APRIL CHRISTOPHERSON, OTR/L, FOUNDER & OWNER

APRIL HAS BEEN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND HAS WORKED WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS.

SHE GREW UP IN AND GRADUATED FROM OLATHE HIGH SCHOOL IN OLATHE, CO IN 1987.  SHE IS EXCITED TO BE THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF EXPLORATION KIDS THERAPY IN GUNNISON, COLORADO.  APRIL WORKED AS THE DIRECTOR OF OT AND DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OVER 10 YEARS FOR THE SHANDY CLINIC IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO WHERE SHE DEVELOPED A NEURO-INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN FOCUSING ON NEUROPATHWAY REPETITION AND MOTOR LEARNING. APRIL BELIEVES IN A TEAM APPROACH TO TREATING CHILDREN - OFTEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH PHYSICIANS, FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGISTS, DIETICIANS, OPTOMETRISTS, CHIROPRACTORS AND NATUROPATHS. 

SHE SITS ON THE CLINICAL ADVISORY BOARD FOR INTERACTIVE METRONOME CORPORATION AND HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES AND WEBINARS FOCUSED ON TREATING PEDIATRICS WITH A BRAIN TRAINING APPROACH. SHE IS A MEMBER OF BOTH THE ADVANCED BRAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND INTERACTIVE METRONOME ADJUNCT FACULTY WHERE SHE TEACHES INTRODUCTORY AND ADVANCED CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES TO PROFESSIONALS. SHE HAS TRAVELED AROUND THE USA AND THE WORLD TEACHING THERAPISTS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS ON NEUROPLASTICITY AND DEVELOPMENT.  SHE NOW TRAVELS AND SPEAKS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION COMPANY, PESI. 

IN HER SPARE TIME APRIL ENJOYS HIKING, PADDLE BOARDING, SKIING, AND SPENDING TIME AT HER FAMILY CABIN IN LITTLE CIMARRON.  SHE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO REID FOR 27 YEARS AND THEY HAVE 4 CHILDREN.  APRIL WAS GRANTED HER DEGREES IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGY FROM ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY IN DAVENPORT, IA IN 1991.

 

Troy Rose, M.A., CCC-SLP

Troy is a Western Colorado native, growing up in Olathe. After high school, Troy moved to Greeley, Colorado to attend the University of Northern Colorado. He initially planned on pursuing his bachelor’s in special education, however after a childhood language development class he found his true passion. He changed his major and received his Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences in 2017. Troy continued his education at UNC and received his Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology in 2019.

Troy moved back to the Western Slope and worked in the school setting for 5 years. He began his time with Exploration Kids Therapy as a summer employee and SLPA supervisor in 2022. He is excited to be on the team full time and serve the Delta and Gunnison communities.

Troy now lives in Montrose with his fiancé and two dogs. He enjoys the outdoors and going to the gym. Troy stays connected to his community by coaching high school wrestling. He is also an avid supporter of local businesses and events.

gabriella tickner, slpa

GABRIELLA IS A CERTIFIED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANT FOR EXPLORATION KIDS THERAPY.

GABRIELLA GREW UP IN MONTROSE, CO AND GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR’S OF  SCIENCE DEGREE IN SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCE FROM METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY IN DENVER, COLORADO. SHE HAS WORKED WITH ALL AGES FROM INFANTS TO VETERANS BUT HAS A PASSION FOR PEDIATRICS PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF EXPRESSIVE/RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE DISORDERS AND PATIENTS WITH AUTISM. SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON CONTINUING HER EDUCATION.

GABRIELLA CURRENTLY LIVES IN MONTROSE, CO. WITH HER HUSBAND, SON, AND DOG. WHEN SHE'S NOT WORKING, SHE LOVES GARDENING, RUNNING AND SPENDING TIME IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH HER FAMILY.

FRANCIS EBDING, Otd, OTR/L

Francis "AKA: Frankie" is an Occupational Therapist who graduated as a part of the first inaugural cohort from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. He is a retired collegiate athlete as he spent 1-year playing Baseball for his home state at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. He grew up on the Island of Lana'i and spent his first 18 years living the island life before moving to Grand Junction to attend CMU in 2016.

Frankie now lives in Grand Junction with his Girlfriend of 9 years and his 4-year-old Golden Retriever Hapa. He has grown so much and has developed an amazing bond and connection with staff and patients throughout his time here. He is determined and motivated to work with all of his families and kiddos to help each individual achieve their best self and obtain all goals! 

BROOKE HILLMAN, COTA

bROOKE GREW UP ON THE WESTERN SLOPE AND ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL IN PAONIA. sHE RECEIVED HER ASSOCIATES OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT KEISER UNIVERSITY IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. bROOKE BEGAN HER FIRST COTA JOB IN 2021 ON THE FRONT RANGE OF cOLORADO AS A PEDIATRIC HOME HEALTH THERAPIST. SHE MOVED BACK TO THE WESTERN SLOPE IN APRIL OF 2023 AND PLANS TO STAY IN THIS AREA INDEFINITLEY.

BROOKE HAS 3 LARGE DOGS; A GREAT DANE, CHOCLATE LAB AND BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG. sHE ENJOYS PAINTING, CRAFTS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND BEING OUTDOORS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND HER DOGS. SHE IS THRILLED TO COME BACK AND WORK IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO HER.

 

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