Mind and Body Health

A Q&A with Scott Staszak of Game Changer Therapy Services

Scott Staszak, owner and operator of the four Game Changer Therapy Services clinics in the Great Lakes Bay Region, spoke with us about his work in the community and how he has modified services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Why did you choose your field?

Occupational therapy and, ultimately, outpatient therapy provide multiple opportunities to not only impact individuals’ lives but our local communities by providing skilled therapy services to our clients. Game Changer Therapy works specifically with children up to age 21. I chose pediatric and young adult-based outpatient services as my fields of focus because it was a service of need in our local community that was not being met with current providers.

What inspires you most to keep up the hard work?

It is the children we treat and work with that makes each day worth it. We can see and treat hundreds of kids per week with our services of occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and ABA therapy. These children are having fun in the process. Being able to work on multiple needs areas identified with each client can be anxiety-provoking and nonpreferred for children and teens.

How have you had to pivot during COVID-19?

When COVID hit in March of this year, we had to make several initial changes that have turned into standard policy and procedure for our therapy staff. We have access to possible teletherapy-based services, which is all of our service options offered via a HIPPA-compliant video and audio platform. All clinics screen all therapy staff and clients prior to the session start, including temperature checks. We have social distance protocols in clinic as well as room capacities for our large therapy gyms and assigned treatment space for all clients. All our therapy clinics exercise mandatory mask wearing for all staff, cleaning protocols with all toys and treatment equipment, and standard workplace disinfecting times and use procedures.

In what ways do you give back to your community?

Game Changer Therapy Services is committed to community improvements and involvement. We have taken a focus on community improvements that directly impact our clients and families. We have sponsored and donated to several nonprofits such as the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, Michigan Sports Unlimited, Just for Kids and local public school organizations. We have also been involved in several events associated with the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. We provide winter clothing to children in need through coat drives, as well as food pantry assistance to families.

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

Game Changer Therapy Services is a locally owned organization by me and my wife, Kellie Staszak, two long-term Bay County residents. We have a busy day-to-day life with three children: Easton, 7; and Scarlett and Cecelia, identical twins who are 6. On top of our crazy home life, we run and manage Game Changer Therapy Services, which was founded in 2016. Since then we have grown from one discipline, occupational, and one employee, me, to multiple disciplines and 89 employees and four clinics across Bay and Saginaw counties. It is my passion for making therapy services fun and functional for kids who come to Game Changer. That’s what makes kids want to come back and, ultimately, make progress in therapy sessions. When a therapist incorporates client preference and activity choice into sessions, we capitalize on motivation that, in turn, increases attention and participation during session and ends with maximum therapy gain/goal attainment.