Gallagher Pediatric Therapy Welcome

Celebrating 16 years, Gallagher Pediatric Therapy (GPT) is a private-based pediatric practice that employs a multidisciplinary staff of highly skilled and competent occupational therapists (OT’s), certified occupational therapy assistants (COTA’s), and physical therapists (PT’s). Our occupational therapy and physical therapy practitioners specialize in the evaluation, treatment and management of children, including infants, youth and adolescents, with a variety of developmental, sensory, motor, neuromuscular, educational and psychosocial disorders, who may experience functional performance limitations. GPT’s expert therapists can be found working in clinical environments, schools, homes and communities throughout the Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. We provide direct service as well as consultation with families and educators to serve children with special needs across multiple settings.

Our mission is to create opportunities for children, including infants, youth and adolescents, to master developmental tasks, increase performance capacity, and achieve independence in their home, school and community. Through demonstrated excellence in clinical and school-based practice, our goal is to provide quality services that include but are not limited to:

• the evaluation and provision of treatment in collaboration with the child, family or other relevant individuals; and

• developing, enhancing, maintaining or reestablishing sensory, motor, perceptual, neuromuscular or oral-motor functioning; or organization of behavior, adaptive behavior, or psychosocial components of performance; and

• interventions directed toward developing, enhancing, maintaining or reestablishing daily living skills, including play or leisure skills, social skills, academic skills, self-help skills and prevocational skills; and

• education of the child, family or other relevant individuals in implementing appropriate interventions.

These services include structured and unstructured assessment by means of skilled and functional observations or assessment via the administration and careful interpretation of formal (standardized) and informal (non-standardized) tests and measurements. Top

Mary Kay Gallagher formed Gallagher Pediatric Therapy (“GPT”) in 1988 as a part-time venture while she worked as an occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Prior to working at Children’s Hospital, Mary Kay earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, at San Diego State University, and a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California.

Although started as a part-time venture, GPT grew steadily and in 1991 Mary Kay left Children’s Hospital to work full-time for GPT. In 1992, no longer able to handle her therapy caseload alone, Mary Kay hired additional part-time therapists to help out.

In 1993, GPT leased its first clinic space in Fullerton, CA. The leasing of this clinic space coincided with GPT’s first major contract to provide services to a school district. This contract was with the Fullerton School District. In 1995, GPT incorporated as Therapy for Kids, Inc., but continued to use GPT as its “D.B.A.”

By 1996, with eight employees, GPT had outgrown its first clinic space in Fullerton, and subsequently moved to a new location in Fullerton. At this new location, GPT experienced phenomenal growth and, by 2001, it had over 50 employees. During this time GPT set up four satellite clinics at various school districts to provide therapy at locations other than the main clinic in Fullerton.

Because of this growth, in 2002 GPT moved its main clinic to its current 9,100 square foot location at 233 Orangefair Mall in Fullerton. This location provides office and clinic space for GPT’s 80 employees.

Today, GPT is the largest pediatric occupational and physical therapy practice in Southern California. It provides physical and occupational therapy services to over 1,800 children ranging in age from 0 to 18 years in the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

From the original contract with Fullerton School District, GPT has grown to where it now has contracts with over 54 school districts, 5 regional centers and a hospital.

GPT’s phenomenal success is the direct result of Mary Kay Gallagher and members of her therapy team to personal commitment to provide high quality and ethical pediatric therapy services.

Although Mary Kay’s and the members of her therapy team’s commitment to service have caused GPT to grow to its current size, there is no end to this growth in sight because each day GPT receives new referrals for children who may need services. Furthermore, GPT regularly receives inquires from new school districts who are seeking quality occupational and physical therapy services for their students in need of these services. Top

GPT prides itself on the diverse educational backgrounds, knowledge bases, and areas of expertise of its therapy staff. Some therapists hold advanced masters and doctoral degrees, while others possess specialized training and certification in such areas as Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT). Several therapists have also received recognition for expertise and contributions made to their respective profession. Many have years of experience in pediatric therapy, which demonstrates their sound commitment and dedication to children with special needs. Top