Our History

The story of Flourishing Lives started in 1982, when Sandra Glovak decided the best way she could help children would be to start her own business. She strove to create an ideal environment for occupational therapy and created Sensory Systems Clinic. Sandy was passionate in making sure there was extensive training for the staff, research of the most appropriate evaluation tools, expanding relationship based approaches, and used evidence based protocols correctly. The team at Sensory Systems Clinic have helped thousands of people of all ages, and from all walks of life, giving them the opportunity to live happier, more fulfilled lives.

Gwen Claussen brought her young son to SSC in 2012. She was amazed at the dramatic, positive change in him after he began receiving treatment. And as it turned out, Sandy needed a little help, too. In 2014, Gwen joined the team to help with business administration and management. Over the years, she had proven to be an invaluable asset by allowing Sandy to put her main focus on what she loved, treating patients and training her therapists, while Gwen managed the business. Together, with their incredible staff, they built an even more successful clinic.

As Sandy decided to plan for retirement, the time had come for her to pass her legacy on to someone she could trust to maintain the integrity of SSC. Gwen was the obvious choice. In 2021, Sandy passed the torch to Gwen and the team at Sensory Systems as they became Flourishing Lives. As always, you can continue to expect the same passion and dynamic approaches to helping you and the ones you love achieve their goals and, of course, flourish.

We may have a new name, but the passion we hold for what we do and our overall mission to help families through Occupational Therapy has remained the same. Curious about our staff? Check us out below!

The Therapy Team

Sheena Patel, MOTR/L

Sheena's journey at Flourishing Lives started in 2009 as a volunteer. She attended Michigan State university for her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences followed by graduate school at Baker College with a degree in Occupational Therapy. Sheena specializes in Trauma, Attachment, Therapist Training, and Research. She has extensive training in Sensory Integration, Interactive Metronome, Cranial Sacral Therapy, DIR/Floortime/Play Project, How Does Your Engine Run, and is SIPT Certified.

Sheena enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures which has led her to explore 12 counties and counting! She loves going on physical adventures with her two dogs, a well as culinary adventures in the kitchen. Sheena's enthusiasm for pediatrics directly sterns from the child's ability to have no limits and thus infinite possibilities for growth. It is their passion that drives exploration and teaches us how to appreciate life.

Taylor Callen, MS, OTR/L

Taylor is the Clinical Manager and has worked for Taylor is a Laker Alum, earning her Bachelor's of Science at Grand Valley State University and two National Championship titles for women's soccer. She earned her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Husson University in Maine. Taylor was a traveling OT prior to starting her position with us working in CA and OR. She has taken continuing education courses in Sensory Integration, attachment, and is certified in Interactive Metronome. Taylor loves traveling, spending time with her family and dog, Kona, and going to Michigan football games. GO BLUE!

Taylor loves working & supporting children and their families. She enjoys celebrating their progress & watching their confidence grow each day.

Cara Clark, MOTR/L

Cara has been working at Flourishing Lives since 2014 as a therapist, and 2013 as part of the administration team while she was still in school. She went to Michigan State University for undergraduate and Wayne State University for graduate school.

Cara is one of our Lead Therapists as well as a specialist in feeding and student training.

Cara is a native to Michigan with a secondary home in Florida. She is a former dance instructor, teaching a wide range of students at a recreational level, competition level, and special needs classes. She has a loving husband and they have two wonderful dogs that they love to spoil. Cara loves to read, write. and be creative with painting and makeup. She also enjoys and baking, when she creates She loves to travel and learn new things. Cara loves music and dancing as well as to curl up on the couch with her dogs to watch a movie. She is also a huge Disney fan. What Cara loves rnost about working with children is their creative minds and seeing that come to life during her sessions.

Lindsey Boks, MS,OTR/L

Lindsay started working for Flourishing Lives while it was called Sensory Systems Clinic in 2013. She attended Western Michigan University for both her Bachelor and Masters Degrees. Lindsay specializes in Manual Therapy, having taken several cot •rses in Craniosacral Therapy. including techniques to the rnouth and facial structures and SomatoEmotional Release@.

Lindsay is married, has two children, and a dog. She loves spending time with her family, travelling, cooking, exploring nature, and playing sports and board games. Lindsay loves working with children because they have the greatest ideas and imagination, and you can really learn a lot from them.

Kim Dekoski, MOTR/L

Kim started with Flourishing Lives in January of 2021. She graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy frorn Baker college in 2012. Her specialties include Neuro, feeding, and vision.

Kim has worked with children her whole career with additional experience in inpatient rehab and neuro- intensive outpatient. She loves learning and advancing in her field with the latest goal working towards a vision rehabilitation certification. Fun fact! Kim grew up on a dairy farm. In her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and her 10 year old English cream retriever who loves walks.

What she loves most about working with kids is seeing their creativity and the significant positive changes they make within each treatment round of 30 visits!

Kayla Drewas, MS, OTR/L

Kayla started working for Flourishing Lives in 2021. She went to Macomb Community College completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Undergraduate Program in 2017. She then decided to pursue a Graduate degree at Saginaw Valley State University completing the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program in 2020.

Kayla is a lifelong Michigander. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and watching football. Go Lions! She loves to head up north, to go on bike rides, & searching for Petoskey stones. She also has a soft spot for chocolate chip cookies & Moose Tracks ice cream. She loves reading, bowling, and cooking. She's always down to learn a new Cræk-Pot recipe!

Working with kids always keeps her on her toes and a smile on her face.

Amanda Schatzberg, MS, OTR/L

Amanda started working at Flourishing Lives in February of 2022 She went to school at Baker College of Flint: Center for Graduate Studies She enjoys being out in nature and being around animals. Her interests are; canæing, hiking, exercising, bird watching, traveling, and getting together with family and friends. Amanda enjoys dry brush style painting as a hobby.

Amanda likes working with children she likes teaching children to learn new skills and become more confident in all aspects of their life.

Jillian , MS, OTR/L

Jillian started working at Flourishing Live in June 2022. She graduated in 2020 with an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associates of Applied Science Degree from Macomb Community College.

Jillian currently specializes in Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reflex Integration and Sensory Integration Therapy. In addition to treating patients Jillian is the community outreach coordinator. She is active in the community working to educate schools and local organizations to provide the support our kiddos need.

Jillian has been a Saint Clair Shores resident for 10 years, she is married, has 3 daughters and enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. What Jillian loves most about working with kids is the excitement from our patients and their families when they accomplish their goals.

Janice Chandler, COTA/L

Janice has been with Flourishing Lives since May 2022.

She graduated from Macomb Community College and specializes in Sensory Integration as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Janice would like to develop more skills in feeding therapy, attachment therapy, and Craniosacral therapy.
A fun fact about Janice is that she comes from a large family. Janice has 8 siblings that all love to spend time together. She loves to read books, spend time with her family, and workout at the gym.

Janice has been working with kids since she can remember. She loves to see the smile she can put on a child's face when they have accomplished something so small, but to them it is their greatest achievement in that moment!