About
Why We're Building Powerful Kids
J. Mariah Runkle, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist, healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of Powerful Kids Therapy, with more than 14 years of experience in pediatric therapy.
The Founder's Story
Her career began with a passion for sensory integration and grew to include nearly a decade owning and leading a pediatric therapy practice in Colorado, followed by executive leadership across large, multi-site pediatric therapy organizations.
Through each stage of her career, Mariah saw the same truth repeatedly: meaningful pediatric care depends on more than what happens between a therapist and a child during an appointment.
Therapists need support, mentorship, and an environment where they can do their best work. Parents need to feel heard and respected as experts on their children. Children need care that recognizes their individual strengths while helping them build new skills and confidence.
Mariah co-founded Powerful Kids Therapy to create that kind of environment.
A place designed to support the therapist, the parent, and the child together, so meaningful progress can happen.
At the heart of her work is a simple purpose: creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow in confidence.
“The best outcomes happen when the child, the family, and the therapist all feel supported.”
The Practice We Believe Families and Therapists Deserve
We envision a pediatric therapy practice where clinical quality, family partnership, therapist development, and human connection reinforce one another.
A place where children are challenged and encouraged. Where parents feel heard. Where clinicians continue learning and growing. And where progress is measured not only in skills gained, but in greater confidence and participation in everyday life.
What We Value
Confidence
We help children build on success and recognize their own capabilities.
Partnership
The strongest care is built together with families.
Clinical Excellence
We value evidence-informed care, mentorship, continued learning, and thoughtful clinical decision-making.
Human Connection
Children, families, and therapists deserve to feel seen, respected, and supported.
Confident. Connected. Capable. Powerful.
These ideas sit at the heart of the Powerful Kids Therapy brand.
Our goal is not simply to help children complete tasks. It is to help them participate confidently in the world around them.
Building Powerful Kids From the Ground Up
- Powerful Kids Therapy is born — complete
- Building our clinical programs — complete
- Growing our founding team — upcoming
- Preparing our Central Phoenix location — upcoming
- Insurance credentialing — upcoming
- Opening our doors — upcoming
We want families, clinicians, and community partners to be part of the journey from the beginning.
Follow Our JourneyCommunity Partners
Let's Support Kids Together
We'd love to connect with pediatricians, healthcare providers, schools, early intervention professionals, and community organizations serving children and families throughout Central Phoenix.
Prefer to share your practice details directly? Submit your info via Google Form
Join Our Team — Help Build Powerful Kids Therapy
We're building a practice where clinicians are supported, families feel heard, and children grow with confidence. If you want to be part of our founding team, we'd love to hear from you.