Serving Sun City Center, FL & South Shore area of Hillsborough County
We help stroke survivors move their arm better so life feels easier and they have energy for what matters most
Stroke recovery is hard and often confusing. You’ve already figured that out.
It’s likely you’ve spent time in the hospital and then in a rehab facility...And the therapy you received wasn’t enough to achieve the outcome you wanted. Whether you recently had your stroke or it happened years ago, you alone know the effort it takes to make progress. You’ve worked hard but it seems something is standing in the way.
Maybe you
Try using your affected arm and hand to button a shirt or hold your grandchild — and it’s heartbreaking when you can’t do it.
You’re not alone—many stroke survivors face the same struggles. We see how hard you work every day. With the right support, tools, and strategies, you can make real progress. And you won’t have to do it alone—we’ll be guiding you every step of the way.
Feel disconnected from your body and the environment
After a stroke, it’s common to feel disconnected from your body or uncertain in your surroundings. You’re not alone. Together, we’ll uncover your unique challenges and build a plan to help you reconnect with yourself, move with confidence, and live more fully.
Are stuck in your progress?
Some providers may tell you recovery has plateaued—but they’re wrong. The truth is, your brain can keep learning and changing. With the right approach, we’ll help you retrain your brain and keep moving forward on your recovery journey.
You are NOT alone and you’re NOT done healing.
At Creative Concepts in Occupational Therapy we believe Stroke Survivors can keep moving forward, even after discharge from rehab.
You don’t have to accept the status quo.
Here’s how we help:
MOVE YOUR ARM BETTER
Regain purposeful movement, strength, and fine motor control using brain-based strategies that promote neuroplasticity. All change begins in the brain.
Break the Cycle of Learned Non-Use: After a stroke, it’s common to unconsciously stop using the affected arm or hand—especially when you can't feel your arm or movement feels difficult and frustrating. But avoiding use can actually reinforce weakness and slow recovery.
We help you re-engage your affected side through guided, meaningful movement—so you can rebuild strength, confidence, and function, one step at a time.
RECONNECT WITH YOUR BODY
If stroke affected your perception, even basic movements can feel disorienting. We help retrain your brain to better recognize your affected side and surroundings to improve your body & spatial awareness.
Learn methods that rewire how your brain processes body sensations and help you feel connected to your body again.
These techniques can help reduce pain and discomfort common after stroke along with better awareness of your affected side - leading to more restful sleep, improved comfort, and greater ease in daily movements.
RETRAIN YOUR THINKING
Stroke survivors often report that their thinking feels “off” after a stroke. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place!
Maybe you misplace items, forget appointments, or find it harder to plan or make a meal.
Our unique Mind in Motion program helps strengthen memory, attention, and mental clarity — skills that support not just your recovery, but also your independence, confidence, and quality of life.
Most importantly, it helps you stay connected to what matters most.
Discover The Creative Concepts Difference
Where expert care meets compassion, collaboration and connection
Stroke recovery is hard but finding the right support shouldn’t be. You deserve a rehab approach that makes sense for you and your goals. You deserve a provider who sees YOU.
YOUR story…YOUR goals…YOUR concerns
Our services go beyond the basics. You've already been there.
Choosing a community partner isn't something you take lightly—and neither do we. We understand that pushing past limits requires someone who knows how to help and is ready to work with you.
We know this is an important decision. You want a partner who is understanding, compassionate, and confident in stroke recovery methods.
Here are the top 10 reasons our services stand out as the premier choice for stroke survivors striving for meaningful, lasting recovery.
1. Stroke Is Our Specialty. We don’t just dabble in stroke recovery—we specialize in it. That means the care you receive is focused, research-informed, and tailored to your unique needs.
2. Consistent, personalized care. You’ll always work with the same therapist, in your own home. This continuity allows us to truly get to know you, build trust, and create a plan around what matters most to you.
3. Sessions that meet you where you are. Sessions are personalized to your abilities, goals, and stage of recovery—whether you're working on fine motor control, reaching, grasping, or daily routines. We adapt with you as you grow.
4. In-Home Convenience. Skip the stress of travel and unfamiliar environments. All sessions happen in your home, where you can focus fully on healing.
5. Care Partners Are Part of the Team. We welcome your loved ones as part of the recovery process. Including them reinforces your progress, builds confidence, and creates opportunities for shared connection.
6. Real-Life Coaching for Care Partners. Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. Care partners play a vital role in survivor's success. We coach care partners to provide meaningful support between sessions—without burning out. When you move forward together, healing becomes a shared journey.
This kind of teamwork strengthens your recovery and deepens connection. Your care partner’s life changed, too—and when you’re working toward the same goal, it can become a powerful way to grow together.
7. Meaningful Tools, Not Busy Work. You won’t find generic handouts here. We provide purposeful therapy tools, progress trackers, and exclusive video content—all designed to support real, lasting recovery.
8. Progress That Builds on Itself. Our programs are scaffolded to match your growth. We use the “just-right challenge” to keep your brain engaged, adjusting strategies in real-time as your abilities evolve.
9. Repetition Drives Recovery. The science is clear: recovery takes reps. We use evidence-based techniques to build movement—even when it feels stalled—so your brain and body keep learning.
10. A Strengths-Based, Empowering Approach. You and your care team bring valuable strengths to the table. We build on them to create strategies that feel doable and empowering—so you can take ownership of your progress, one step at a time.
Meet Debra Battistella
Your stroke recovery specialist serving Sun City Center, FL & the South Shore area of Hillsborough County.
I know all too well the challenges stroke survivors and their loved ones face when searching for a provider who truly understands, knows how to address specific problems, and genuinely cares about real outcomes.
As an advocate for my own family members who needed very specific care, I discovered how severely our healthcare system falls short—especially in quality rehabilitation. Cookie-cutter, piecemeal approaches simply do not work. Yet, far too often, that’s exactly what people are offered.
’ll never forget speaking with so-called “specialists” who told me they did not work with occupational therapists—while still calling their approach “thorough.” I was stunned. Even more troubling, I learned long ago that many traditional therapy programs leave out interventions backed by solid scientific evidence. I discovered this more than 20 years ago… and even now, too many clinicians are still not using evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.
Navigating a broken system for my loved ones taught me one thing: if stroke survivors are going to recover to their fullest potential—doing the things that matter most to them—someone has to step up.
That’s why I created The Arm Recovery Method and launched Creative Concepts in Occupational Therapy—to bring compassionate, evidence-based care right into your community.
I invite you to schedule a free consultation below. Let’s talk about what matters most to you—and how we can get you there.
Stroke Related Diagnoses and Conditions We Treat with Customized Stroke Recovery Therapy
We specialize in helping stroke survivors recover from a variety of stroke-related conditions. Here’s how we can help:
MOBILITY CHALLENGES
Arm Weakness
Arm Paralysis
Fine Motor Movements
Dexterity
PERCEPTION PROBLEMS
Hemi-Inattention
Hemi-Neglect
Impaired Spatial Awareness
Impaired Body Awareness
PAIN
Post-Stroke Pain
Learned Non-Use
COGNITION
Memory Difficulties
Impaired Executive Function
Problem Solving & Judgment
Learned Non-Use
Post-Stroke Pain
What Happens If You Don’t Act?
Recovery doesn’t stand still.
Without the right support, survivors often experience
Increased stiffness or pain
More difficulty using the affected arm
Loss of motivation or confidence
Greater dependence on others