Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people perform optimally in their OCCUPATION. Think of a toddler or child. What is their occupation? Well, it includes eating, drinking, playing, socializing, dressing themselves, toileting… among many other things! The OTs at Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy specifically specialize in working with autism, ADD, ADHD, fine motor skills, handwriting, gross motor skills, and sensory integration.

Our office space is located in the heart of downtown St. George, Utah at 168 North 100 East. Many of our clients live in St. George, but we also see clients from Santa Clara, Ivins, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Cedar City, Mesquite, and beyond! The best location for each client will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but most sessions are typically conducted in our comfortable treatment (play!) rooms in downtown St. George.

In our treatment process, we truly lay out the “red carpet” in terms of the individualized attention and care you will receive. We have much more freedom as private practice therapists than school-based therapists who have to abide by specific evaluation, treatment, and caseload parameters placed upon them. The entire treatment process will be catered to exactly what YOUR child needs and what makes the most sense for YOUR specific situation. This often means that we can make progress towards your child’s goals MUCH faster than school-based therapy. Rather than getting pulled out of important teaching content at school, and potentially in a group therapy setting, your child will receive one-on-one specialized therapy. In addition, you as the parent have the opportunity to observe and even participate in every session at Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy so that you can carry over the activities at home to make progress even faster.

Nearly all of our sessions are conducted in person. We love and prefer to be in person with our clients, yet we do have the ability to utilize teletherapy for a variety of reasons; including when a client or family member is sick, traveling for extended periods of time, or as a way to see a client for quick 15-minute rapid-fire therapy session throughout the week. In addition, teletherapy can be especially beneficial in coaching parents on how to implement strategies at home.

By and large though, you can expect to see us in person if that is the answer you were hoping for!

No, we are not contracted directly with insurance companies. This is allows us to work for YOU, the families, rather than the insurance companies. However, many of our clients still receive 100% reimbursement for their therapy costs by submitting the superbills we provide. Here are a few ways we support you in managing therapy expenses:

• Superbills for Reimbursement: We provide detailed superbills after each session, which you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Many of our clients successfully get their therapy costs covered this way.
• Guidance on Insurance Claims: While we don’t file insurance claims directly, we offer guidance and support to help you navigate the insurance reimbursement process, helping to provide you with the necessary documentation and information whenever possible.
• Grant Funding Assistance: We assist you in accessing applicable grant funding to help cover therapy costs. Our team stays informed about available grants and funding opportunities that you may qualify for, and our dedicated funding specialist is here to answer your questions and make the process as smooth as possible. Fill out our contact form below to get access to a list of grants your child may be eligible for!
• Flexible Payment Options: We accept Health Savings Account (HSA) card payments, providing you with a flexible and tax-advantaged way to pay for therapy services.
• Transparent Billing Practices: Our billing is straightforward and transparent, so you always know what to expect. We’re here to answer any questions you may have about your bill or the reimbursement process. No more surprise bills being mailed to you months after a service is delivered!
• PALCO Provider: Many of our clients travel from outside of southern Utah to come see us. If you live in rural Nevada, check out this website to see if you qualify for PALCO funding to pay for our therapy services: https://palcofirst.com/nevada/
• Utah Fits All (UFA) Scholarship: Application in process to become approved provider for ClassWallet funding through UFA.

We are committed to making our services as accessible and affordable as possible, even without direct insurance billing. If you have any questions or need further assistance, our team is here to help.

Yes! Many of our clients use an HSA card to pay for our services.

We understand that raising kids is expensive. And yet we know that you are concerned about your child’s ability to communicate with the world and you want to do whatever you can to help! Here are a few ideas:

1. While we love to get to continue working with clients that we grow to care for and love, our ultimate goal is not to keep you in therapy forever! We understand that therapy expenses add up, and we want to help you get the most “bang for your ‘buck.’” As such, we tailor each child’s treatment schedule to make the most progress as quickly as possible. Sometimes that means that we opt for once-a-month parent coaching sessions where we give you individualized strategies and activities to target your child’s goals. And other times, we shoot for more of an intense approach for 3 months followed by an “off-season” to see if continued therapy is truly warranted. Ultimately, we promise to keep your child’s best interest developmentally (as well as your pocketbook!) in mind and help your child “graduate” from therapy as soon as possible!

2. GRANTS! Did you know there are multiple resources out there just waiting to pay for your child’s necessary therapy expenses? We are so thankful for the generous grants we have worked with, and we would love to share our insight with you about how to access these FREE resources. Message us today to get access to our curated list of grants!

3. “Thanks, Biden!” We had a parent recently who lightheartedly said, “we’re getting an extra $550 per month from Biden’s new stimulus plan, which is great – we can just put that directly towards our son’s speech therapy! Thanks, Biden!” All jokes aside, we are thankful for the sacrifices our families make to prioritize their children’s communication development and for entrusting their therapy progress to Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy!

YES! We would love to have you join our team at Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy.

Are you a dedicated speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist passionate about making a difference in children’s lives? At Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy, we are always on the lookout for exceptional professionals who embody our core values and commitment to excellence.

Why Work With Us?

• Therapist-Owned and Operated: Our clinic is run by therapists who understand the challenges and rewards of the profession, ensuring a supportive and empathetic work environment.
• Highly Competitive Salary: We believe in valuing your expertise and dedication with a salary that reflects your skills and experience.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: We offer a robust benefits package that includes:
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Reimbursement
• Semi-Annual Bonuses

At Prickly Pear Pediatric Therapy, we foster a close-knit, collaborative atmosphere where every team member is valued and empowered to grow professionally. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and join a clinic that prioritizes both patient and employee well-being, we would love to hear from you.

Email your resume to info@pricklypearkids.com today and become a part of our dedicated team committed to providing top-notch pediatric therapy services in a supportive, therapist-driven environment.

YES! We are passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest research, and there are many emerging studies revealing the efficacy of a more intensive therapy dosage. What does this mean? It means that some research studies have demonstrated that a child makes MORE progress when they attend a high number of treatment sessions during the first 1-2 weeks, followed by less frequent treatment sessions during the following weeks. We have begun to implement this with some clients, and we are so pleased with the results! Contact us today if you are interested in discussing this more.

While we don’t offer ABA therapy, we advocate for a holistic approach to supporting your autistic child. We strongly recommend integrating occupational therapy and speech-language therapy into their treatment plan. If you’re uncertain about the benefits of SLP or OT for your child, we’re here to help. Let’s discuss during our complimentary consultation call, where we can share the research-backed benefits of these therapies.

At this time, we are only accepting students interested in 1-10 hours of observation hours. We do not have openings for semester-long internships, nor for clinical placements where the student clinician gets direct therapy hours with clients. We would love for you to observe a few of our sessions to see if this is the right field for you! We think we have the best jobs and would love to share that passion with you. Once you have your degree, send us your resume and we would love to have you join our team!

If you are interested in observation hours with our SLPs and/or OTs, please email bryce@pricklypearkids.com.