Creative Therapy Consultants

Creative Therapy Consultants Committed to furthering the knowledge, expertise and skill of neonatal healthcare providers worldwide

Our well known Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification (NTMC) is an advanced certification for Neonatal RNs, OTs PTs, & SLPs and our Neonatal On-Line Education (NOLE) is for all neonatal caregivers to become more neuroprotective, developmental, and family- integrated in their daily caregiving.

It's OT Month and we're CELEBRATING! 🎉Did you know that rates of postpartum depression in the general population are 10–...
04/03/2026

It's OT Month and we're CELEBRATING! 🎉

Did you know that rates of postpartum depression in the general population are 10–15%?

In NICU moms, that number jumps to nearly 40%. But OTs in the NICU are doing something about it.

Congrats to our NTMC family member Rachel Carpenter, OTD, OTR, CNT, NTMTC, whose newly published research explores exactly how OTs can reduce PPD risk factors for moms in the NICU.

As OTs (and all clinicians), how we show up for moms at the bedside matters:
👁️ Learn to read baby's cues — then TEACH mom
🤲 Advocate for early skin-to-skin
👂 Listen without rushing
💜 See HER, not just the baby

Be sure to check out her article, here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-025-04214-3

It’s OT Month and we’re CELEBRATING! 🎉Did you know that rates of postpartum depression in the general population are 10–...
04/02/2026

It’s OT Month and we’re CELEBRATING! 🎉

Did you know that rates of postpartum depression in the general population are 10–15%?

In NICU moms, that number jumps to nearly 40%. But OTs in the NICU are doing something about it.

Congrats to our NTMC family member Rachel Carpenter, OTD, OTR, CNT, NTMTC, whose newly published research explores exactly how OTs can reduce PPD risk factors for moms in the NICU.

As OTs (and all clinicians), how we show up for moms at the bedside matters:
👁️ Learn to read baby’s cues — then TEACH mom
🤲 Advocate for early skin-to-skin
👂 Listen without rushing
💜 See HER, not just the baby

Be sure to check out her article, here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-025-04214-3

04/02/2026

April is HIE Awareness Month 💜

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) occurs when a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen and blood flow — often around the time of birth.
Did you know:
🔹 HIE affects 2–3 per 1,000 live births in the US
🔹 It’s the leading cause of neonatal seizures
🔹 Early intervention — including nurturing touch and developmental care — can meaningfully shape outcomes

As NICU nurses and therapists, YOU are on the front lines of HIE care.

This month, we’re honoring the babies, the families, and the clinicians who show up for them every single day.

Drop a 🧊 below if you care for HIE babies in your NICU.

A recently published RCT examined the impact of kangaroo care (KC) on infants' pain and stress during ROP exams.Compared...
03/30/2026

A recently published RCT examined the impact of kangaroo care (KC) on infants' pain and stress during ROP exams.

Compared with controls, infants in the KC group had significantly lower Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores during the procedure and lower salivary cortisol levels 1 hour after the examination.

Use the link below to review the article.
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494755/

Reference:
Huang HB, Xue Y, Liang Y, Wan XQ, Wu J, Zhang QS, Cheung PY. Effects of Kangaroo care during retinopathy screening examination: a randomised clinical trial. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2026 Jan 6;10(1):e003961. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2025-003961. PMID: 41494755; PMCID: PMC12778260.

Skin to skin during ROP exams is like the master level of holding during procedures! But, it can be done!Start small - C...
03/26/2026

Skin to skin during ROP exams is like the master level of holding during procedures! But, it can be done!

Start small - Consider encouraging cares during skin to skin holding in your unit: a temp, diaper change, checking NG placement.

This allows parents to hold their baby longer, promotes maintenance of sleep states, and can be a great precursor to later initiatives for skin to skin holding during procedures Start where you are.

Small steps make lasting impacts.

Use the link below to review the article.
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494755/

Reference:
Huang HB, Xue Y, Liang Y, Wan XQ, Wu J, Zhang QS, Cheung PY. Effects of Kangaroo care during retinopathy screening examination: a randomised clinical trial. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2026 Jan 6;10(1):e003961. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2025-003961. PMID: 41494755; PMCID: PMC12778260.

03/25/2026

We had so much fun at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital in Pennsylvania this past weekend! Congratulations to the 45 newest NTMNC and NTMTC professionals.

We loved spending the time learning about Neuroprotective, Developmental, Family-Integrated Care with this team and we know they are going to do great things in their unit!

Looking to join the NTCM Family? Check out our upcoming Virtual and In-Person courses for 2026!

Click the link below to apply and secure your spot today!
👉 https://www.neonatalcertification.com/locations/

03/24/2026

🚨Pressure matters.

Not all massage creates the same outcomes — and not all touch is therapeutic.
Massage has been practiced across cultures for generations.
But in the NICU, how we provide nurturing touch matters just as much as that we provide it.

A recent study from Thailand, where massage is tradition, not trendy, reinforces what evidence-based neonatal care has shown for years:
👉 Moderate-pressure neonatal massage makes a difference for infants born preterm.

Moderate-pressure massage is firm but gentle.
This level of pressure stimulates pressure receptors, increases vagal activity, and helps shift infants into a more regulated, parasympathetic state.

This is the foundation of Listening Touch Massage, taught in the Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification (NTMC) — where clinicians learn how to provide this care and teach parents to do it safely.

✨ Registration for 2026 NTMC courses is now open
Type APPLY in the comments or tap the link in bio to learn more.

03/24/2026

Congratulations to our 8 new NTMNC and 36 new NTMTC professionals. We loved spending the end of our week with you all on Zoom! Cannot wait to hear about all the amazing changes you make with your new NTMC skills. 💜

Looking to become an expert in Neuroprotective, Developmental, Family-Integrated Care with an emphasis on positive touch and neonatal massage?

Be sure to check out our upcoming virtual and in-person courses for 2026!

Type APPLY in the comments, and we’ll send you a link to all our dates and options.

We hope to meet YOU soon!

Supine in the crib isn’t the only position for ROP exams in the NICU…supine on a parent’s chest can be a great option to...
03/24/2026

Supine in the crib isn’t the only position for ROP exams in the NICU…supine on a parent’s chest can be a great option too! Leading to more skin-to-skin time and less stress for the baby!

Use the link below to review the article.
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494755/

Reference:
Huang HB, Xue Y, Liang Y, Wan XQ, Wu J, Zhang QS, Cheung PY. Effects of Kangaroo care during retinopathy screening examination: a randomised clinical trial. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2026 Jan 6;10(1):e003961. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2025-003961. PMID: 41494755; PMCID: PMC12778260.

Would you like to host a Neontal Touch & Massage Certification course in your city?This week, we are heading to Lehigh V...
03/20/2026

Would you like to host a Neontal Touch & Massage Certification course in your city?

This week, we are heading to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital in Pennsylvania for a private NTMC!

We can't wait to meet the nurses and therapists committed to becoming experts in Neuroprotective, Developmental, Family-Integrated Care with an emphasis on positive touch and neonatal massage!

If you are interested in learning more about hosting at your hospital, let's talk!

Click the link below to learn more about hosting NTMC at your hospital today!
👉 https://www.neonatalcertification.com/neonatal-touch-massage-certification-hosting-information-sheet-2/

03/18/2026

Congratulations to our 8 new NTMNC and 36 new NTMTC professionals. We loved spending the end of our week with you all on Zoom! Cannot wait to hear about all the amazing changes you make with your new NTMC skills. 💜

Looking to become an expert in Neuroprotective, Developmental, Family-Integrated Care with an emphasis on positive touch and neonatal massage?

Be sure to check out our upcoming virtual and in-person courses for 2026!

Click the link below to apply and secure your spot today!
👉 https://www.neonatalcertification.com/locations/

We hope to meet YOU soon!

Address

Las Vegas, NV

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18552826862

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Creative Therapy Consultants posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Creative Therapy Consultants:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our Story

Creative Therapy Consultants provides products and services designed to enhance the neonatal healthcare provider's knowledge, skill, and expertise in their daily caregiving. Our DVDs on neonatal massage, swaddled bathing, and skin to skin are available for both parents and NICU staff, and our Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification is for Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and Nurses.