Nurturing Water Therapies’ mission is to nurture the human body and spirit of those who are health challenged. Our services complement your existing therapies and treatment.
We help people of all ages with sensory, developmental, neurological, physical or other health challenges.
We know what it’s like to have loved ones who require life-long care and we are impassioned to help you.
Sandy Karlek, owner of Nurturing Water Therapies, has a BA in Communication/Recreation and is certified in Aquatic Therapy, Exercise Therapy and Ai Chi. She has over 30 years of experience in aquatics working with a diverse group of clients, across all ages, with various congenital or acquired health challenges. With a child of her own with special needs, she also has firsthand experience in behavioral, sensory and developmental challenges. Sandy’s innovative water-based therapy, water safety techniques, and exercise programs are individually created to best fit the needs of each individual. For more about how Sandy got started and more, please read her blog.
Ashley Thompson is a West Seattle native that has a strong background in early childhood development. She has worked in childcare for many years and has done volunteer work for the Red Cross disaster relief program. She has a passion for physical movement and is currently a dance teacher to pre-k students focusing on motion, rhythm and building confidence through creative expression with an emphasis in movement. Aside from her training in adaptive swimming, Ashley has experience working with different levels of children on the spectrum and has family and close friends with disabilities. Ashley has always had a strong connection to water and enjoys sharing that connection with others.
Jenny Petty has been teaching swim lesson for over 30 years. She grew up a swimmer and loves the water and has a passion for teaching kids how to swim. Her patience and enthusiasm while working with clients in incredible. She is motived to give people of ages and abilities a quality water experience, designed to meet their specific needs. Her specialty is working with children with special needs and more than anything loves seeing when they accomplish a skill and the light bulb comes on and they feel safe and confident in the water. Jenny is currently the Program Coordinator for Nurturing Water Therapies and we are thrilled to have her on our team!
Tammy Chiang has extensive knowledge in swim skills and technique as she has been teaching swimming lessons since 2005. With a focus in water safety, she became a lifeguard instructor in 2009 with the goal of helping and training others to work in the field of aquatics. Countless times throughout her career she has worked with kids with special needs. The more she worked with them, the more she realized what a huge need there was for staff training in aquatic facilities, both for herself and others, to serve this community better. Tammy was excited to have specific training and experience through Nurturing Water Therapies and looks forward to learning more each day how to communicate and relate better with our kids.
Charlie Margolis has returned back to NWT after leaving due to closures due to Covid-19. Charlie’s experience working with people of all ages and abilities, both in and out of the water makes him an invaluable part of our team. Along with his graduate degree in nutrition education, Charlie is certified in Watsu and also has a teacher certification and has been an emergency department technician. Charlie has worked as a certified nursing assistant, carpenter, landscaper, histologist (anatomic pathology) and a jack-of-all trades guy. Through it all, Charlie had always enjoyed keeping his feet in the water. He was an infant and toddler water safety swim instructor; assisted with an MS water aerobics class; and continued his training and education in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim lessons.
Jordan Harnar has been swimming for several years. She has been on multiple swim teams and has played water polo. She is experienced in teaching swim lessons to kids of all abilities. She’s a peer coach and assists in a social skills class at her high school. She is lifeguard certified and has taken the course Children with Challenges through USA Swimming. She enjoys being in the water, working with kids and meeting new people. In the future she hopes to work in the psychology field.
Jackie is the Office Coordinator for Nurturing Water Therapies. Her education and initial career path was a paralegal, and she worked for numerous family law and criminal defense attorneys in Tacoma; but life and her special needs kids took her into a different direction in 2012. In her spare time she is a PTSA President, HOA President, and manager of her son’s soccer team. Jackie lives in Renton and loves spending time with her husband and two boys, and she is a huge Seahawks and Sounders fan!
Carlie Vasquez began working with Nurturing Water Therapies in 2018. She has coached high school swim teams for over ten years, Special Olympics teams for three years, and assisted in creating adaptive swim programs for high school athletes, and dry land/kinesiology exercises for a local synchronized swim team. She has worked with kids of all ages and abilities. She is currently completing her degree in Kinesiology to enhance to expanse background in sports and fitness therapy, swimming and nutrition. Carlie enjoys working on improving biomechanical deficiencies in water to increase proper technique and time drops, and is great at meeting her clients where they are, setting goals and progressing their swim skills.
Alana O’Kert has been swimming for years and has extensive experience in working in early childhood education, and she has worked with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum. As a Certified Health Aide, she serviced patients with mental and physical disabilities especially those on the autism spectrum. She has worked as a special needs nanny for over 5 years. As a nanny, she provided a safe and explorative environment for children to thrive in many environments. Her work as a special needs nanny has brought a new light and passion in her life. She has always been a lover of water and swimming since a young child. It is her dream to be able to combine these two parts of her life that benefit the community in so many ways! Alana has an AA degree in Early Childhood Learning, she is a certified home care aid, and she has taken courses in Psychology, Spanish, ASL, computer applications, food and fitness, and she is certified in CPR and First AID.