I have been an Occupational Therapist (OT), since 2000. Before becoming an occupational therapist I received my Bachelor of Science in 1993, in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Logistical Management and Human Resources.

Therapy has been my dream job since my youth. I spent 3 years not walking due to an injury playing outside. I had several surgeries and years of Physical Therapy. This is where my interest in therapy began. During those years of not walking my mother made me find a way to participate in everything from playing to chores. She used to say, "Amy, you don’t know if you will always be like this, so figure out a way and do it." So I learned to hop on one foot while cutting the lawn, cleaning the house by scooting around, playing lots of cards and training our dog some really neat tricks. Then in 2001 I had Bell’s Palsy on the right side of my face (Bell's palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face). I could not keep my right eye open, my right side of upper lip kept getting bit, and my face was numb. Having this gave me the experience with losing the ability to move or sense a part of my body that I wanted to use daily and also how frustrating it was to not be able to use it or know if it would ever return. Most of it returned but there are still some deficits with muscle movement and vision.

In 2003 I started Therapy Solutions to provide private practice services to clients in Northern Michigan. My passion to help others has continued to grow exponentially year after year! I sought out additional training, certifications, education, and experiences to enhance my understanding of the nervous system and brain and how it impacts persons with deficits in these areas. In addition, I continually reach out to clients, caregivers, and attend educational events to learn how to assist families who are dealing with deficits in a family unit. On a personal note, I am a wife and mother of 2 young men. I love being physically active in outdoor activities including skiing, swimming, biking, hiking etc. My love of dogs has motivated me to raise 3 puppies to be Leader Dogs for the Blind. In my "spare" time I am an active member on 2 boards in the Northern Michigan community.

My training includes:

• Complete Concussion Management certificate (since 2020)

• Certified in Vestibular Assessment and Management (since 2018)

• Certified Brain Injury Specialist (since 2010)

• Advance trained Integrated Listening System Practitioner (2013)

• Certified Interactive Metronome Provider (2005)

• Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (2003)

• Webinars, conferences, courses, and presentations

Current Member of:

• Michigan Occupational Therapy Association (MiOTA)

• National Board of Certified Occupational Therapists (NBCOT)

• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

• Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI)

• Brain Injury Network of Northern Michigan (BINNMI)

I became interested in becoming a speech language pathologist following a sport related TBI in 1995.  I had three SLPs tell me I would never go back to college and never play contact sports again.  At 18, that was not what I wanted to hear and all I could think was, “these are the people that are supposed to be helping me?”  I decided if I was able to continue with college, I would become a better SLP than they were.  I thought if they were the standard my chances, even post TBI, were pretty good.  There was one doctor I worked with as a patient, who had had a head injury when she was young.  She made what I was experiencing throughout my recovery make sense to my parents and I.

I got my B.S. and M.A from Central Michigan University, completing graduate school in 2000.  The field of SLP is vast.  I had a mentor recommend I work in as many areas as I can to become a well-rounded therapist .  I spent several years in pediatrics and geriatrics working in private clinics, hospitals and post-acute care.  I found that no matter the environment, the treatment of the individual client’s wants, needs and aspirations was the same.  A diagnosis can be unnerving but it doesn’t change the person.  People can do great things with encouragement, patience, and simple course correction.  My experience working through my own TBI gave me an understanding of the processes of recovery that most people only get to read about.

Today I am a speech language pathologist, the clinical supervisor at Therapy Solutions, and a devoted father of two.  I am a volunteer firefighter and a high school soccer coach. 

If I had not met that one doctor, at that very specific time, I might not be where I am today.  I believe that the lessons we learn in life are waisted if we don’t pass them on.  My career has been an attempt at doing for someone else, what someone once did for me.

I have had the privilege of being a pediatric speech language pathologist for the past three years. My journey started as an undecided major at Grand Valley State University where I was interested in both education and health care. I eventually found the field of SLP and decided that this career encompassed both of my interests. I was also excited by the opportunity to work with individuals across the lifespan in many different settings, which fulfilled my need for challenge and variety.

After graduating with my master’s degree in speech language pathology from Grand Valley State University in 2019, I began working for a school district in Muskegon, Michigan where I serviced students with IEPs from kindergarten through sixth grade. In March of 2022, I moved to Petoskey where I took a position working for the local ISD as a part of the early childhood team, providing speech and language support services for children ages birth to 6 years old. Throughout my time working in the schools, I have supported students with visual impairments, Down Syndrome, speech and language delays, Autism, developmental delays and a variety of physical or other health needs. In addition, I joined Therapy Solutions in the summer of 2022 to provide services for clients in a private setting after school hours. I am excited for this rare opportunity to work with children one on one and the freedom to work on various functional communication skills that are meaningful to clients and their families.

The field of speech language pathology has a wide range of specialty areas. Some of my interest areas include early intervention (birth to three services), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), language development, Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Autism.

When I am not working, you can often find me enjoying the beautiful trails and lakes northern Michigan has to offer with my golden retriever, Cash.

My Training Includes:

• Inside Out Sensory Certificate Course for SLPs

• Natural Language Acquisition/Gestalt Language Processing Course

• Trained in LAMP and PODD for augmentative and alternative communication

Current Member of:

• American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association CCC-SLP certified member

My journey to become a physical therapist started with several bouts my own experiences in physical therapy growing up. I have always been a very active person which came with many injuries along the way. With each recovery I started to have a growing appreciation of the body’s ability to heal itself when the right strategies are applied.  

I completed my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toledo with a focus in Athletic Training and Exercise Science in 2012. While completing my degree I was simultaneously working as technician at a physical therapy clinic. I truly loved the experienced I gained working specially with athletes as part of my training of my Athletic Training degree, but I was starting to see that physical therapy would allow me to expand into treating an even larger population so I decided to continue on to grad school and pursue my degree in physical therapy. 

I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH in 2016. Going to a small private grad school allowed me several great learning opportunities that molded me into a well-rounded therapist. I was afforded a range of opportunities including training at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital working as a PT in an adapted classroom, learning at two different mixed population outpatient Orthopedic and Neurologic clinics, and working in a hospital that specialized in care following joint replacements.  

Upon graduation I knew I wanted to move back to my home state of MI and the lifestyle that is offered in Northern MI seemed like the best fit. A family friend said it best then they stated “It’s God’s country up there.” I couldn’t agree more and I am grateful to live and work in such a beautiful community. I began my career working for 5 years in orthopedics and when a position opened up to work with the specialized team at Therapy Solutions, I knew it was a great learning and growing opportunity for me. Neuroplasticity is an amazing thing both for me as a lifetime learner and for the clients I serve, who I believe are endlessly capable of learning new things and obtaining new skills. 

While away from work, I enjoy being with my husband and children. I love staying active with hiking, gardening, skiing, and running but also taking time to just enjoy the simple things in life.  

My Training Includes:

• LSVT BIG Certified 

• APTA Women’s Health Level 1 certified

Current Member of:

• American Physical Therapy Association

• Michigan Physical Therapy Association

I am a new speech-language pathologist (SLP) to both the field and Therapy Solutions. I graduated in 2021 from University of Colorado- Boulder with degrees in Speech-Language Disorders and Linguistics, then got my masters in 2024 from University of Southern Illinois in Communication Disorders and Sciences. I have always been drawn to both language and working with children, so I’ve always known that speech pathology was the career I was bound for.

As I began my education in the field, I became most passionate about providing communication to children without access to it through Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and sign language. I’ve spent the past 6 years working and teaching in clinical preschools that focus on language development approaches to learning. These included classrooms for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, clinics designed to help clinicians diagnose children with complex disabilities, and being lead teacher in a Pre-K classroom. Despite my love of children, a professor advised that I get experience working with adults to experience all that the field has to offer, so I did my final internship at Therapy Solutions. I fell in love with the outpatient setting and how different each treatment was. I am still able to see children, but I also get to treat cases in adults that I would never be able to otherwise.

I had initially planned to move to Michigan for just 5 months to finish my clinical hours; however, northern Michigan won me over, and I have decided to stay here. Other than working, I go hiking, climbing, and swimming as often as possible. I also enjoy making art such as painting, crochet, silversmithing, and embroidery. I am always continuing to work towards my eventual goal of becoming a Deaf-blind teacher and participating in the Deaf community as much as possible.

My Training Includes:

Current Member Of:

I’m excited to start my new journey here as the medical receptionist. I have worked in the healthcare field since graduating high school and I have loved every minute of it.

I enjoy reading and spending time with my husband and 2 children. I also love cooking and baking. Together as a family we enjoy going to the beach, grilling with friends and family, and watching football games.

Having grown up here in Northern Michigan I’ve always had a love for this area and the community here. I grew up across the bay in Harbor Springs and now reside here in Petoskey with my wife and two children and we feel so blessed to call this area home. Together we enjoy the numerous nature trails in the area, camping in our beautiful Upper Peninsula and occasionally a round of Disc Golf here and there.  

Throughout the winding path that led me here to Amy and Therapy Solutions I’ve always sought to give back to the community that I have been a part of my whole life. In High School I was lucky enough to be a part of a State Champion Cross Country team. That experience taught me early on how important team work and team dynamics are. Here at Therapy Solutions, you really get to experience how powerful a cohesive team can be as all of our clinicians work together to improve the lives of our clients. It is so rewarding to be a part of such a hard-working, talented and compassionate team here in this clinic. Being able to assist in providing such a vital service to Northern Michigan and beyond has been a true blessing and watching our clients progress on a week-to-week basis is a constant reminder of how strong and adaptable we truly are. 

My name is Ruby Dubey and I am a Yellow Labrador Retriever and this is my story:

In September 2015 I was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan. My career was already chosen for me before I was born. I was to become a Leader Dog for the Blind. At 3 months old I began living at my foster home, in Wolverine, Michigan and received intense training for becoming a Leader Dog: hours of learning to sit, stay, off, come, around, heel, not eat food off the floor, not to bark, walking up curbs and on stairs, plus many other skills. It was really hard work for me, just being a puppy and all. When I was 1 year old I was returned to Rochester Hills to the Leader Dogs for the Blind training facility. I made it past basic training and began my community work. After 8 weeks at the school and some goofing off, Leader Dogs for the Blind decided that I was not focusing enough all the time. So I became “career changed” and was offered back to my foster family who welcomed me back home.

Now I have a new career; one I never knew existed! I am a Therapy Dog! What that really means, I am not sure. All I know is that I get lots of hugs, pets, treats, loving, walks, and I get played with most of my days. It’s really a great job and easy to do. I still lose focus at times, but someone always helps me to get back on track. They call it “squirrel!”

So, even though I am not what I thought I would be, a Leader Dog, I have found a new purpose and like what I have become. I hope to get a chance to meet you.