Little Warriors Therapy Center helps children find their voice and confidence through personalized therapy. “We focus on connection first and skills follow,” said founder Colleen Tierney, emphasizing family partnership in every session and child-centered care.
Colleen began her journey in 2020 after working in public schools for 30 years. She started a small private practice called Speech Warrior, visiting families after school. “I actually really enjoyed working with families more than my work in the schools,” Colleen said. She realized her child-centered, collaborative approach produced stronger results when caregivers were partners in therapy.
In 2022, Colleen left the school system and committed full-time to her practice. By 2025, she expanded and rebranded the center as Little Warriors Therapy Center. “Our goal is to grow and offer more services for families,” she said. The center now provides multiple disciplines designed to support children holistically.
Speech therapy addresses articulation, expressive and receptive language, and social communication. The team also supports children with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) through speech-generating devices. Feeding and oral-motor therapy help children with chewing, swallowing, and mouth strength, while myofunctional therapy targets oral structures. Occupational therapy develops fine-motor skills and supports sensory regulation. Therapists coordinate so that skills learned in one session reinforce other areas, creating a fully integrated approach.
“We meet children where they are,” Colleen said. “Everything we do is collaborative and family-centered.” Families receive coaching and strategies to continue therapy at home, allowing skills to grow beyond the center. This emphasis on real-life outcomes sets Little Warriors apart in a crowded healthcare landscape.
Colleen said the most meaningful moments come from watching children gain confidence. She recalled a young girl with childhood apraxia of speech who was two years old when she arrived. “She was very shut down and frustrated,” Colleen said. “She did not want to communicate.” Through careful relationship-building and collaboration with her mother, the child learned to use a speech-generating device, giving her a reliable way to express herself. Over time she became comfortable participating in sessions. “She now walks in happily and trusts the process. She is not afraid to communicate anymore,” Colleen said.
Each child’s therapy plan is individualized. Assessments collect extensive background information and involve collaboration with schools and outside providers. “We tailor programming, goals, and objectives based on the child’s profile,” Colleen said. The center uses evidence-based practices to guide development across multiple domains, ensuring therapy addresses both current needs and future growth.
Little Warriors offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, AAC, and myofunctional therapy in a fully integrated approach. Therapists coordinate so that skills learned in one session support other areas. Occupational therapy strengthens fine-motor skills and sensory regulation. Feeding therapy ensures children develop healthy oral-motor patterns. Speech therapy improves communication, while AAC devices help children who cannot yet speak clearly. Myofunctional therapy addresses oral structures to support both speech and feeding.
Colleen said family involvement is essential. “If I spend an hour a week with your child and give you strategies for the other hours, children make much greater gains,” she said. The team coaches parents on how to implement skills at home, creating continuity between therapy sessions and everyday life.
The center also embraces neurodiversity-affirming, play-based approaches. Clinicians connect first and let trust lead to progress. “Every child is a warrior, and we are honored to be part of their journey,” Colleen said. Little Warriors aims to make families feel empowered. Colleen compared the process to trusting a specialist. “Parents may not know the specifics of what is going on, but with guidance, they can understand the plan and support their child at home,” she said. Families leave with tools and confidence that allow therapy to continue outside the center.
Looking ahead, Colleen plans to expand support into additional developmental areas. While she has not finalized future programs, she said, “My goal is to grow into more of a center with other professionals supporting children.” The philosophy will remain the same: connection, family partnership, and real-life outcomes.
The center also seeks therapists who share this mission. Colleen said, “We are always looking for people who resonate with our care philosophy and want to help children thrive.” Little Warriors continues to provide child-centered care across multiple disciplines while nurturing partnerships with families, ensuring every child has the support to grow physically, socially, and emotionally.
For professionals who share a passion for child-centered, family-partnered therapy, Little Warriors invites you to join their team. Interested candidates can learn more about current openings and submit applications through the center’s website at littlewarriorstherapy.org.
“Every child is a warrior, and we are honored to be part of their journey.” - Colleen Tierney
“My goal is to grow into more of a center with other professionals supporting children. We are always looking for people who resonate with our care philosophy and want to help children thrive.” - Colleen Tierney