Meet Brita DeStefano | Infant Physical Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brita DeStefano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brita, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business came from a deep desire to provide care that truly supports both babies and their families in a holistic, individualized way. In traditional settings, I often felt limited by time constraints and protocols that didn’t allow me to fully address the root causes of a baby’s challenges—whether it was feeding, motor development, or tension patterns. I wanted to create a space where families felt seen, heard, and empowered. My goal was to blend evidence-based physical therapy with a whole-body, holistic approach that honors the unique journey of each baby and caregiver. Starting my own practice gave me the freedom to do that—to slow down, build trust, and focus on progress through play and connection.

What should our readers know about your business?
Progress Through Play is a pediatric physical therapy practice rooted in the belief that a baby’s development is about so much more than hitting milestones—it’s about connection, regulation, and whole-body wellness. I specialize in supporting infants with feeding challenges, oral ties, torticollis, flat head shapes, tummy time struggles and motor delays, using a gentle, individualized approach that honors the baby’s nervous system and the caregiver’s intuition. What sets my practice apart is the time and space I give to each family. Sessions are unhurried, play-based, and deeply collaborative. I believe healing and progress happen best when parents feel empowered and babies feel safe.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. I started this business because I saw a gap in the system—families were falling through the cracks, and babies were often treated in pieces, not as whole humans. Building something from the ground up while also educating the public on what pediatric PT can be was a challenge, especially in the early days. I wore all the hats: therapist, marketer, admin, educator. But I stayed grounded in my mission and leaned into community partnerships, continuing education, and a whole lot of persistence.

I’m most proud of the trust families place in me and the transformation I get to witness—not just in the babies, but in the confidence and calm that grows in their caregivers. What I want people to know is that this work is personal. Every baby matters. Every experience shapes their foundation. And when we slow down and support development with intention and empathy, we build more than milestones—we build lifelong well-being.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit, I’d plan a week full of a little bit of everything—relaxation, nature, amazing food, and community vibes. We’d probably start with a stroll around Wash Park with coffees and pastries from Devil’s Food or Wash Perk. We’d catch a concert and hike around Red Rocks.

We’d hit up the South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market and have to choose between so many amazing breweries to check out afterwards such as Denver Beer Co, Cerebral, Public Offering etc.

We’d get ice cream every day so that we could hit up Right Cream, Bonnie Brae, and Little Man.

We’d take the kids to the Denver Zoo and then catch a Rockies game at night.

For dinners we’d probably head to Cart+Driver, Pony Up, Sushi Den, Hop Alley, Safta.

Lastly, a stroll around Cherry Creek North for some shopping and a lunch at Hillstone.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely—there are so many people who’ve shaped my journey, but I have to give a huge shoutout to the families I’ve had the honor of working with. Their trust, vulnerability, and fierce advocacy for their babies have inspired me every step of the way. I also owe so much to the incredible community of lactation consultants, therapists, and other pediatric providers I’ve collaborated with—especially those who saw the value in a full-body, developmental approach to infant PT and encouraged me to keep going even when the path wasn’t easy. On a personal level, I’m endlessly grateful to my own children for teaching me how to show up for others and the rest of my family for their love and belief in me, especially during the early, uncertain days of building this business from scratch.

Website: https://www.ptpdenver.com

Instagram: @progressthroughplay

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/progressthroughplay

Image Credits
Teresa Opel Photography