reaching. This position also gives babies a break from back and tummy time while still promoting healthy development.

💡 Great for newborns and up—just be sure it’s always supervised!
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#SidelyingPlay #BabyDevelopment #InfantTherapy #occupationaltherapy

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Uplifting children through pediatric speech, feeding, & occupational therapy

greater des moines area

Neurodiversity affirming, play-based, pediatric therapy.

Our Services

Meet the Team

of Certified Speech Language Pathologist and Pediatric Occupational Therapists

Kind Words from Our Families

Follow Us on Instagram!
@risepediatricspeechtherapy

See What Others Say About Us On Google

Uplifting children through pediatric speech, feeding, & occupational therapy

greater des moines area

Neurodiversity affirming, play-based, pediatric therapy.

Our Services

Meet the Team

of Certified Speech Language Pathologist and Pediatric Occupational Therapists

Kind Words from Our Families

​

Follow Us on Instagram! @risepediatricspeechtherapy

See What Others Say About Us On Google

Follow Us on Instagram!
@risepediatricspeechtherapy