Courtney Lewis
CEO and Owner of We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Courtney Lewis has dedicated her life to championing pediatric mental health in New Mexico, a state that consistently ranks last for children’s well-being. She knows it’s not just kids who suffer under that statistic — entire communities carry the weight of childhood traumas and disorders. As the CEO of two small businesses, Courtney is providing services that prioritize the emotional well-being of our children and the caretakers who support them.
Creating systems change takes resilience, innovation, and access to capital. Courtney has come to DreamSpring several times over the years to get financing to start and grow her first business, Small Steps Child Counseling. Small Steps is unique in that it provides pediatric mental health services while investing in programs and resources that help prevent burnout in her therapists.
Courtney is delighted that the interest from her DreamSpring loans goes right back to helping other entrepreneurs who, like her, didn’t initially qualify for financing at a traditional bank. “I have a heart for anything that gives back to the community,” she says, “and I see entrepreneurship as value added for our communities.”
She returned to DreamSpring in 2023 for funds to open a sensory gym called We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque. Belonging to a neurodiverse family — her husband, Jeff, and their two children are neurodivergent — Courtney knows firsthand the struggles of finding accessible and inclusive spaces that help families with special needs feel safe, regulated, and validated.
That’s why Coutney was drawn to the We Rock the Spectrum franchise model, summed up by its tagline: A place you don't have to say you're sorry. “We all need spaces where we feel safe to take our children and they won't be judged,” she says. “To create a space that's protective of children who may have more vulnerabilities toward not fitting in and suffering socially and emotionally — my heart feels that this is something good.”
DreamSpring worked with Courtney on a $350,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to secure a new building and outfit it with specialized sensory play equipment and a calming room. This therapeutic play environment is designed to help kids of all abilities develop strength, sensory processing, communication, and social and self-care skills. The space also supports the whole family with a teen lounge, a party room, and a place for parents to hang out.
Courtney plans on bringing her Small Steps staff into the space, consolidating overhead and making mental health support services more accessible to the autism community. Jeff will help run the We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque side of the business as CEO and Director of Operations.
Together, they’re working to get credentialed with Medicaid to provide respite care for low-income families with children with disabilities. Along with self-pay respite, regular open gym hours, and birthday party bookings, We Rock the Spectrum space will be available as a resource to families with diverse needs.
“There's nothing in the world like seeing your purpose — the thing you dreamed up — happen,” says Courtney. “There's such a level of empowerment as a woman and as a confidence booster. There is nothing that I feel I can't do, no storm I can't weather. And that feeling is irreplaceable.”
Creating systems change takes resilience, innovation, and access to capital. Courtney has come to DreamSpring several times over the years to get financing to start and grow her first business, Small Steps Child Counseling. Small Steps is unique in that it provides pediatric mental health services while investing in programs and resources that help prevent burnout in her therapists.
Courtney is delighted that the interest from her DreamSpring loans goes right back to helping other entrepreneurs who, like her, didn’t initially qualify for financing at a traditional bank. “I have a heart for anything that gives back to the community,” she says, “and I see entrepreneurship as value added for our communities.”
She returned to DreamSpring in 2023 for funds to open a sensory gym called We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque. Belonging to a neurodiverse family — her husband, Jeff, and their two children are neurodivergent — Courtney knows firsthand the struggles of finding accessible and inclusive spaces that help families with special needs feel safe, regulated, and validated.
That’s why Coutney was drawn to the We Rock the Spectrum franchise model, summed up by its tagline: A place you don't have to say you're sorry. “We all need spaces where we feel safe to take our children and they won't be judged,” she says. “To create a space that's protective of children who may have more vulnerabilities toward not fitting in and suffering socially and emotionally — my heart feels that this is something good.”
DreamSpring worked with Courtney on a $350,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to secure a new building and outfit it with specialized sensory play equipment and a calming room. This therapeutic play environment is designed to help kids of all abilities develop strength, sensory processing, communication, and social and self-care skills. The space also supports the whole family with a teen lounge, a party room, and a place for parents to hang out.
Courtney plans on bringing her Small Steps staff into the space, consolidating overhead and making mental health support services more accessible to the autism community. Jeff will help run the We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque side of the business as CEO and Director of Operations.
Together, they’re working to get credentialed with Medicaid to provide respite care for low-income families with children with disabilities. Along with self-pay respite, regular open gym hours, and birthday party bookings, We Rock the Spectrum space will be available as a resource to families with diverse needs.
“There's nothing in the world like seeing your purpose — the thing you dreamed up — happen,” says Courtney. “There's such a level of empowerment as a woman and as a confidence booster. There is nothing that I feel I can't do, no storm I can't weather. And that feeling is irreplaceable.”
