What Is the TheraSuit Method and How Does It Help Children Build Motor Skills?

MetroEHS therapist being interviewed about TheraSuit physical therapy

History of TheraSuit

Richard and Izabela Koscielny are physical therapists, who have a daughter diagnosed with cerebral palsy and tried out suit therapy with her. After significant improvements with the suit, they modified and created their own suit specialized for therapeutic benefits, called TheraSuit™.

How Does TheraSuit Work?

  • TheraSuit worn over a prolonged time will correct proprioception and accelerate progress with functional strengthening
  • Skills practiced become more fluent when TheraSuit is worn
  • TheraSuit facilitates the development of new gross and fine motor skills faster than typical therapy approaches

Benefits Seen with TheraSuit

  • Retraining the central nervous system
  • Restores ontogenetic development
  • Provides external stabilization
  • Normalizes muscle tone
  • Aligns the body to as close to “normal” as possible
  • Provides dynamic correction
  • Normalizes gait patterns
  • Provides tactile stimulation
  • Influences the vestibular system
  • Improves balance
  • Improves coordination
  • Supports weak muscles
  • Decreases uncontrolled movements in ataxia and athetosis
  • Improves body and spatial awareness
  • Provides resistance to muscles to further enhance strengthening
  • Improves speech production and fluency through head control and trunk support
  • Promotes gross and fine motor development
  • Helps decrease contractures
  • Helps improve hip alignment through vertical loading
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Patient Populations

  • Most major neurological diseases/diagnoses:
    • Autism
    • Down Syndrome
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Cerebral Vascular Acciden
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Posture/alignment asymmetries
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Intensive Physical Therapy Schedule

  • Intensive physical therapy is meant to be done 3 hours/day, for 5 days/week for 3-5 weeks
  • Recommended to complete 3-4 intensive bouts of therapy throughout the year
  • Breaks between the bouts have been shown to be more beneficial for the patient vs continuously pushing for months on end
  • Recommended to complete HEP 1-hour/day to compliment exercises done in intensive, allowing the patient to not only maintain, but improve their functional abilities
  • The schedule of 4  weeks was created specifically in order to change the neuro-pathways, and allow for increased improvements

In General

  • Week 1 works on correct muscle activation and beginning to complete basic concentric exercises
  • Week 2 works on solidifying concentric movements and working into eccentric movements
  • Week 3 solidifies the eccentric movements and introduces isometric holds
  • Week 4 focuses all on isometric holds, working into more complex exercises, as well as creating POC and HEP for time off between bouts of intensive

Work to decrease primitive reflexes and general movements that are present → goal-directed movements → selective effective strategies → refining skills → maintaining through practice

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June 23, 2023

Registered Behavior Technician FAQs

Q: What is the RBT certification?

A: RBT certification is a paraprofessional certificate that is in the behavioral analyst field, and you work under the BCBA or BCABA treating and providing services to our kids.

Q: What are the requirements?

A: What it takes to become an RBT here at MetroEHS is you must be 18 years old, a high school diploma, you need the 40 hours of training, and then take a competency test with the supervisor, and then you apply at the BACB website, and take a test, and become an RBT.

Q: What does the training consist of?

A: The RBT training consists of like an interactive and comprehensive 40-hour training that you work in a small group or one on one with other technicians or your BCBA. You’re out in the clinic, hanging out with the kids, learning and watching how they run programs. That could be at the table time or out in natural environment and once you understand the new words in the ABA field, you take your competency test and take the test at the website.

Q: What is the competency test?

A: The competency test is when the supervisor comes out the clinic with you and they watch how you run programs, they interview you, ask questions about the terminology and it’s pretty much just one on one time or you and the supervisor and your client to make sure you understand the terminology and what you’re actually doing and it’s highly encouraged to actually take your RBT test within 90 days of your 40 hour training. It is free of charge. You take the test at the BACB website.

Apply now!

Q: How do I maintain my credentials?

A: To maintain my credentials as an RBT here at MetroEHS, I track all my supervision hours, and I retake my competency test at the year mark or year anniversary of my RBT testing date.

Q: What are the benefits if earning an RBT certification?

A: MetroEHS offers two benefits for becoming an RBT. One is a raise and two, once you become an RBT, you have more opportunities to move up the ladder and become admin or fun stuff.

September 26, 2025

Why Does Play-Based Therapy Work? 3 Reasons It Helps Children Thrive

How Play Unlocks Potential

Play isn’t just fun; it’s how kids learn best. It gives them the freedom to explore their abilities while feeling safe and supported. Imagine a young hero practicing teamwork by pretending to save the world with their peers or strengthening fine motor skills while building a block tower taller than a skyscraper. These playful missions help kids grow in ways that traditional methods simply can’t.

The BIG THREE Additions to Heroes’ tool belts.

  1. Improved Social Powers: Group games teach kids how to share, collaborate, and communicate—turning them into master team players.
  2. Problem-Solving Super Skills: Puzzles and pretend play help young heroes learn to think critically and creatively.
  3. Emotional Resilience: Role-playing scenarios give kids the tools to navigate their feelings and build confidence.

The Power of Play

In the world of superheroes, a child’s business is play. Through play-based therapy, skilled therapists use games, toys, and imaginative scenarios to help kids develop essential skills. Whether it’s building social connections, improving motor abilities, or boosting communication skills, every playful moment is designed with purpose—turning fun into progress.

For children, play is more than just a pastime; it’s the key to unlocking their unique powers. At MetroEHS, play-based therapy ensures every child has the chance to soar, grow, and shine—because every superhero deserves to feel unstoppable.

February 23, 2023

METROstaffing In Detroit

Let us reinvent your workforce for the better. Expect to receive effective and reliable staffing solutions from us.

Positive Relationships

Because METROstaffing is therapist-owned and operated, we know how important your needs are. We will handle finding and retaining your therapist and supporting them clinically so you are free to focus on running your facility!

By working with METROstaffing, we take care of everything and immediately begin to reduce your costs at the outset of our relationship.

Your facility will no longer bear the concerns and overhead for items such as pensions, disability insurance, healthcare, and administrative costs. Our experience shows an average savings of 8–10%, in payroll alone for each full-time employee.

We provide maternity, medical leave, and FMLA coverage for all of your related service needs: Speech, OT, PT, Psych & Special Ed Teachers.

We provide therapists for part and full time and can also cover both short and long term placements. We also offer Tele-Therapy services that can be used as a bridge until a ‘live’ therapist is procured; to keep students in IEP compliance and prohibit litigation possibilities.

Building A Better Business

We have developed a highly successful model that enables facilities and therapists to work together in ways that benefit both parties. Granting job satisfaction for the therapist translates into the longevity of your facility.

We provide therapists for part and full time and can also cover both short and long term placements.

From our web-based billing and payroll system to our clinical support team, we support our therapists completely so your time and effort can be directed to other areas of your business.

Innovative Remote Services

METROstaffing offers unique Tele-Practice Therapy services for rural, remote, and underserved communities, as well as to culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Through the application of telecommunication technologies, we can provide therapy services at a distance.

If your facility falls into one of these categories or if you would like more information on this great service, call us today! We would love to answer your questions about our other services such as teletherapy and pediatric therapy in Metropolitan Detroit.