Blossoming Skills Reading Therapy: How One Mother Built a Better Way to Teach Reading

When Jacob Learned to Read: A New Path for Struggling Readers

NATIONWIDE - AUGUST 2025 - (USAnews.com) — Jacob was nine and struggling to read at a kindergarten level. Diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, and a speech delay, his school had formally warned his mother that fluency was unlikely. But after six months of personalized reading therapy with Catherine Mitchell, Jacob had advanced four grade levels and was reading chapter books on his own.

This kind of progress isn't the exception at Blossoming Skills Reading Therapy. It’s what happens when instruction meets the way a child’s brain naturally learns.

How Blossoming Skills Began: A Mother’s Insight and a Teacher’s Frustration

Catherine Mitchell founded Blossoming Skills Reading Therapy after years working as a special education teacher. Like many educators, she had used standard interventions—phonics drills, sight word memorization, and structured reading programs—but saw how often they fell short.

Students with dyslexia, ADHD, and processing challenges were still struggling. Even with support, many plateaued or grew discouraged.

As a mother of three, two of whom overcame dyslexia, Catherine saw the limitations of these systems not just in the classroom but at home. She recognized the root issue: most reading programs are built for how adults process language, not how children learn it.

That realization became the foundation of her work.

Why Traditional Methods Often Miss the Mark

Many mainstream reading programs rely heavily on memorization and rule-based instruction. These systems appeal to adult logic but can overwhelm a developing brain.

Children may decode known words but struggle with new vocabulary, fluency, or comprehension. The result is often a loss of confidence, motivation, and trust in the learning process.

Catherine took a different approach. She developed a reading therapy model grounded in cognitive science and child development, where instruction is tailored to how each brain processes language. The focus is not on rigid steps, but on connection, engagement, and sustained progress.

A Therapy Model Built Around the Child

At Blossoming Skills, no two lessons are alike. Each session is designed around the child’s learning profile, interests, and needs. Whether it’s space exploration, animals, or video games, Catherine integrates each child’s passions to build engagement.

This child-centered model does more than make learning enjoyable. It supports faster progress by reducing frustration and maximizing comprehension. Students who’ve made little improvement through standard programs often see measurable gains within months.

But Catherine’s work doesn’t stop in the therapy room. A key component of her model involves equipping families with tools and strategies to continue the learning process at home.

The Role of the Parent: Education Through Partnership

One of the most defining features of Blossoming Skills is its emphasis on parent involvement. Catherine believes that effective reading therapy must extend beyond the weekly session and into the child’s daily environment.

She provides families with clear, customized home programs to reinforce therapy goals. These tools help parents feel empowered to support their child’s progress, even if they’ve felt overwhelmed in the past.

“When parents are part of the process, the progress is not only faster—it lasts,” Catherine explains. “They become partners in their child’s learning journey, and that changes everything.”

Measurable Gains, Meaningful Change

The results speak for themselves. In case after case, students who have struggled for years begin to thrive with consistent, individualized support.

• One student advanced three grade levels in four months after making minimal progress in group intervention programs.

• Another, who once avoided reading altogether, now finishes books independently and asks for more.

• Parents consistently report not only academic improvement, but growing confidence and reduced stress in their children.

While the success stories vary, the structure remains the same: personalized instruction, parental involvement, and a deep understanding of how the brain learns to read.

A Clear Difference in Philosophy and Practice

What sets Blossoming Skills apart is not just the outcome—it’s the process. Catherine’s method is frustration-free because it aligns with how the brain naturally acquires language. It avoids unnecessary complexity and focuses on small, meaningful wins that build toward sustained fluency.

This model is particularly effective for children with learning differences who may have been overlooked or underserved by other systems.

As Catherine puts it: “We teach reading to the child’s brain, not the adult’s logic. That’s the difference.”

For Families Seeking Answers, There Is a Path Forward

Blossoming Skills Reading Therapy offers an evidence-based alternative for families whose children are struggling with reading. It is personalized, research-informed, and emotionally supportive—designed to meet children where they are and guide them where they need to go.

If your child is struggling with reading and traditional programs haven’t worked, consider exploring a method that puts your child’s brain—and your family’s experience—at the center of the solution.

Learn More: Website: blossomingskillsreadingtherapy.net
Facebook: Catherine Mitchell
Google Reviews: Blossoming Skills Reading Therapy