Life & Work with Jennie Bjorem

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennie Bjorem.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started as a school-based speech-language pathologist in Missouri and decided to start my own business doing Missouri First Steps and Johnson County Infant Toddler Services early intervention and in 2002 Children’s Therapy Services, Inc. was born. I hired speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and special education teachers to provide services under CTS. Therapy was provided in-home to children while educating families. As the early intervention programs changed how they hired therapists and provided services, the model for CTS also had to change. In 2013, I switched gears, re-invented CTS and opened a small private clinic in Overland Park. We began with one private client and have grown to our large clinic we built in April of 2017, and now provide over 350 therapy sessions per week. In 19 years of business CTS therapists have helped thousands of children in the Kansas City Metro Area.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
NO! It was hard and awful at times. Running a private practice is not all fun and games, it is dig in, long hours, hard work for little money. But, with the bad times come the good and all the children we have helped over the years made the painful months and years worth it. CTS is doing great and I think we have most of the bumps and bruises figured out. Having the right people in place and good team chemistry has been key.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a speech-language pathologist and I specialize in childhood apraxia of speech. While practicing at CTS, I had the opportunity to take on clients with apraxia and took that direction of specialization. Apraxia is not readily understood in the field of speech pathology or by the general population. Being a specialist means that many people seek my services locally, out of state, and internationally. During my specialization of apraxia, I started Bjorem Speech® Publications, a speech therapy publication company with a goal of creating functional, diverse, and inclusive materials for therapists and children. I have used my Instagram @bjoremspeech to educate therapists and families on childhood apraxia of speech and Bjorem Speech® products, which has been very successful. I now spend my time presenting on the topic of CAS, doing a little bit of therapy as well as intensives in Colorado and Istanbul, Turkey. I have been invited to start a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs at BAU in Istanbul, Turkey and have created a team to do so. What sets me apart is my fearless drive and non-existent fear of failing. I am most proud of my skill set to help children and families across the globe and provide materials that represent all children, all colors, all genders, and all abilities.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I created CTS in 2002 and in 2020, I moved to Colorado to continue to grow the speech publication business. I still own CTS in Overland Park, KS and the team there is TOP NOTCH. I am enjoying life in the mountains.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.childrenstherapycts.com
• Instagram: @bjoremspeech
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/childrenstx
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/bjoremspeech