A pediatric therapy practice specializing in feeding challenges and speech development will celebrate its new Lutz location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Aug. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at 18926 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Suite 102.

Thriving Joy Pediatric Therapy, owned by Jaime Perez, serves children from birth through elementary age with lactation counseling, infant feeding evaluation, picky eating and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder treatment, speech and language therapy, and parent coaching. The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event, according to the chamber's Instagram page.

Perez is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, certified lactation counselor, and certified neonatal therapist who holds a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders from Loyola University of Maryland. She spent more than a decade working in neonatal intensive care units, pediatric hospitals, and outpatient clinics before launching her private practice.

Her motivation was personal. In her website biography, Perez writes: "My shift to private practice stemmed from a personal struggle with breastfeeding and the universal challenges of parenthood."

Thriving Joy is a small, specialized practice serving families across Pasco and Hillsborough counties. In addition to office visits, the practice provides therapy at clients' homes, preschools, and daycares. Stephanie Poe, a speech-language pathologist with more than 12 years of pediatric experience, also works at the practice.

The Lutz office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thriving Joy also operates a second location inside Eden Chiropractic at 29141 Chapel Park Dr. in Wesley Chapel, open Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children birth to age 2.

The practice is accepting new clients and offers a free initial phone consultation. Families can reach Thriving Joy at (813) 563-8699 or [email protected].