Author: Celeste McLaughlin

As We Grow Counseling Helps Children & Young Adults With Special Needs

*Game Nights hosted by As We Grow Counseling have been an effective way of improving the social well-being of children and young adults with special needs.* ***(Photos: Charmaine George)***

For 14 years, the licensed therapists at As We Grow Counseling have helped people of all ages in Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas tackle relationships and personal growth.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Melissa Amaya started the practice in Seven Oaks in 2007, when her son, Ethan, was born. He has special needs and was often at therapy appointments five days a week, so starting her own practice gave her the flexibility to care for him.

Now that he’s older, Melissa has found another way to help him and others like him meet some of their unique challenges.

As We Grow Counseling is offering opportunities for kids and young adults, ages 4-21, with ADS, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities and other unique needs to socialize and learn life and social skills.

“One of my son’s disabilities is autism,” says Melissa, “so I was trying to find a group to help him learn social skills, like how to start conversations with other kids and about unwritten social cues, and also life skills, like how to do laundry and go grocery shopping.”

When she couldn’t find such a program, she decided to tackle it herself, and began offering groups in June.

“I need to do what I enjoy and what comes from the heart,” Melissa explains. And she asks, “Who better to start these than someone who is a clinician and competent in this area, who also is a mom who has a child with special needs?”

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from Monmouth University in New Jersey, and then her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with a specialization in Family & Child Therapy from Fordham University in New York City in 1997.

When she first went to college, Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and advertising. However, when she went to work in the pharmaceutical industry, she quickly realized she wanted to do work that was more meaningful to her.

She says As We Grow Counseling helps people in many ways throughout their lives. “You grow as a couple, as an adult, or even as a senior citizen, but you’re still growing and learning.”

As We Grow sees people of all ages for therapy, from kids as young as age three up to adults, including couples and individuals.

The practice currently has 20 clinicians who all work part time. Melissa says most are doing teletherapy, but some clinicians are beginning to return to in-person counseling sessions. They work during the day, in the evening, and on weekends, including both Saturdays and Sundays.

Groups & Special Events

While she believes that individual counseling can be effective for kids with special needs, she recognizes that they often already spend big chunks of their time at appointments such as physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, so she recognizes the benefits of the social and life skills groups.

“When we do the groups, they learn so much from their peers,” she says. “It’s a more comfortable setting for them.”

Groups are offered for children ages four to 19, broken down by age group, and kids with any disability can participate. There is one group just for girls, while other groups are mixed.

Jeanne Harrison (left) and Melissa Amaya

“It helps them with confidence building,” Melissa explains. “A lot of kids with special needs also have anxiety, which prevents them from fully interacting with their peers, getting a job, and even advocating for themselves at school — just to ask for help if they need it. These are skills they need everywhere in life.”

And then, to practice the skills they are learning in their groups, As We Grow Counseling now offers Game Nights and special “bonus” events.

*Jeanne Harrison (left) and Melissa Amaya*

These might be cooking classes, pottery painting or going to Pinot’s Palette or Main Event. A field trip to an Escape Room was held for October and an outing to Grand Prix Tampa for go-karts and miniature golf is planned for Saturday, November 13, and an outing to watch a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game is coming up on Tuesday, December 14.

While the special events require an advance RSVP, Game Nights do not. They are for ages 5-21 and include crafts, dancing, a movie, indoor badminton, corn hole, pizza and even visits from therapy dogs, when they are available.

Melissa heads up Game Nights with an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher, Jeanne Harrison, and the support of volunteers.

Upcoming Game Nights will be held Fridays, November 19, and December 3, at the Seven Oaks Community Clubhouse, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The cost is $20 per child.

Parents are welcome to stay but can choose to drop their children off. Kids can come to all of the activities, or just the ones that interest them or fit their schedule.

The social skills groups have limited space and are generally paid by insurance. As We Grow Counseling takes all major insurance plans except Medicaid and also accepts the Gardiner Scholarship.

“There’s a huge need,” Melissa says. “The biggest hurdle I have is getting the word out to people.”

Shonda Brown is mom to Ahmari, an 11-year-old with high-functioning autism and ADHD. She recently noticed that he has struggled with some issues, such as feeling resentful of the differences he has noticed between himself and other kids.

“It’s a blessing to have found something in the midst of a storm,” says Shonda, who also has been a therapy patient of Melissa’s for several years.

Ahmari started middle school this year, which Shonda admits was a little scary, especially since she was exhausted from the daily phone calls she was getting last school year. But, her son’s involvement in the As We Grow programs has been beneficial.

“I just talked with his school counselor and she says he’s doing great,” Shonda says. “I haven’t gotten one call from a teacher, and he has six teachers now! He also has outstanding grades.”

She thinks some of the growth she’s seen is because, at Game Nights, he’s around both guys and girls of all different ages, and they are showing him maturity.

“He started off quiet and now he’s raising his hand and loves to sing and dance,” she says. “It allows him to be him in his own element without having to worry about any judgement.”

Shonda adds that she really appreciates the hour or two she gets to herself while Ahmari is at his skills group or Game Nights, whether she uses it to go grocery shopping or just sit in her car and enjoy the peace and quiet.

“It’s amazing,” Shonda says. “I hope Melissa can branch out to more parents. I don’t know where I’d be without (As We Grow Counseling) and without her.”

As We Grow Counseling is located in Seven Oaks at 2240 Twelve Oaks Way, Suite 101. To learn more about the opportunities for children with special needs, call Melissa on her cell phone at (813) 442-2971. To make an appointment, call (813) 838-4807. Or, to learn more about the practice, visit AsWeGrowCounseling.com.

As We Grow

Kids Are All Smiles When They Visit Dr. Duga & Dr. Feeney

*Dr. Paul Duga has built a large, loyal following in his more than two decades in New Tampa, where a fun atmosphere is a hit with kids…and their parents.*

Deanna Crawford was enjoying dinner with her best friend Julie Simon 20 years ago when she first met Paul Duga, DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). Dr. Duga, who recognized Julie as the mother of three of his patients, came over and chatted for a bit.

“This guy comes to the table, she introduces him and he was the nicest, jolliest guy I think I’ve ever met in my life,” Deanna says. “I was like, ‘Who was that?’”

“That’s the kids’ dentist,” Julie said.

“Well, he’s going to be my kids’ dentist, too,” said Deanna, even though she didn’t have any children at the time.

Guess how the story ends?

Eight years later, Deanna showed up with her son Tyler, who was 2, for his first dental appointment.

“He made a great first impression,” Deanna says, chuckling. “I don’t think I’ve ever even told him that story.”

Tyler is now 14, and about to have his braces removed. Deanna’s daughter Ella Grace, 7, is a patient as well. And, well, not that Deanna is bragging or anything, but — zero cavities!

Deanna’s choice was simple — she wanted someone who would make her kids feel at ease, maybe make them laugh or smile, and make a trip to the dentist something the kids would look forward to, rather than dread.

Since opening his pediatric dentistry office more than two decades ago, that’s the one philosophy that has always guided Dr. Duga.

“We provide one-on-one, private, patient-driven care,” he says. “We provide dentistry that is safe and healthy, and also non-threatening, so kids don’t grow up with an irrational fear of dentists.”

For veterans of the office, there is nothing threatening about Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry, located in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms, off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at Amberly Dr.

Duga and his partner, Shawna Adams-Feeney, DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry), both have engaging and outgoing personalities, and mix in a fair amount of fun and humor to take the edge off any patient’s visit.

*Dr. Shawna Adams-Feeney’s happy demeanor takes the fear of sitting in the dental chair away for even the youngest children.* ***(Photo: Charmaine George)***

The dentists also are reassuring, important in these heightened safety-first days of a pandemic. Dr. Duga assures parents that their kids, and their teeth, are always in good hands.

While some modifications were made because of Covid-19 — such as adding Plexiglas barriers at the front desk — Dr. Duga says there were no drastic changes because his office always considered most of the health and safety precautions as standard practice.

“As far as social distancing is concerned, our office was almost designed for it,” Dr. Duga says. “Our floor plan allows us to keep families all separated and safe.”

He recognizes, however, that many people are even more anxious these days, so the staff does everything it can to counter that.

“We always try to maintain a spirit of positive-ness,” he says.

About The Doctors

While Dr. Duga established the practice in 1998, he says working with Dr. Feeney — as he has since she joined the practice in 2005 and became his partner in 2009 — gives children the option to choose the dentist with whom they feel more comfortable.

“I really appreciate having Dr. Feeney here,” he says with a smile. “If a kid is struggling to connect with me, maybe the next visit he or she might want to go to Dr. Feeney. We do everything we can to keep the children comfortable.”

Both doctors are Board-certified pediatric dentists.

Dr. Duga earned his DDS degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI, and then worked as a general dentist in Milwaukee. He went on to earn his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans.

Dr. Feeney (pictured above) earned her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, after receiving her DMD degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Parents like Deanna will bring their kids to a dentist at the first sign of teeth.

The doctors encourage parents of their youngest patients (they treat children from age 1 up to about age 18) to bring their kids in every six months to maintain good dental health.

Drs. Duga and Feeney provide examinations, cleanings, sealant placement, tooth repairs (such as fillings and crowns), as well as cosmetic whitening and orthodontic alignments.

“We do continuous growth evaluation, bite evaluation, and provide guidance through early orthodontic care,” explains Dr. Duga. The practice also offers braces and Invisalign invisible aligners for its patients, although they do also refer some patients to orthodontic offices, when needed.

For a child who has special needs or is too young to cooperate, a parent can choose sedation dentistry. An anesthesiologist comes in to safely manage the sedation, so the dentist can focus on fixing the teeth and getting them healthy.

“We do accept dental insurance, but we’re not an insurance-driven office,” says Dr. Duga. “Insurance is a contract for paying bills, not health care.”

The staff will gladly help parents of patients and potential new patients understand their insurance benefits.

Happy Patients

Kids like the perks, too, such as fun in the lobby — including video games and TV screens on the ceiling and headphones in the chair, so they can watch while laying down. Plus, they get to pick the flavor for their toothpaste and receive a coin at the end of each visit, which they can exchange for a small toy.

“I’ve seen kids since they were one or two and now they’re going off to college,” says Dr. Duga. “You get to know these families. It’s been a wonderful thing.”

Deanna couldn’t agree more. She lived in Land O’Lakes when she started bringing her kids to the dentist, but now lives in Spring Hill. She jokes that she drives past “a million dentists” on the way to Dr. Duga, but when her dad asked her why she doesn’t find someone closer, the answer was simple.

“Why do I need to when I know what I’m going to get with Dr. Duga?,” she told him. “I’m happy and my kids feel safe and happy there. What else do I need?”

The pediatric dental office of Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates is located at 15293 Amberly Dr. To learn more about the practice, visit DrDugaDrFeeney.com or call (813) 631-1100 to schedule an appointment or to find out more about your insurance/payment options.

Dr. Duga Dr. Feeney

Quail Hollow Girl Donates 70 Backpacks To Local Shelter

Rachael Mendohlson, an 11-year-old who lives in Quail Hollow, says her life is pretty idyllic.

“I’m blessed and lucky to live on a beautiful ranch with my parents and sister,” she says, where she helps care for 40 chickens, 20 cows, five cats and two rabbits.

That’s why, when she heard about a kid her age in Kansas who provided gifts to children staying in a homeless shelter, she thought she could do something similar in her community.

Rachael asked her dad, Lane, to help her get started.

Lane sought out a family shelter in Pasco County and found out that Rachael’s timing couldn’t have been better, as the county’s very first shelter that accommodates families is opening this month in Port Richey.

Rachael’s plan was to pack new backpacks with toys and activities so that kids arriving at the shelter would be greeted with a bag full of new items just for them.

To fund her idea, she planned to use one dollar from every dozen eggs she and her sister sold from their egg business.

That’s where Lane stepped in again, offering that his company, Vantagepoint AI, would pay for the backpacks and toys so that Rachael could have enough funds to make an impact quickly, making a donation that would pay for 70 backpacks, along with toys and activities to fill the backpacks.

Rachael and her sister, 8-year-old Abby, sorted the toys by age and packed all of the bags themselves, including items such as coloring books, colored pencils, a book, fidget toys, and magnetic drawing toys for the younger kids, while choosing items such as a watch and a hat for older kids.

“Being a girl and going to school, I know Pop Its fidget toys are very popular,” she said, “so I made sure to include a lot of those.”

In early October, Rachael was invited to bring her donations to the new shelter and speak to invited guests at the shelter’s opening ceremony.

She said that if she can do something good to bring someone else happiness, that’s what she wants to do.

“I hope a kid will see the backpack and think, ‘Oh my gosh, someone really cares about me,’ and that will give a little spark to make someone happy,” Rachael says.

Lane says he wants to pass on what learned from his parents to the next generation. “I want to instill those values of gratitude and giving people a hand when they need it in my own daughters,” Lane says. “It’s so important that they grow up that way.”

It seems he’s doing just that, as Lane says that Abby has expressed interest in finding her own way to give back, thanks to her inspiring older sister.

“Giving back is my way of saying thank you,” Rachael says, “because I’m grateful that I have such an amazing life.”

backpacks

Visiting Angels Serves Families & The Community With Compassion

When families realize they need a helping hand with an aging parent or grandparent or a disabled family member, they want to turn to someone they can trust to provide care and share their burden.

In New Tampa, Temple Terrace and surrounding areas, that need is being met by Visiting Angels, located on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, only minutes from most of New Tampa.

Visiting Angels provides services as an alternative to moving into a nursing home, retirement center or assisted living facility, allowing people to maintain the independence of their daily routines in the comfort of their own homes.

A nationally branded company, headquartered in Pennsylvania, Visiting Angels has 600 locations across the U.S.

Franchise owner and director Christal Becton opened the local office of Visiting Angels in 2004.

“We’ve been a staple in the community for 17 years now,” she says, adding that the close-knit group of five people who work in the office give personal attention and care to every family who reaches out to them when they need assistance.

“Most of our referrals are seniors who need some extra help,” Christal explains. “We also can help anyone over 18 who needs assistance. Younger people sometimes need help, too, due to their own physical challenges or health issues.”

Visiting Angels caregivers provide home care services, companion care, personal care and respite care. This can include anything from helping someone temporarily recover from an illness or surgery to providing ongoing companionship to a senior who just needs a friend.

The Visiting Angels home health care aides accommodate their clients’ schedules, whether they need a few hours of assistance a week or even 24-hour-per-day, 7-day-per-week care. Day or night, weekends or holidays, temporary or long-term, Visiting Angels can help.

Caregivers include both Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Assistants (HHAs). All caregivers have passed a background screening, and most are graduates of medical academies that specialize in home care and also have worked at assisted living facilities or in other health care environments.

Typical care might include grocery shopping and running errands, preparing meals, assisting with personal care and doing light housekeeping.

Christal says some clients require help with bathing or shaving, some just need a hand getting up in the morning and starting their day, while others may need their clothes laundered and linens changed.

Pandemic Assistance & More

With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, these continue to be unprecedented times. Over the past 18 months, Christal and the members of her office staff delivered essentials to seniors in New Tampa, even if they weren’t clients. They called it “no-contact Saturday,” delivering essentials without contact, to minimize any possibility of spreading the virus to someone who might be particularly vulnerable.

While the local Visiting Angels office is no longer doing no-contact Saturdays, calls from clients who are in need of food, meals, or shopping are still being accepted. The Visiting Angels often provide those services, but also are happy to refer families to services that may help them with these tasks, such as Instacart.

“We give a lot of advice to members of the community,” she says.

The office staff currently is getting ready for the annual Thanksgiving distribution, where staffers take meals from local restaurants and deliver them to everyone on the company’s registry who lives alone or has no family expected to join them for the holiday.

Getting Started

The first step to hiring Visiting Angels is a free, in-home assessment, which Christal personally handles. “I like to make a connection with the family. I get to see how they live and learn about their backgrounds, which makes it easier to connect them with the right caregiver.”

She says this is important to communicate to the family that she takes pride in her company and in the quality of care that will be provided.

“Most everyone has heard of Visiting Angels if they watch television, but people are often blown away that the owner of the company showed up in their home. They think that if the owner comes to my house to talk with me, then that’s a company I want to take care of my mom.”

During the in-home assessment, Christal reviews each client’s needs and asks about the types of services desired, noting the patient’s daily routine, meals, proximity to doctors’ offices and number of regularly scheduled appointments. She then prepares a care plan and selects the caregivers who are best suited to meet those needs.

Transportation To Appointments

In addition to in-home care, Visiting Angels provides transportation to doctor’s appointments and medical treatments.

Unlike other services, Visiting Angels caregivers do not leave the appointment, but will wait on-site until the appointment is concluded. Once the patient is delivered safely home, post-op care can be provided, as well, if desired.

Christal says this service is not typical, and that it relieves any stress someone may feel, wondering if a ride is coming to get them and how long they’ll have to wait. Having the Visiting Angels transportation waiting for them means patients don’t have to wait or wonder, or experience any undue anxiety about how to get to their medical appointment(s).

Visiting Angels’ transportation is not just for seniors. While seniors often take advantage of the services, anyone can use it.

Christal says many of the rides she gives are to and from plastic surgery appointments, anything from cosmetic facial surgeries, to tummy tucks and liposuction.

“Our office works very closely with a number of plastic surgery centers in the Tampa Bay area,” she says. “The patients or even the surgery centers call us to schedule and they tell me Visiting Angels is one of the few providing this service.”

Christal says many people don’t want to ask a friend or family member for a hand, especially when it comes to a plastic surgery appointment. She and her team are happy to help anyone who would prefer the discretion of using Visiting Angels if any post-appointment care or transportation is needed.

The Visiting Angels office serving New Tampa is at 9812 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. For more information, call (813) 929-7067 or visit VisitingAngels.com/Tampa or Facebook.com/VisitingAngelsTampaFL.

visiting angels

Dr. Jureyda Loves Making Patients Smile At Radiance Orthodontics

When Sam Jureyda, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), opened his Radiance Orthodontics more than five years ago in Tampa Palms, he often said his practice provided “modern orthodontics for all ages.”

He hardly could have imagined how much the term “modern orthodontics” would have evolved since then.

“Orthodontics is a rapidly-changing, dynamic specialty that offers kids, teens and adults more options than ever before,” Dr. Jureyda explains. “But, that also makes it confusing for patients.”

This happy orthodontist, whose job it is to straighten and align teeth and jaws, has practiced for more than 25 years. Before moving into private practice in 2006 — and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016 — he taught graduate-level students at the University of Buffalo, after earning his D.M.D. degree from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and his Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C.

Dr. J, as his patients call him, says everyone who is considering their options for improving the alignment of their teeth and bite can benefit from the free consultation offered at Radiance Orthodontics.

“Each patient has unique needs and requires a personalized and completely custom treatment plan,” he says. “We can help you understand your many options and choose the best course of treatment for yourself or your children.”

At the complimentary, no-obligation consultation, Dr. J will provide a thorough examination and recommend either traditional braces or Invisalign. The choice, however, is still up to the patient, and Dr. J will help you understand the pros and cons of each type of treatment.

Even traditional braces continue to evolve and use better technologies, and are typically available in either metal or clear ceramic. Dr. J also can work with patients if they have a specific request, such as someone who recently asked for gold-plated metal brackets. Radiance Orthodontics will happily accommodate any such customized requests, if it is at all possible.

Dr. J says that Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable, comfortable aligners to straighten teeth, is a constantly improving method that is now so effective, it often works more quickly than traditional braces.

Fancy television commercials may say that “do-it-yourself” options can work just as well, but Dr. J emphasizes that having treatment in person with an orthodontist provides you with access to an expert who will check your progress every step of the way to keep you on track and watch to ensure no problems develop or worsen.

Radiance Orthodontics uses an iTero scanner to capture images of the teeth and gums. This means no more goop in your mouth to create impressions. Instead, Dr. Jureyda or an orthodontic assistant will use a compact, hand-held wand and optical digital technology to create 3D images of a patient’s mouth. It takes just a couple of minutes, and the process can be stopped and started as many times as necessary if a patient experiences any discomfort.

Dr. J says it’s much more comfortable and easy than taking impressions the old-fashioned way, and streamlines the process of moving from diagnosis to treatment. Patients can view their “before” images immediately on the screen during the appointment, and a proposed “after” image comes via email shortly after.

In between, Dr. J takes time to carefully review exactly how the technology recommends the teeth be moved into position, using his decades of experience to be sure that each of his patients receives a treatment plan that is perfect for them. While the technology adds some degree of automation, it doesn’t replace his careful eye and expertise throughout the process.

Dr. J’s patients say the best thing about coming to Radiance Orthodontics is the way they are treated as a friend. In fact, he encourages anyone interested in learning more about his practice to Google it and read the reviews.

“It warms my heart that every single review anyone has ever posted about Radiance Orthodontics has been five stars,” says Dr. Jureyda. “I strive to treat all of my patients in a way that shows them the gratitude I have that they are entrusting me with their care.”

You will never feel rushed in Dr. Jureyda’s office. He is genuinely interested in his patients’ lives and families, and wants to ensure that treatments in his office fit each patient’s lifestyle and are comfortable and easy for them.

He takes time to answer every question, even those that come from the tiniest patients. “He made my 5-year-old comfortable and even took time to answer some of her funny questions,” a recent Google review by M. Haloua stated.

While Dr. Jureyda prefers to take a proactive approach to treatment, rather than wait until all of a young patient’s teeth come in to deal with problems, it’s because early intervention is typically simpler and smaller than a full treatment later.

The American Association of Orthodontists actually recommends that all children have an orthodontic consultation by the age of seven to identify any potential issues as early as possible and to keep an eye on them as teeth develop. Dr. J encourages parents to take advantage of his free consultation, and he will never recommend treatment that isn’t necessary.

Supporting Education

As a former educator, Dr. J’s passion is for children and their contributions to the community. He is an avid supporter of students and teachers, working in cooperation with all of New Tampa’s public schools as a business partner. For the past three years, Radiance Orthodontics has awarded a scholarship each spring to a Wharton High senior who has demonstrated a commitment to serve the community through volunteering.

He knows how difficult it can be to work orthodontic appointments into a family’s already-busy schedule, so some evening and occasional Saturday appointments are available.

Radiance Orthodontics also works with patients to determine orthodontic benefits through dental insurance and will provide affordable payment options for treatment.

To schedule a free consultation, text or call Radiance Orthodontics at (813) 972-1100 or see the ad on page 5 of this issue. For more information about the practice, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, search for “Radiance Orthodontics” on Facebook or visit MyRadianceBraces.com.