Our Team
Our entire team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies is dedicated to providing personal care for each child, adult, and family, and partnering together to find the best solution for each individual we serve.
Our goal is for each client to experience the best in therapy services in an atmosphere that is professional, compassionate and even fun!
Occupational Therapy Staff
Jaime Race, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Therapy Director
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Jaime has worked in the private setting specializing in pediatrics since graduating from Samuel Merritt College with her Masters in Occupational Therapy. Prior to her career as an occupational therapist she worked as an inclusion assistant for children with autism spectrum disorder in the Early Intervention program. Jaime is passionate about working with children, their families, and collaborating with professionals to help each child achieve their fullest potential in their home, school, and community environment. She believes in working closely with parents and empowering them in assisting with their child’s growth by incorporating strategies learned during therapy into their daily life.
Jaime is committed to expanding and strengthening her professional knowledge and clinical skills as a therapist by regularly attending continuing education seminars. She has extensive training in a variety of techniques to address sensory processing related challenges, handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears®), feeding and oral motor therapy (Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Talk Tools®, and Sequential Oral Sensory program), advanced training in Therapeutic Listening®, craniosacral therapy, and yoga.
Interests:
Jaime enjoys spending time with her family and friends, spending time outdoors (gardening, camping, hiking, snowboarding, and wake-boarding), yoga, and traveling.
Carrie Young, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Therapy Director
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Since graduating from San Jose State University, Carrie has worked in the school setting for children ages 4-10 years and at pediatric clinics in California and Oregon, specializing in social interaction through thematic groups and children with sensory processing limitations. Carrie enjoys exploring and discovering a child’s abilities and skills through play and creative learning. She has a passion for empowering parents to be partners in the intervention process by attending and participating in the treatment sessions.
Carrie regularly participates in professional development courses which focus on helping children living with Autism Spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders. She is SIPT certified and has received training in the DIR® model and Floortime™ principles for Infants and Early Childhood. Additional courses include Advanced Therapeutic Listening®, Handwriting Without Tears®, Bal-A-Vis-X®, and Social Thinking Strategies. She has also volunteered at Camp Avanti, which provides cutting-edge treatment strategies for children with sensory processing disorders in a camp environment.
Interests:
Carrie loves being a wife and mom to three active young children. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and seeks out daily adventures to keep her active spirit on the go.
JoAnnita Reitsma, MOT, OTR/L
Lead Occupational Therapist
Experience:
Since graduating from Pacific University in Oregon, JoAnnita has been providing occupational therapy in a variety of settings including school systems, outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She participates in a wide variety of professional development courses that focus on helping children who have sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and ADD/ADHD. JoAnnita is certified in Qigong Sensory Training and has training in Therapeutic Listening®, Myofacial Release, NDT for babies, and DIR/Floortime for Infants and Early Childhood.
Interests:
JoAnnita enjoys pottery, yoga, swimming, volleyball, and traveling.
Laura Pogson, OTR/L
Lead Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
After graduating with her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Towson University in Maryland, Laura has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including the private and pre-school settings, as well as early intervention home care in New York. She enjoys working with children of all ages and is passionate about working with families to help each child achieve their greatest potential and independence. She regularly participates in professional development courses which include training in Interactive Metronome®, Therapeutic Listening® and Handwriting without Tears®.
Interests:
Laura loves to spend time with her family and friends while also exploring the outdoors and traveling.
Alexa Zaino, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Alexa joined the Neuro team in 2023 as an Occupational Therapist. She earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia. Alexa brings experience having worked in a skilled nursing facility, engaged in various fieldwork experiences, and served as a program assistant at a nonprofit organizing free events and screenings for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. During this tenure, she even initiated an Adaptive Art Program.
Alexa’s commitment to hands-on work and facilitating positive daily changes in people’s lives has been a consistent driving force. Her journey into occupational therapy began in high school, when she volunteered at an equine facilitated therapy clinic. She has always loved working with children; her passion for pediatric occupational therapy grew as she started volunteering and working with autistic children along with shadowing in occupational therapy clinics.
Her passion extends to providing neurodivergent-affirming care in a fun and engaging way for children. Alexa believes in the foundational role of Occupational Therapy in guiding children and families through developmental stages. Collaborating closely with families and patients, she ensures they feel successful and attain their highest level of independence. She loves sensory processing and emotional regulation and is passionate about working with children with ASD, ADHD, and anxiety across childhood. As a new therapist, Alexa is excited to work with diverse populations and expand her clinical knowledge and interests!
Interests:
In her free time, she immerses herself in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, paddleboarding, running, and soccer. When not exploring the outdoors, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops, restaurants, and art stores, participating in Tuesday night trivia, or engaging in hobbies like reading, painting, baking, and watching movies. She has an extensive travel history, having visited 24 countries!
Cassie Zimmerman, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist Fellow
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Cassandra (Cassie) graduated from Colorado State University in 2021 with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Her work experience includes direct care and administrative positions for a subacute residential program for adults with serious mental illness, and OT student experience in skilled nursing and adult inpatient psychiatric settings. She trained to be an artist and art teacher as a young adult, bringing these skills, and a creative perspective to her work as an OT. Her passion for helping others navigate mental health challenges contributed to her decision to become a therapist.
Her approach to therapy is influenced by positive psychology, trauma-informed care and neurodiversity affirming practices. Her main areas of interest are anxiety disorders and ADHD, however, as a new therapist, she feels that her interests continue to evolve.
Interests:
She is originally from Denver, Colorado, and is a new resident of Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Portland with her husband, making jewelry and running with her dog, Larry.
Chelsie Kirby, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Chelsie joined the Neuro team in 2024 as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L). She earned her Associates of Science degree from Linn-Benton Community College, specializing in Occupational Therapy Assistance.
Chelsie has always wanted to work with children. Once she discovered occupational therapy, it was game over! She toured a few occupational therapy clinics and fell in love with sensory gyms and the countless ways to treat within that environment. The idea of playing for a profession solidified her decision!
With experience in home health, Chelsie is motivated by her desire to make a difference in her community. She strives to create a safe space for each client, emphasizing the importance of connection and individualized care. Chelsie believes that every person is unique and beautiful as they are, and she is dedicated to helping them achieve their personal goals. She loves helping clients develop skills in areas such as gross motor, balance, and motor planning.
Interests:
In her free time, Chelsie enjoys baking and has recently started embroidery. She has a 5-month-old son and an 8-year-old pup and was raised in the Hillsboro area.
Erica Edillo, MA, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Erica received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. Since then she has worked in a variety of different settings including schools, private practice clinics, hospitals, and homes providing early intervention services. Erica has a passion for helping children be as successful as possible in all areas of development. She thoroughly enjoys collaborating with families and all others that interact with that child to help create new possibilities for them to excel across all of their environments. Erica uses a playful, caring approach to therapy and believes the process should be motivating for the children she treats.
Erica has participated in a variety of professional development courses in the areas of sensory processing and modulation, dyspraxia, and visual motor and perceptual difficulties. Erica is trained in the use of Interactive Metronome, Therapeutic Listening®, the Alert Program® for self-regulation, Handwriting Without Tears®, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding, and oral motor interventions including Talk Tools®. She is dedicated in continuing to expand her clinical knowledge in the field of occupational therapy to better serve her families.
Interests:
In her free time, Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and son, traveling, and being outdoors.
Karina Ramirez, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Karina received her Bachelor of Science in psychology at Cal State Northridge and Master of Science in occupational therapy in 2012. She has previous work experience with children in clinics, home, and school settings. She was inspired to become a therapist by her mother, who she describes as an amazing occupational therapist who worked in mental health while Karina was in high school. When her mother shared that occupational therapists can also work with kids, Karina became invested in pursuing occupational therapy herself.
Karina is motivated by wanting to be a support for the whole family. Being a mother of three children, one with special needs, she knows how hard it can be to navigate doctor and therapy appointments on top of the demands of everyday life. Helping families see and celebrate their children and find more peace at home drives her to do what she does! Karina’s gentle and creative spirit combined with her compassion for helping children achieve his or her fullest potential is how she knows this profession is a perfect fit for her.
Karina has a specialty in feeding therapy, which is her true passion. She has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum using a play-based and relationship-based approach. She incorporates movement and sensory integrative strategies in almost all of her treatments. It is essential to Karina that her clients feel safe and heard.
Interests:
In Karina’s free time, she enjoys going on day trips to new towns and cities with her family. She loves traveling back to California to see her extended family. In 2022, Karina and her family got the opportunity to visit her husband’s parents who live in the city of Acapulco in Mexico; it was an incredible trip! At home, she is happy cracking jokes with her husband and kids! She is also a big karaoke fan. She has enjoyed singing since childhood, belting out tunes from Mariah Carey and Shania Twain. She loves to listen and sing along to country music as well.
Lisa Williams, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Lisa graduated with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. She has experience working in school systems, outpatient hospitals, in-home settings, and private clinics. Lisa worked at Neuro many years ago and we’re glad to have her back!
Interests:
In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her husband and three kids. She was born in Michigan, grew up in Georgia, and has lived in Oregon over 11 years now!
Nicole Cavender, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Since graduating with a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University, Nicole has worked in the clinical setting with the pediatric population. Her experience in working with children prior to graduating was as a gymnastics teacher for children with special needs, working in a pediatric orthopedic clinic, and assisting in the school setting. Nicole’s interest in pursuing occupational therapy was influenced by her own post-injury rehabilitation as a gymnast. She was drawn to occupational therapy because of the creativity and problem solving involved in creating a client-centered treatment plan.
Nicole is passionate about working alongside each child and family she works with, providing therapy that is fun and innovative and serves the unique needs of her patients. She is committed to strengthening her clinical skills and regularly participates in professional development courses. They include: SOS Approach to Feeding, Handwriting Without Tears®, and Therapeutic Listening®.
Interests:
Nicole is from Northern California and enjoys mountain biking, tennis, and cooking. She is a former gymnast and gymnastics coach. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their golden retriever, Rusty.
Rochelle Schoenthal, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Rochelle received her associate’s degree in applied sciences of occupational therapy assistant from Linn Benton Community College in 2023. She earned her bachelor of science in Exercise Science and a double minor in disability studies and psychology from Pacific University in 2021.
Rochelle’s passion for occupational therapy began while working at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp which empowers children and adults with disabilities and working as an ABA therapist.
Rochelle has worked with people with disabilities for over 10 years, helping to create a safe space where people can fully participate in life.
Interests:
In her free time, Rochelle likes to attend live music, play tennis, watercolor paint, go for walks, and spend time with friends and family. A fun fact about Rochelle is that she has an identical twin sister and they are 99.9% identical.
Sam Peoples, MSOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Sam received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Pomona College. Sam has several years of pediatric experience, both in schools and in an outpatient pediatric setting. She has completed a variety of continuing education, including a certification in the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to support young neurodivergent children in achieving a greater sense of nervous system safety. She has also completed training in DIR-Floortime and is in the process of becoming certified as a Qigong Sensory Therapy provider for autistic clients and those with tactile sensory processing challenges. Sam has additional skills in supporting reflex integration, motor planning, joint attention, executive functioning skills, handwriting, and pediatric hand skills.
Sam’s passion for occupational therapy began with an internship where she spent her summers working at a program designed for neurodivergent kids. Since then, she’s continued to work with children and adults with a wide range of disabilities and has found that she is passionate about working with children with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Sam is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care for autistic and other neurodivergent children and families. She aims to be strengths-based and promote self-advocacy throughout the therapeutic process. Sam loves to support children in performing meaningful activities, and she enjoys facilitating participation through creative problem solving and a holistic, child-centered approach.
Interests:
In her free time, Sam likes to craft, go for walks, drink coffee, and spend time with her husband and two cats. Sam played collegiate softball. Her current self-care “occupations” of choice are crocheting and weightlifting!
Sarah Greenberg, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Sarah graduated from Pacific University School of Occupational Therapy in 2022 as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. She graduated from Oregon State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science. Sarah has previously completed her level 1A field placement at Providence Saint Vincent doing acute care in the Operational Site Visit, Critical Decision Unit, Medical Surgical Unit and more, and she has completed her level 2B field placement at the Oregon City School District doing school-based occupational therapy. Her favorite activities she got to do with the kids were making tissue paper flowers and many other art projects! Before occupational therapy school, Sarah worked as a teacher at KinderCare Education for a year where she assisted in teaching the curriculum and provided essential childcare. She also helped provide opportunities for the kids to learn and explore, along with initiating friendships.
Growing up with dyslexia, Sarah struggled to learn to read, write, and spell. When traditional reading methods were not successful in helping to learn to read, she got evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. After going through a curriculum where she learned to read by playing card games, writing and spelling words on windows or in shaving cream, and playing with blocks and felt squares, she learned how to read through play! She found similarities to occupational therapy: finding a different way to do the same task as the rest of her peers (or as Sarah puts it, a much more fun way!). As a result, she felt included and a part of her general education class because of these treatments. It changed her life and opened many doors for her! As she got older, the teachers at her clinic told her and her mom about occupational therapy and thought she would be interested in becoming one after getting to know her over the years. At Camp Yakety Yak, Sarah fell in love with working with children and helping them learn, grow, play, and make friends as she worked with children with developmental, physical, neurocognitive, and communication conditions. She feels that learning through play is an amazing tool and stepping stone to achieving developmental goals.
Watching clients progress and achieve their goals motivates Sarah to be an occupational therapist. Her philosophy of care guiding her treatment approach is to use a family-centered approach, have fun, use creativity, and be safe! She enjoys working with elementary school-aged children who have Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensory Processing, fine motor activities involving building or craft supplies, art projects, letter formation, sensory play (with her favorites being tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive), emotional regulation strategies, and elements from the Polyvagal Theory.
Interests:
In Sarah’s free time, she takes dance and lyra classes, reads, plays with her bird and family dogs, goes on walks with her friends, attends outdoor concerts, and bakes! She also has a collection of flowers you can wear in your hair (at least 25 different kinds!), and she did professional ballet for eight years.
Sarah Pratt, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Sarah earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University in Oregon. She worked in a hospital-based outpatient pediatric clinic outside Detroit, Michigan for about 2 years. She also has experience working in the hospitals with adults in inpatient rehabilitation.
Sarah loves helping people do what they need and want to do to fill their lives. She believes that life is an adventure and as a therapist, her goal is to provide each explorer with tools, strategies, and skills to make life happen. Sarah has additional training in Vision Rehabilitation, Handwriting Without Tears, Pediatric Self-Regulation, Hand Therapy, School Readiness, and more.
Interests:
Sarah loves to go on adventures! She enjoys hanging out with friends and family, hiking, and cooking. She is creative, and she likes to read, play games, and try new things! A fun fact about Sarah is that she has a twin sister!
Staci Monroe, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Staci graduated from Pacific University with her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy. She has experience working in a private clinic and a skilled nursing facility. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Staci spent 2 years volunteering at a nonprofit outpatient clinic. This gave her the opportunity to work in a unique setting utilizing equine movement as a treatment tool. She witnessed the value, motivation, and compassion an occupational therapist is able to provide, which really solidified her decision to pursue a career in occupational therapy herself.
Staci is motivated by helping others recognize their strengths, and not just focus on their weaknesses. She loves helping kids and their families build the tools and confidence to develop and grow by increasing independence, fulfillment, and participation in everyday life. Staci enjoys working with populations across the lifespan, but she is most passionate about working with the pediatric population.
Interests:
When Staci is not working, she enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking, hunting, and riding horses. She is passionate about running, and ran competitively for many years as a collegiate track and field and cross-country athlete along with post-college races. Staci loves spending time with her family and friends, and is very grateful to have a large extended family-most of whom live close by.
Physical Therapy Staff
Tara Rich, MSPT
Lead Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Since graduating from Pacific University in Oregon, Tara has been providing Physical Therapy to children in the private and school setting. She has also worked in the area of outpatient orthopedics, as well as in school and clinical settings in Albany and McMinnville, OR. Tara continues to participate in professional courses to increase her knowledge and skills in helping meet the needs of all children, including children and young adults who have sports injuries. She is passionate and committed to staying active in the community of McMinnville and loves to work with children saying, “Kids make me laugh and stay young at heart”.
Interests:
Tara is a wife and mother of 2 children. She enjoys training and participating in triathlons and hiking/biking with her family.
Ally Daves, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Ally received her Bachelor’s Degree from Pacific University in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology, and she went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Ally was drawn to physical therapy through her love of athletics and her interest in the medical field. In college, she was a swim instructor and realized that she loved working with kids and wanted to work in pediatrics as a therapist.
Ally has worked as a pediatric physical therapist in a home health setting where she enjoyed getting to know her client’s family as a whole, using the front/back yard as a therapy tool, and supporting her clients through their daily ups and downs. She also has experience as a pediatric physical therapist in a small nonprofit outpatient clinic. Ally is passionate about forming connections with the families she meets, and she feels that her clients and their families consistently teach her how to be a better person.
Interests:
In her free time, Ally likes to stay active through running, dancing, and hiking with her family. She loves spending time at the dog park with her husband and their dog, Goose. A fun fact about Ally is that she hiked 14 peaks above 14,000 feet when she lived in Colorado. She also has a goal to visit all of the national parks.
Chris Luther, PT, BSPT, C/NDT
Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Chris has been working with infants and children and their families in the home, school and private settings for 30 years. Since graduating from California State University, Long Beach, she has been providing specialized treatment to children of all ages with a large spectrum of needs including Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Downs Syndrome, and children with or at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Additional experience includes instructional assisting for NDT Courses, development of a unique multi-disciplinary developmental play group based on the SCERTS Model (which prioritizes goals and treatment that focus on enhancing a child’s Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Interactions with others in their surroundings).
Chris’ continued professional courses and training include Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Pediatric Certification, NDT Advanced Gait, NDT Advanced Baby Course, Developmental Manual Therapy, Autism and the SCERTS Model, Sensory Integration and training in administering and interpreting the Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT). Chris offers a very unique blend of Physical Therapy that includes both NDT and SI modalities which she believes help to lay a strong foundation for expanding movement strategies and gross motor play skills.
Interests:
Besides pediatric physical therapy, Chris loves hiking, gardening, rock climbing, camping, yoga, music, DIY projects, playing games, and doing it all with family and friends. She has two adult children – a daughter who is married and living in New Mexico, and a son who is a professional climber and travels all around the world.
Emmanuelle McKinney, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Emmanuelle joined our team after earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Eastern Washington University. Her journey to becoming a therapist began while working as a CNA at a skilled nursing facility, where she saw physical therapists in action. Emmanuelle’s love of movement and her dedication to helping people maximize their ability to participate in life physically drive her work as a PT. She has an interest in balance training.
Interests:
In her free time, Emmanuelle enjoys dancing, hiking, reading, and cooking—and she’s especially passionate about salsa dancing!
Irene Perry, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Irene Perry earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Touro University Nevada/Henderson in 2020. After a year in the Salem-Keizer school district, she transitioned to an outpatient orthopedic and pediatric clinic.
Introduced to physical therapy by her grandparents, Irene witnessed firsthand the transformative impact therapists had on their balance, strength, and mobility. Volunteering and shadowing in various clinics during her undergraduate years further solidified her passion for the field, particularly in pediatrics.
Motivated by her patients’ goals and their enthusiasm to improve their functioning, Irene finds immense joy in celebrating their victories, no matter how small. Their successes feel like her own, and she loves getting to celebrate that with them.
With an interest in pediatric care, Irene’s favorite therapy experience thus far has been providing aquatic therapy during one of her rotations.
Interests:
In her free time, Irene enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and paddle boarding, as well as binge-watching comedy or crime TV shows. She also cherishes cuddle-time with her kitten, Louis. An interesting fact about Irene is that she was born in Japan and Japanese was her first language, although she is no longer fluent after moving to the US at the age of three.
Sam English, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Sam earned his undergraduate education at Colorado College and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Simmons University. Prior to joining the team at Neuro, his experience includes working with individuals in a long term acute care hospital and a pediatric therapy settings.
With moving, exercising, and outdoor activities being integral aspects of his own life, being able to assist others to move and engage with their environment in a meaningful way inspired Sam to become a physical therapist. For physical therapy in particular, he enjoys finding ways to adapt movement strategies to help others enjoy movement and being active. He also enjoys collaborating with clients in helping them find the best ways to accomplish their goals. Sam is excited to continue his career at Neuro and working in pediatrics!
Interests:
In his free time, Sam enjoys outdoor activities including mountain biking, paddle boarding, and running with his friends. For paddle boarding in particular, he has paddle boarded from the Bimini (the Bahamas) to Florida and around Manhattan! He also enjoys exploring Portland’s vegan eateries!
Speech Therapy Staff
Kaia Schindlbeck, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lead Speech-Language Pathologist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Kaia received Master’s Degrees in both Human Development & Early Childhood Disorders and in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas. She has provided SLP services in a variety of pediatric settings, but the majority of her experience is from working in multidisciplinary clinics. She enjoys working collaboratively with other practitioners because she feels a child’s development should be approached holistically and offers the best possible care to the client.
Kaia believes that children make the most progress when they are having fun, so she designs therapy sessions to be as fun and intrinsically motivating as possible. Her ultimate goal for each client is for them to become better communicators and the path to that goal looks different for each child. Kaia enjoys working with children of all ages who have a variety of disorders and through her career has developed a special interest in childhood apraxia of speech, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Language Disorders. She has received additional professional trainings in Sensory Integration and the Hanen “It Takes Two to Talk” Approach.
Interests:
Kaia loves to be outside as much as possible. She enjoys soccer, hiking, and just being in nature. She loves to spend time with her husband and daughter, and they have two cats (Mathilda and Gizmo).
Erin Griffin, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Erin graduated with a master’s in Speech Language Pathology at University of Memphis. For almost eight years, she practiced in a school-based setting in the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked as a speech language pathologist and later as an augmentative alternative communication (AAC) specialist. She was drawn to speech pathology, as it combined her interests in psychology and learning languages. Erin found that the scope of practice for speech pathologists is so broad, and there is always more to learn!
Feeling passionate about AAC and topics related to cultural and linguistic diversity, she is always interested in broadening her understanding of access considerations for AAC users with complex bodies (positioning, mounting).
She also feels strongly about taking a strengths-based approach to all clients, and she collaborates with parents, fellow providers, and stakeholders to support a holistic approach to intervention. She is inspired by the advocacy of the disability community and has stated that the Communication Bill of Rights has guided her work, especially in serving those with complex communication needs.
Interests:
Erin’s interests and hobbies include reading, hiking, cooking plant-based meals, and crafting.
Jenna Mamula, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Jenna holds a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Pacific University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Bowling Green State University. After completing her clinical fellowship in a private practice in Salem, Jenna gained diverse experience in home-health, school-based settings, and some hospital experience in Yakima. Wanting to make a positive impact to her community and being in speech therapy herself, Jenna became a SLP in hopes of making a difference. Jenna is committed to meeting clients where they are, celebrating small wins, and fostering growth and education in all areas of speech pathology. Her current professional interests lie in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and addressing picky eating.
Interests:
Jenna enjoys anything outdoors! She likes taking care of her plants, baking, reading, and collecting postcards. A fun fact is that Jenna is originally from Ohio!
Leah (Tyler) Stoutt, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Leah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Carroll College, and she received her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Pacific University. She has also completed a certificate program for supporting Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), which is an approach for supporting the language development of autistic clients. Leah has worked at a pediatric private practice, and she has experience with schools and outpatient services for children and adults.
Leah has always enjoyed working with the pediatric population. When she initially began shadowing SLPs, she loved having the opportunity to work one-on-one with clients. She loves being silly and energetic with the children that she works with. Leah enjoys getting to know each client individually and working closely with their families. She has a passion for working collaboratively with other disciplines, and is looking forward to continuing to do that at Neuro.
Interests:
In her free time, Leah enjoys spending time with her pit bull/boxer, Louie, whether it’s getting outside or cuddling on the couch. She loves trying out new restaurants and going to concerts. A fun fact about Leah is that she grew up in rural Montana on a wheat farm/cattle ranch and she is confident in her abilities to cut wheat, bail hay, and move cows.
Mental Health Therapy Staff
Jamie A. Watson, M.A., LMFT, RPT-S™
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Mental Health Therapy Director
Clinical Supervisor
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Clackamas)
Experience:
Jamie earned her Master’s Degree from George Fox University and is licensed in Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in Child, Youth, and Family Therapy. Jamie has had extensive training in Play Therapy and is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™. She is an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor and certified in Foster and Adoptive Family Therapy. Jamie is a member of the AAMFT, OAMFT (Oregon Association for Marriage and Family Therapy), APT (Association for Play Therapy), and ORAPT (Oregon Association for Play Therapy), and currently serves on the Board of ORAPT as a Conference Coordinator for the State of Oregon.
Jamie is one of 14 Registered Play Therapist- Supervisors™ in the state of Oregon and has served multiple terms on the Oregon Association for Play Therapy board of directors—holding positions such as President, Vice President, and Conference Coordinator. Jamie is an Adjunct Professor, teaching graduate-level courses such as Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy, Theories and Psychopathology, and supervises Practicum and Internship courses.
Jamie’s experience includes treatment for children (ages 5 and up) and adults, individually or with their families, couples, parents, and groups with a variety of presenting mental health issues including pervasive disorders, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc. in order to improve their interpersonal relationships, communication, and overall mood.
She is passionate about working with children and their families to help them feel happier, more connected and engaged with one another in order that they may succeed and thrive in their homes and in their communities. She believes that play is a core modality of therapy, and provides the opportunity for growth and the ability to empower her clients to grow individually and relationally through their own strengths.
Interests:
While not at work, Jamie teaches graduate classes at her alma mater. She loves to bake and cook, watch movies, travel, eat delicious food (Italian, Mexican, and Sushi are her favorite) and spend time with her family. A fun fact about Jamie is that she has traveled through most of North America, including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada and Mexico, and most of the Caribbean.
Alice Nelson, MS, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
Telehealth, Nature Based Therapy
Experience:
Alice earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York. She has experience in both hospital and community outpatient settings. Alice has worked as a Nature Based Therapist with ages 8 and up, as an Intensive Community Based Child and Family Therapist, and as a Child and Family Therapist within a Juvenile Center’s locked-down residential program. Prior to becoming a therapist, Alice worked as a lead researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health. This research resulted in authorship on peer-reviewed publications, as well as presentations at national and international conferences.
Alice utilizes both a collaborative process and evidence-based research to help empower her clients. Her experience as a Nature Based Therapist has greatly influenced her overall view of therapy and her role as a therapist. Alice believes that nature has a way of teaching us an alternative perspective to our situation that can help normalize without invalidating our experiences. She also believes that nature can provide wonderful opportunities for grounding, slowing down, and taking a step back to foster that perspective. Alice hopes to help people develop lifelong skills in managing difficult and stressful life events and challenges.
Alice is specialized in helping both kids and adults with processing trauma. She is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Tier 1 of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). She loves working with individuals, couples, and families to create a more sustainable environment for everyone to thrive. Alice enjoys providing a space for people to process and/or gain new perspectives on a variety of situations including, but not limited to, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational issues. She also enjoys helping people through times of transition.
Interests:
When Alice isn’t working, she is likely doing something active. She loves to hike, backpack, run, bike, boulder, and travel. Alice is also very creative and enjoys writing, improv, playing guitar, singing, dancing, and doodling. A fun fact about Alice is that she joined a traveling circus to run their concessions. They did 8 shows every week, and about every 2 weeks, they were in a new city/state. She loved the experience! She loves learning and enjoys a good challenge every now and then to promote perspective and growth.
Amanda Greco-Odor, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Certified PCIT Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (McMinnville), Telehealth, Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Experience:
Amanda has earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling at George Fox University. She has her Bachelor’s Degree from George Fox in Social Behavioral Studies. Amanda has experience in the residential setting, providing crisis management and stabilization prior to working at Neuro.
Amanda has had experiences with therapy throughout her life, but really became passionate about it when she became a mother. She saw what a difference play therapy made for her family, and she decided that she wanted to share this knowledge with other families as well. She is passionate about children being taught about their feelings and spoken to with respectful and empowering language. She wanted to be able to help kids develop in a loving and supportive environment where they can grow and heal from the challenges of life. Amanda’s friendliness and excitement for working with kids and their families make her a great fit for our team.
Interests:
In her free time, Amanda loves to travel and experience new things. She enjoys organizing and planning parties. She loves to paint, play, and have dance parties with her kids. A fun fact about Amanda is that she loves science, and once in a marine biology class she had the opportunity to eat shark!
Breeayn Ardianto, BA, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Hillsboro, McMinnville), Telehealth
Experience:
Breeayn is a Graduate Student Mental Health Intern currently pursuing a Master’s in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling at George Fox University. Before pursuing counseling, she spent 11 years as a Transition Specialist, collaborating with high schools and Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation to provide career exploration and work-readiness skills to teens and young adults with disabilities.
Her path to counseling was shaped by a range of experiences, including complicated family dynamics, spirituality and religion, ADHD, anxiety, mood disorder, trauma, disability, and depression. Drawn by a desire to help others heal and grow, Breeayn’s experience serving students, parenting her own children, and interactions with counselors both personally and professionally all inspired her to pursue therapy.
As a counselor, Breeayn believes in the innate potential for change, growth, and healing. She finds that all of us have an natural trajectory toward growth. Her intent is to cultivate hope and provide a safe, healing relationship where her clients can experience connection, compassion, guidance, and support as they gain insight and work on their goals and wellbeing. Grounded in values of objectivity, diversity, empathy, and authenticity, she approaches therapy as a lifelong-learner dedicated to her own continual growth.
Breeayn views clients through an attachment and biopsychosocial lens, recognizing the importance of considering all aspects of a person’s life: their emotional and physical health, their relationships and family system, as well as other contextual factors that are a part of their life. She resonates with modalities such as emotionally-focused therapy, restoration therapy, and child-centered play therapy, often incorporating nature and expressive arts into her practice. Her counseling approach is rooted in strengths-based, neurobiological principles.
Expanding upon her skills, Breeayn has completed training in neurodiversity affirming play therapy and awareness and interventions in play therapy with children affected by racial trauma.
Interests:
In her free time, Breeayn enjoys spending time with her family and friends, immersing herself in nature, and exploring her interests in science, animals, poetry, music, and film. She can be found being silly with her kids, hiking, making music, or listening to a captivating podcast.
Dana Stroud, MS, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Canby, Clackamas), Telehealth
Experience:
Dana Stroud is a dedicated Mental Health Therapist Student Intern currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University. Their journey in the field of therapy is marked by a profound commitment to LGBTQ-affirming practices and the empowerment of their clients. Dana brings a unique perspective to their work as an intersex individual, fostering an inclusive and empathetic environment for all.
Dana’s academic foundation is firmly rooted in the sciences, having earned a Master of Science in Biology in 2011 from Eastern Washington University. These studies honed Dana’s analytical thinking and provided a strong basis for understanding the complexities of human relationships and behavior. They spent over a decade ocean fishing for salmon in Alaska, and continue to use nature as a place to reflect, introspect, and breathe.
The events of the pandemic, the global push for racial justice, and Dana’s personal experience with chronic health issues all converged to drive them back to school. They sought the necessary training and certifications to better serve their future clients, ultimately becoming certified as an equity-informed mediator and restorative justice practitioner. Dana firmly believes that everyone deserves respect and compassion, and they are acutely aware of the various systems and constructs—internalized, inter-relational, institutional, and systemic—that can impact mental health. Their holistic approach is designed to strengthen their clients’ personal empowerment and interpersonal resilience. Dana’s professional experience includes MFT Residencies in both Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, where they gained invaluable insights into the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals and families.
Dana is deeply committed to supporting a diverse clientele. While they are eager to work with individuals from all walks of life, they have a particular interest in serving gender-diverse and neurodiverse clients, those facing chronic illnesses, and families grappling with parent-child dynamics. As a systems therapist, Dana excels in facilitating relational healing between individuals, including groups of two or more.
Interests:
Outside of their professional pursuits, Dana is an avid researcher with a wide range of interests, from parenting and gardening to science and cultural knowledge. They find solace in nature, actively cultivate mindfulness, and enjoy honing new skills with their puppy. Dana also treasures quality time spent with their children and is dedicated to broadening their family’s cultural awareness through international host exchange programs. They have welcomed two exchange students into their home so far, forging deep connections that transcend borders and consider these teenagers as cherished members of their family.
Emalee Moore, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Clackamas, Hillsboro, NE Portland), Telehealth
Experience:
Emalee has earned her Master’s Degree at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Counseling and Education in Portland. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with minors in Studio Art and Journalism from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA in 2018.
She has a diverse range of experiences working with children and families, having been a children’s cooking class counselor, a court advocate for foster youth, and having over 15 years of experience in babysitting and nannying.
Her inspiration to become a therapist stems from her previous role as a live-in nanny/caretaker for a young boy with developmental delays. From attending all his therapies, she enjoyed helping him integrate his therapies to improve communication and develop positive relationships with his family and peers. Her goal is to continue helping families develop stronger relationships and learn to support each other.
As a therapist, Emalee believes in a collaborative approach with clients to facilitate positive change. She believes everyone holds the power to create positive growth. As a family therapist, she holds a systemic perspective on client struggles with an emphasis on social justice, and her focus is to highlight current strengths in family relationships to create a strong foundation for the growth process. Her areas of interest include Emotion Focused Therapy (attachment) and Play Therapy.
Interests:
In her free time, Emalee enjoys skiing, camping, reading, and cooking dinner. She also loves spending time at the beach, especially the Oregon coast, and even goes on bike rides with her cat on nice days! When she lived in San Francisco, she used to live in an apartment across from the ocean.
Jamie Van Auken, BA, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Clackamas, NE Portland), Telehealth
Experience:
Jamie Van Auken is a Mental Health Therapist Student Intern pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy at Lewis and Clark College and she earned her BA from Cornell University. Jamie has previously worked as a Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor, Program Coordinator for Upstate Eating Disorder Service, Eating Disorder Milieu Counselor and Mindfulness Lead, and has undergone Advanced Training in Domestic Violence. Additionally, Jamie holds certifications as an E-RYT Yoga Teacher Trainer and is a former US Olympian!
There are many reasons why she chose to become a therapist, but simply put: it was a way for her to hold the experience being human. Jamie is nervous-system forward; she feels called to explore the truths in the body and the felt experience of living. Therapy provides a safe container for all of this. Her therapeutic practice is etched from her lived experiences: she holds the felt knowledge of deep somatic regulation. Additionally, Jamie is influenced by her role as a parent and primary caregiver. Being in the company of her kiddos has offered her direct experience of the value of coregulation; further, as a mother, she has been afforded direct witness to how our reactions and meanings can create windows of spaciousness in her family’s life. Jamie feels it is her privilege to hold space and education on how to best embody our values. She became a therapist to hold these connections – internally, relationally, and with our world at large. It is in connection that Jamie believes we find the most healing.
As a therapist, Jamie believes in connection and regulation before correction. She holds the “most generous interpretation” (shout out to Dr. Becky Kennedy!) for people in her life and herself, recognizing that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have available at any moment. Jamie is deeply invested in working with parents, caregivers, teenagers, and neurodiverse families, facilitating relational work within couples and family systems. She feels it is her honor to support people in rediscovering and reestablishing a compassionate way of understanding and inhabiting their bodies and their relationships.
Interests:
In her free time, Jamie likes to stay active and move her body, snuggle her kiddos, bake, and get outside. She is a retired professional skater and a bird-mom. Also, she will never say no to an iced coffee!
Joham Rais, MA, QMHP
Psy.D. Practicum Student
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Hillsboro), Telehealth
Experience:
Joham joined our team with a Master’s degree from Pacific University in 2023. She previously earned her MS from the University of California, San Diego, in 2018. With experience as a psychiatric scribe and behavior interventionist, she has worked in hospital, clinic, in-home, and school settings.
Joham’s decision to become a therapist was motivated by her work with children on the spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders. As a minority from a culture where mental health is stigmatized, she aims to provide her community with therapists who look like them and share similar backgrounds to help reduce this stigma. What motivates her most is working with clients and witnessing their progress. She believes in a collaborative approach to therapy and takes a holistic view of each client. Her areas of interest include anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, ASD, and eating disorders, primarily using CBT with some interventions from DBT and ACT.
Interests:
In her free time, Joham loves to travel, read, and snuggle with her cat, Domino. A huge Harry Potter fan and self-proclaimed nerd, she enjoys wearing her glasses and has recently taken up crocheting!
Melanie Sellers, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
Not Accepting New Clients
Experience:
Melanie graduated with a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy at George Fox University and with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western Oregon University with a minor in Health. Her favorite class/research from her undergrad was psychology on the human and animal bond, where she learned about the mutual benefits that both animals and humans receive that promotes wellness.
Melanie has nonprofit experience as an outdoor camp counselor for families affected by childhood cancer, a facilitator for a peer support group for teens to talk about their grief, and she worked as a Make A Wish Intern. Her experiences in nonprofit work led Melanie to want to work with children and their families who are facing stressors and hardships. Melanie’s time as a camp counselor inspired her to pursue her Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy and become a Nature Based Therapist. Melanie believes that nature provides a unique perspective to the treatment process and that nature is always a part of us.
Interests:
In her free time, Melanie likes to spend her time outdoors. She enjoys snowboarding, paddle boarding, sitting around a fire, and swimming.
Melissa Ulrich, CSWA, QMHP-R
Clinical Social Worker Associate
Family Navigator
Offering:
In-Clinic (Clackamas, NE Portland), Telehealth
Experience:
Melissa received her Master of Social Work from Portland State University with a focus on Children, Youth, and Families. She has experience with nonprofit organizations where she worked on dismantling barriers and expanding access and inclusion in education, outdoor activities, and health outcomes for historically marginalized populations, including youth.
Melissa believes that mental health challenges are common and often misunderstood, and that many people with diagnosed mental health disorders have experience with trauma, systemic oppression, and/or a sense that they don’t belong. Melissa has seen therapy to be a dedicated space to destigmatize, contextualize, reconnect, and heal on individual, interpersonal, and collective levels. Melissa is excited to work with our Neuro families, specifically using systems theories and expressive modalities such as art, nature, and play therapy.
Interests:
In her free time, Melissa likes to hike, camp, and bike with her partner and her dog. She enjoys creating macramé for house plants, painting, and sitting on a patio when the sun is out. Melissa is an animal lover and she is practicing aerial silks.
Michael Lichtenberg, MA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Clinical Supervisor
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Canby, Clackamas, NE Portland), Telehealth
Experience:
Michael graduated with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling. He also has his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing and Advertising Management from Portland State University.
Michael has been practicing as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2013 primarily in community mental health. He has experience in office settings, in-home therapy, crisis management, and has participated in several county-led “Wrap-Around Teams.” Michael also worked with a culturally specific residential program founded in response to rising over-representation of Latino youth in the juvenile justice system.
Michael was encouraged by two close friends to go back and get his Master’s Degree at Lewis & Clark. During his second semester, he took an Intro to Systemic Family Therapy class and that’s all it took for him to realize that he wanted to focus on a Marriage and Family Therapy degree with a specialized training in addictions.
Michael is motivated by making sure that the voices of the marginalized are heard. He is often amazed as he witnesses clients rediscover their inner voice as it relates to advocating for themselves and their families.
Interests:
In his free time, Michael enjoys the outdoors, restoring wood furniture and antique radios, and listening to his favorite bands from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. A fun fact about Michael is that he has met two US Presidents!
Sarah Senderling, MA
Professional Counselor Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (NE Portland), Telehealth
Experience:
Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University and her Master of Arts in Applied Psychological Sciences from Pacific University. She has a variety of experience including school and home based applied behavioral analysis and private practice adult, pediatric, and couples counseling.
Sarah decided to pursue a career in therapy after becoming a peer counselor during her undergraduate career through the University Counseling Center. She provided individual sessions and group presentations regarding time management skills, study tactics, interpersonal relationship skills, and personal management skills. Through that she fell in love with the idea of a career in therapy and went on to pursue her master’s degree in Applied Psychological Sciences.
Sarah is motivated by her desire to provide a safe space for her clients through acceptance and compassion. She wants her clients to know there is always someone willing to listen to their deepest thoughts and struggles without judgment or consequence. She wants to help people learn to flow through life at their own pace, highlighting their strengths and bolstering their ability to confidently overcome any obstacle. Sarah utilizes aspects of strengths-based therapy, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy in her work.
Interests:
In her free time, Sarah likes to play violin, power lift, cook, bake, and hang out with her cats and pit/lab pup. Sarah is an ocean gal from Florida who loves to scuba dive and sail.
Sophia Veis, MA, QMHP-R
Qualified Mental Health Practitioner
Offering:
In-Clinic (Hillsboro), Telehealth
Experience:
Sophia Veis is a graduate student from George Fox University, where she earned her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology complemented by a minor in fine arts from the University of Portland. Her professional experiences include working at a children’s inpatient psychiatric unit, an internship at a private practice, and volunteer work at a youth mental health crisis/suicide hotline. Her passion lies in collaborative engagement with others, driving her unwavering commitment to supporting others. Sophia finds motivation in the field from the progress she witnesses in her clients, admiring their hard work.
Specializing in youth and family counseling, Sophia adopts a strengths-based and person-centered approach in her work.
Interests:
Sophia finds joy in creative pursuits such as crochet, painting, and photography, demonstrating her love for the arts and crafts. In her personal life, she has four cherished goats that she loves dearly!
Terri Sutton, MA
Professional Counselor Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Canby), Telehealth
Experience:
Terri earned her Master of Counseling from Oregon State University and has dedicated over 20 years to supporting young children’s social-emotional development and family wellness. In her latest role within Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, she provided consultation to teachers, home visitors, and parents/caregivers. She has also co-facilitated parenting groups, such as Circle of Security Planning. Her experience includes a clinical mental health internship at Clackamas County Children’s Commission, where she worked with adults, caregivers, children, and couples dealing with relational and mental health needs. Early in her career, Terri worked with youth in schools and church settings. Her impactful work extended to Guatemala, where she collaborated on self-development projects with women.
Terri’s journey in early childhood education, family services, and infant and early childhood mental health fueled her transition to a mental health counselor. She is passionate about supporting children’s social-emotional development and fostering positive parent-child relationships.
Believing in the importance of connection within families, communities, and cultures, Terri uses relationship-based counseling approaches informed by person-centered practices, attachment theory, and multicultural and social justice counseling. Her treatment approaches are informed by child-centered play therapy, internal family systems (IFS), attachment interventions (such as Circle of Security), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), mindfulness practices, and trauma-informed care. Her primary area of interest is the therapeutic power of play, recognizing it as the language of childhood that is good for all ages.
Interests:
In her free time, Terri enjoys playful times with her son’s dog, leisurely walks by the river, creative projects such as changing up her backyard, watching soccer games, and enjoying a movie night. Having spent five years in Guatemala, she loves travelling and seeing new places. The beach is one of her favorite places to visit because she loves the sound of the ocean, watching the waves, and the feeling of sand on her feet.
Victoria Saager, MA, QMHP-R
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Hillsboro, Wilsonville), Telehealth
Experience:
Victoria graduated with a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from George Fox University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in writing at Oregon State University. While in school, Victoria had the opportunity to lead activities for youth at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center in Salem. She also worked as a peer mentor providing support for undergraduate students processing anxiety, depression, and relational stressors.
Since 2017, Victoria has worked as an art teacher at a local nonprofit and in an elementary school setting. She has also spent several years working with at-risk youth at outreach centers and at George Fox. While working in educational settings, she has seen how there is often a lack of time and resources available to help kids, whether it’s hyperactivity, trouble emotionally regulating, behavioral issues, or something else that they’re facing. She has always wanted to be one of those resources for kids and families. She is inspired by the creativity of kids and their ability to find joy and beauty in places we often miss as adults.
Victoria uses talk and play therapy to explore relational dynamics and coping patterns. She believes therapy is a collaborative process with the ultimate goal being to help people hone their strengths and develop skills to face life’s challenges. She is interested in becoming a registered play therapist and to continue learning about artistic interventions in therapy.
Interests:
In her free time, Victoria enjoys all forms of art, including painting, ceramics, digital design, and creative writing. She also loves being outside, trying new foods, getting coffee with friends, and collecting vinyls. She is also an aspiring apiarist!
Medical Program Staff
Amanda Watters, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Executive Director
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
Not Accepting New Clients
Experience:
Executive Director, Dr. Amanda Watters, earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in 2015 after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Parks Management with a minor in Psychology from University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She is also a Registered Qualified Mental Health Associate and a co-founder of an all-natural freezer pop start-up. Perhaps this combination of interests and education made it inevitable that Dr. Amanda would be a healthcare leader for a pediatric and family specialty therapy clinic group in Oregon! We like to think so.
Besides her work for Neuro, Dr. Amanda continues to serve as an Adjunct Faculty Member/Lecturer for Pediatrics and Psychology Courses at NUNM, is a member of the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians and served on the board of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She is an affiliate member of the Oregon Pediatrics Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine and has been a frequent presenter to state and national groups on the subjects of Suicide Prevention and Pediatric Mental Health.
As Executive Director, Dr. Amanda advocates for Neuro’s community of families both internally and externally. She was the critical voice that resulted in Neuro receiving Oregon Health Authority’s first ever Culturally Specific Services designation based on ability status; initiated the launch of Neuro’s own Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Team; and actively participates in Oregon’s legislative process. Under her leadership, Neuro has stabilized in a post-COVID world and grown in both budget and impact. Critically, she has been a champion for our Nature Based Therapy efforts as well as the organization’s growing Intern and Fellows program which has mentored, guided, and developed critical skills for 15 new therapy providers in their support of youth with developmental and behavioral delays and disorders.
Dr. Amanda leads Neuro along with a talented and dedicated multidisciplinary management team to realize our vision and mission to positively impact kids, families, and our community by providing comprehensive therapy services in an innovative and collaborative environment, with an unwavering commitment to the removal of financial barriers for all.
Interests:
In her free time, Dr. Amanda enjoys gardening and exploring the Japanese Garden. She likes cycling, hiking, and practicing meditation and yoga. She loves to travel and has visited more than 25 countries.
Audra Gesik, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Canby, Clackamas), Telehealth
Experience:
Dr. Audra is a licensed naturopathic physician who graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine. She also has her undergraduate degree in General Science from Portland State University. Dr. Audra has experience with pediatrics, integrative mental health, and women’s health. Prior to becoming a naturopathic doctor, she worked as a home visitor supporting prenatal and early childhood development/attachment. She has also spent time providing mentorship and life skills training to teens.
Dr. Audra was drawn to naturopathic medicine because of the integrative and individualized healthcare it can provide. She is guided by the goals of each patient to create a collaborative approach to care. Naturopathic medicine uses a whole-person centered approach which seeks to restore balance in a sustainable way. She enjoys supporting families from preconception through adulthood.
Interests:
In her free time, Dr. Audra likes to spend time outdoors with her family, watch her toddler learn and grow, and volunteer at animal sanctuaries. A fun fact about Dr. Audra is that she loves succulents, houseplants, and vegetable gardening.
Hayleigh Ast, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic (Oregon City), Telehealth
Experience:
Dr. Hayleigh is a licensed naturopathic physician who graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine and completed her residency at the University of California Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. Her clinical focus is pediatric medicine, ages 0-25, on neurodevelopmental and neurological medicine.
Dr. Hayleigh works with children and families to optimize quality of life and partners with patients for informed decision-making. Her passion for pediatric care developed prior to medical school as she worked closely with reading specialists and volunteered at the Big Brothers and Sisters program and Bethesda Children’s Home during her college career. Through this experience, she garnered an appreciation for the complexities of children’s minds and the importance of meeting basic needs such as a nutritious diet. Concomitantly, she received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Allegheny College, fueling her interests in neurological medicine and research. Being a naturopathic doctor allows Dr. Hayleigh to address the whole child and family, from nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to more complex adjunctive treatments like botanical medicine or pharmaceuticals to support patient health.
In addition to clinical work, Dr. Hayleigh studies ADHD treatment with micronutrients at Oregon Health Science University. Her current work involves gut microbiome assessment.
Interests:
In her free time, Dr. Hayleigh appreciates a long run and a cold swim. She loves the kitchen for baking and cooking with recipes from around the world.
Leslie Fuller, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
Telehealth
Experience:
Dr. Leslie is a 2009 graduate of NUNM, where she was a clinical educator for 14 years (involving 10 years of specific clinical Neurology Rotation, attending physician at Outside In, and working in a certified primary care home) and an assistant professor overseeing Neurology Curriculum. She teaches lab diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and pharmacology for the Doctorate of Chiropractor program, and teaches Nutrition for Neurologic Conditions in the Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition Program. During her time at UO, she worked for a nonprofit called World Wheelchair Sports where she worked with kids and families. It was there that she realized how poorly the medical system was set up to really help individuals with neurologic conditions or disabilities receive medical care that was specialized to them.
Finding NUNM at a career fair, she fell in love with the non-MD approach and has pushed into “a different way to do neurology” for the last 18 years of education and 14 years of practice. Dr. Leslie’s goal with medicine is to strengthen and support weakened systems: weakened physiological systems that cause pathology, and weakened medical systems that don’t accommodate the needs of neurologic conditions. Loving to teach at every level from direct education to individual patients up to large classroom teaching for medical students or professionals seeking CE, Dr. Leslie loves the ah-ha moment that can guide a learner to really dive into understanding their condition or understand a health topic.
Areas of interest include brain injury, dysautonomia, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment (including Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment), multiple sclerosis, rare neurologic conditions, headache and migraine, peripheral neuropathy, and pain conditions (including fibromyalgia). Her patient base is currently mostly adults (over 16) with any of these conditions or more. Falling in love with the brain and spinal cord at 19, Dr. Leslie really deeply loves to learn about things that have a neurologic underpinning or connection!
Interests:
In her free time, Dr. Leslie has a very active family of two kids, two dogs, one tortoise, and one husband. They bike, swim, camp, hike, raft, play, and beach! She learned to scuba dive at age 14 and loves sea creatures of all kinds. She thinks she was supposed to be a marine biologist, but took a hard right and found herself working with humans!
Administrative Staff
Amanda Watters, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Executive Director
Executive Director, Dr. Amanda Watters, earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in 2015 after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Parks Management with a minor in Psychology from University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She is also a Registered Qualified Mental Health Associate and a co-founder of an all-natural freezer pop start-up. Perhaps this combination of interests and education made it inevitable that Dr. Amanda would be a healthcare leader for a pediatric and family specialty therapy clinic group in Oregon! We like to think so.
Besides her work for Neuro, Dr. Amanda continues to serve as an Adjunct Faculty Member/Lecturer for Pediatrics and Psychology Courses at NUNM, is a member of the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians and served on the board of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She is an affiliate member of the Oregon Pediatrics Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine and has been a frequent presenter to state and national groups on the subjects of Suicide Prevention and Pediatric Mental Health.
As Executive Director, Dr. Amanda advocates for Neuro’s community of families both internally and externally. She was the critical voice that resulted in Neuro receiving Oregon Health Authority’s first ever Culturally Specific Services designation based on ability status; initiated the launch of Neuro’s own Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Team; and actively participates in Oregon’s legislative process. Under her leadership, Neuro has stabilized in a post-COVID world and grown in both budget and impact. Critically, she has been a champion for our Nature Based Therapy efforts as well as the organization’s growing Intern and Fellows program which has mentored, guided, and developed critical skills for 15 new therapy providers in their support of youth with developmental and behavioral delays and disorders.
Dr. Amanda leads Neuro along with a talented and dedicated multidisciplinary management team to realize our vision and mission to positively impact kids, families, and our community by providing comprehensive therapy services in an innovative and collaborative environment, with an unwavering commitment to the removal of financial barriers for all.
Interests:
In her free time, Dr. Amanda enjoys gardening, yoga, and meditation. On the weekends, you can find her hiking with her two pups Magnolia and Sama, or exploring the Japanese Garden and enjoying Thai Food with her partner. She loves to travel and has visited more than 25 countries.
Kate Martinez
Development Director
Email: [email protected]
Kate joined Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2023 as the Development Director. Kate works collaboratively with everyone who is part of our organization; our funders and partners, our client families, our staff, and all members of our diverse communities. In Kate’s words: “Together, we are building a welcoming and engaging fund development plan to ensure that Neuro is here for all our families-today and long into the future.” She believes that the positive impacts of Neuro cannot be overstated, that the care provided at Neuro can profoundly change the lives of children and families. Along with the support of naturopathic physicians, the whole child is moved into healing. Kate is in awe of the dedicated work of our entire staff, and the love and care of every family and community member that engages with and supports Neuro. With more than 25 years of non-profit financial development experience, she feels that she has much to give and much to learn.
Interests:
In her free time, Kate loves writing, reading, hiking, gardening, and fixing things around the house–She’s handy! She describes herself as a terrible drummer and a pretty good actor and producer, having graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Kate loves taking the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone, even if that can be scary. Onward!
Marcie Connolly
Finance Director
Email: [email protected]
Marcie joined Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2024 as Finance Director as a partner to the Executive Director and leadership team. She applied to Neuro to continue doing the financial work she loves within Neuro’s mission of positively impacting the unique needs of children and families. As Finance Director, she provides financial and technical support to the staff, the Board, and all stakeholders involved. She is responsible for oversight of all accounting operations within the organization, ensuring compliance with the US GAAP standards and best practices.
Interests:
Marcie has lived in Portland for over 30 years and has one grown daughter. She enjoys playing classical piano, golfing, embarking on active adventure travels, and gardening.
Noralee Lane, AAS, NCMA
Clinic Director
Email: [email protected]
Noralee (Nora) has been with Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies (NTPT) since 2004 as the Clinic Director. She oversees the management of all operations for each clinic location, works very closely with the terrific team of Admin staff and is dedicated to ensuring that all our clients receive the best care possible.
Interests:
Nora is a native Oregonian and has lived in the Portland Metropolitan area all her life. She is an avid sportsman and hunter; and loves spending time with her family.
Allison McDaniel
Care Coordinator
Mental Health and Medical Program Services
Email: [email protected]
Allison joined our team at Neuro in 2023 as a Care Coordinator at our Oregon City clinic. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Concordia University and is primarily responsible for front office work, scheduling, and coordination. Allison’s passion for psychology led her to Neuro, where she found an opportunity to serve her preferred demographic and make a meaningful impact. She is driven by values of inclusivity, family, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Interests:
Outside of work, Allison enjoys spending time with friends and family, camping, and reading. She is married to her high school sweetheart and was born and raised in West Linn!
Andrea Anderson
Office Specialist, NE Portland
Email: [email protected]
Andrea is an Office Specialist at our NE Portland clinic. She graduated from Portland State University with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in August 2004, and completed the Graduate Teacher Education Program in June 2001. Prior, Andrea earned her B.A. in French with a Minor in History from the University of Oregon in June 1996.
Andrea’s primary responsibilities include client scheduling, answering emails and phone calls, checking-in clients, maintaining forms, and keeping a well-organized and clean shared space. She applied to work at Neuro because she wanted to channel her passion for social justice, equity, and inclusion. Andrea has a desire to help children and families, especially those from historically marginalized communities, in a way that is visible, tangible, and truly contributing to the betterment of our world. Compassion, kindness, equity, fairness, and balance are the values that drive Andrea.
Interests:
Andrea has lived in Oregon all her life, from Pendleton to McMinnville to Eugene to Portland, except for a three-month stint in France. Andrea has been married to her partner Jerry for nearly 24 years, whom she met when he was her pizza delivery guy while she attended UO. They have two teenage children: non-binary eldest child Emilie, who is 17 and wants to be a nurse, and son Elliott, who is 15 and plays club soccer. They also have two cats named Arlo the orange baby and Peeta the tuxedoed gentleman, and one dog, Pippi, a McNab Collie/Shepherd. In her free time, Andrea enjoys going to the Oregon coast as much as possible, loves Palm Springs, 80s music, and otters (the cats of the sea)!
Angela Nguyen
Marketing and Community Outreach Specialist
Email: a[email protected]
Angela joined the Neuro team in 2022 as a Marketing and Development Assistant. She graduated from Portland State University with a BS in Marketing and Advertising Management along with a minor in Graphic Design. Angela’s role at Neuro includes providing administrative support to the Marketing and Development Director, managing databases, and assisting in marketing campaigns and events.
She applied to work at Neuro because she appreciated the work environment and goals of Neuro, finding it to be an organization that strongly encourages growth and compassion.
Interests:
Angela’s interest and hobbies include creative exercise through personal projects with her friends through drawing and video-editing. She also went on record saying that she disliked Chihuahuas until now owning a cute one of her own, showing quite the flexible and open mind!
Anna Waite
Care Coordinator Manager
Mental Health and Medical Program Services
Email: [email protected]
Anna joined the team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2017 and is the Care Coordinator for the Mental Health and Medical Programs. She works closely with our inter-disciplinary team, mental health clinicians, and naturopathic doctor to coordinate the administrative operations for these programs. Including: Client Intakes, processing agency referrals, scheduling appointments, and providing support for families all throughout.
Anna’s background in psychology combined with her experience here at Neuro and passion for children and families with special needs make her a vital part of our team.
Interests:
Anna enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children. Together, they enjoy exploring parks and new hiking trails. You can often find them eating out at their favorite Mexican Restaurant or having a movie night at home watching Harry Potter.
Anna Wood
Office Specialist, McMinnville Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Anna joined our team at Neuro in 2021 and shares the front office duties at our McMinnville Clinic. Her responsibilities include answering phones, scheduling appointments, and assisting our Neuro families. Anna has a passion for helping people and a love for kids.
Interests:
In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and friends and working on house projects. Her favorite season is fall and she loves Halloween.
Cairalee Svela
Billing Specialist
Email: [email protected]
In 2023, Cairalee joined the Neuro team as a Billing Specialist. She graduated summa cum laude from Portland State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. Her responsibilities encompass creating and submitting billing claims for Medicaid and private insurers to ensure timely processing for therapists and the clinic. Additionally, she assists patients in understanding their bills and navigating the financial aspects associated with receiving care.
She pursued education in Medical Billing and Coding, and her decision to work at Neuro was driven by the supportive environment that aligns with her educational goals. With family members with developmental disabilities, Cairalee actively engages in their care and feels a personal connection to the work here at Neuro. Her upbringing in a neighborhood predominantly consisting of underrepresented and minority populations fueled her passion for working with diverse communities. The opportunity to make a positive impact on the people she serves empowers her.
Interests:
Cairalee, who grew up singing and received encouragement from her family, has even auditioned for popular shows like The Voice and American Idol. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and painting, utilizing mixed mediums to create imagery. Her love for writing and learning reflects her creative spirit!
Cindy Dominguez
Office Specialist, Wilsonville Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Cindy joined our team in 2022 as an Office Specialist at the Canby Clinic. Her responsibilities include answering phones, scheduling appointments, and assisting our Neuro families. As a parent of a child with special needs, Cindy feels that this work is the perfect opportunity for her to give back and help provide a better future for kids with similar experiences.
Interests:
Cindy enjoys gardening and doing tile mosaics. She also loves travelling to new places with her husband, and would one day love to see the Northern Lights and travel through all 50 states.
Diane Waller
Medical Records Manager,
Office Specialist Manager
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Diane has been at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies since 2007 As Records Manager, she oversees the medical records for the organization to ensure all healthcare information is accurate, complete, and remains confidential and secure. She provides support to the entire therapy staff with regards to documentation and reports. As the Office Specialist Manager, Diane oversees the office specialists at all of our clinics. She loves her job and is thrilled to work with people who care so much about how they can help others.
Interests:
Diane grew up in Seattle and has lived in the Portland Area since 1995. She is obsessed with spending time with her new granddaughter! She also enjoys baking, reading, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family and her two labrador retrievers.
Elaissa Cronques
Office Specialist, Oregon City Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Elaissa joined our team at Neuro in 2023 as an Office Specialist for the Oregon City Clinic. She graduated from Portland Community College in 2022 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Her primary areas of responsibility include assisting patients when checking in, administrative tasks, and working with other staff and therapists to help patients. Elaissa wants to build relationships with those around her and give back to her community while assisting those struggling to speak English. Values that drive her are authenticity in being true to herself and not forgetting where she came from and what was taught to her, compassion for herself and others, and having the bravery not to be afraid to try new challenges.
Interests:
In her free time, Elaissa enjoys spending time and doing fun activities with her family. She also tries to explore as many new places as she can and goes on walks with her dog.
Ellen Wrynn
Credentialing Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Ellen joined our team at Neuro in 2021 as the Credentialing Specialist. She believes in the Neuro mission and is excited about helping children and their families. She is passionate about getting every client the best care possible.
Interests:
In her free time, Ellen enjoys baking, swimming, paddle boarding, and biking. A couple fun facts about Ellen include that she spent 23 years moving around the United States as a military wife and she is a mother of three (two of her kids are twins)!
Felicity Rychlick
Insurance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Felicity joined our team in 2023 as an Office Specialist at our Hillsboro clinic. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s of graphic information technology and a minor in sociology in 2022. Her primary areas of responsibility involve scheduling, communication with clients, greeting patients, and more. She applied to Neuro as an opportunity to spend time at work positively impacting the community.
Interests:
In her free time, Felicity enjoys hiking with her two dogs, drawing with colored pencils and painting, and reading sci-fi and fantasy novels. She also loves houseplants and has an indoor jungle!
Jean Wilson
Office Specialist, Hillsboro Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Jean joined the team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2021 and works in the front office at our Hillsboro Clinic. She likes meeting and working with people, and she values meaningful work. Jean is excited to join Neuro in making a positive impact on families and the community.
Interests:
Jean loves to hike and her favorite hikes include The Zion Narrows, the Wildwood Trail, and summiting Mount St. Helens and Yosemite’s Half Dome. She often plays pickleball and loves to read a good book.
Jeremy Welliver
Facilities Maintenance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Jeremy joined Neuro in 2023 as a Facilities Maintenance Specialist. His primary areas of responsibilities include managing the ongoing maintenance needs for our seven Portland area clinics, identifying basic maintenance tasks, and conducting basic interior and exterior maintenance and repair tasks. He applied to Neuro because he wanted to give back to this organization that helped his own child many years ago.
Interests:
In his free time, he enjoys camping and motorcycling!
Kjeresti Kliewer
Insurance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Kjeresti joined our team in 2019 and is on our team of Insurance Specialists. Her professional experience, excellent customer service skills, and compassion for working with kids makes her a valuable asset to the admin staff at Neuro. As a member of the Insurance Specialist team, Kjeresti works closely with our therapy staff, prescribing physicians and insurance carriers to ensure our clients receive the maximum benefits available to them.
Interests:
Kjeresti has three dogs, and she loves to travel. In her free time, she likes to garden and spend time with her grandkids.
Lovett Grigoryev
Human Resources Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Lovett has been at Neuro since 2014 and is currently on our Human Resources team. She graduated from Clackamas Community College with her associates degree in Business Administration and loves working in the healthcare setting. She assists with employee recruitment by posting jobs, setting up interviews, on-boarding and off-boarding employees and assists with benefit administration and tracking. She also works with managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing the company’s general administrative activities.
Interests:
In her free time, Lovett enjoys vegetable gardening, cooking, home remodeling & DIY projects and spending time outdoors with her son and husband. She comes from a large family and loves to host parties and get-togethers.
Luci Jewess
Human Resources Manager
Email: [email protected]
Luci has been with Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies since 2018 and currently works as our Human Resources Manager. She loves the mission of Neuro, and she is excited about helping kids and families by giving them resources they need to be successful in life. Luci’s creativity and resourcefulness make her a great asset to our team.
Interests:
Luci spent her first 24 years of marriage as a military wife and has lived all over the United States. Her favorite part was making friends all over the country. In her spare time she loves to garden, hike, ski and see new places with family and friends.
Mackenzie Morris
Care Coordinator
Mental Health and Medical Program Services
Email: [email protected]
Mackenzie graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2012. As a Care Coordinator, she collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, mental health clinicians, and naturopathic practitioners. In addition, she coordinates client schedules, greets, and assists clients as they come into the clinic. With a strong passion for helping others, particularly in the realm of mental health, Mackenzie is committed to expanding her knowledge of psychology to better serve her community’s mental health needs. Ensuring clients feel well-cared for is her top priority!
Interests:
Outside of work, Mackenzie enjoys gardening and exploring new cuisines with her husband and two boys. An interesting fact about her is that her ancestor traveled the Oregon Trail and was a part of the ‘lost wagon train’ on Meek’s Cutoff in 1845.
Makana Stores
Clinic Director Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Makana serves as our Clinic Director Assistant, bringing expertise from her B.S. in Marketing obtained from Portland State University, complemented by an International Business Certificate. Makana assists our Clinic Director in various capacities, from note-taking during meetings to helping organize and working with other departments to ensure quality results.
Driven by a resonance with our mission and vision, Makana is passionately dedicated to our goal of supporting children in need. She loves kids and grew up around family and friends who could have greatly benefited from similar services. She is committed to helping children have access to the care they need. Transitioning from the corporate sector, Makana sought the opportunity to work at a nonprofit to contribute meaningfully to communities.
Interests:
In her free time, Makana enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, trail running, and Nordic skiing. She has explored over 14 national parks! Makana also enjoys reading and cuddling with her cat, Maple Syrup!
Maria Gabriel
Lead Office Specialist, Oregon City Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Maria joined our team at Neuro in 2022. She earned her AAOT from Chemeketa Community College. Maria shares the reception and scheduling duties at our Oregon City Clinic, and leads our Office Specialist Team. She is excited to work in a position that involves helping children.
Interests:
In her free time, Maria enjoys painting and reading. She also likes to watch a good documentary.
Rebekka Sinigur
Care Coordinator
Mental Health and Medical Program Services
Email: [email protected]
Rebekka became a part of our team at Neuro in 2023, where she works as a Care Coordinator at our Clackamas clinic. She holds an associate degree in surgical technology from Concorde Career College and is primarily responsible for answering phone and email inquiries and scheduling patients. Rebekka finds inspiration in the work that Neuro does, and her values of honesty, hard work, and perseverance drive her in her role.
Interests:
In Rebekka’s free time, she enjoys visiting the beach!
Reyna Welliver
Executive Assistant, Board Liaison
Email: [email protected]
Reyna joined our team in 2022 and is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. She works alongside the Executive Director and The Board of Directors to support a variety of administrative projects. Reyna’s love for kids and admiration for Neuro’s mission inspired her to join the organization.
Interests:
Reyna’s hobbies include fly fishing, reading, and creative writing!
Shelby Lydon
Office Specialist, McMinnville Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Shelby started working at Neuro in 2022 as a Scheduler/Receptionist at our McMinnville Clinic. Her responsibilities include scheduling appointments, answering phones, and assisting Neuro families. She chose to work at Neuro because she loves what Neuro stands for.
Interests:
In her free time, Shelby loves going on outdoor adventures, watching Disney movies, and dancing to music with her son. She is passionate about photography, and she loves using photography to help empower women and bring back their confidence in themselves.
Susan Sessions
Floating Office Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Susan joined our team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2019. She works on our Scheduling Team as a Floating Office Specialist for all clinic locations at Neuro.
Susan was a stay at home mom to two special needs boys, and benefitted from the different therapies her boys received. She enjoys the opportunity to work with families at all of Neuro’s clinics. She is compassionate and encouraging, and has a heart for helping others.
Interests:
Susan enjoys the beach (especially Hawaii!). She loves bright colors, and has a hefty shoe collection!
Tessa Eleen
Insurance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Tessa joined Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2020 as an Office Specialist, and transitioned to the role of an Insurance Specialist in 2023. Tessa loves meeting and conversing with new people, and is excited to work for a family-centered organization.
Interests:
In her free time, Tessa loves doing arts and crafts and playing with her son and daughter. She enjoys reading and family outings like camping and beach trips.
Tina Stone
Lead Billing and Revenue Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Tina joined Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2024 as the Lead Billing and Revenue Specialist. Tina was drawn to Neuro’s focus on helping children and families, additionally being in a leadership role where she can help foster the growth of her team. She is responsible for claims, accounts receivable, managing collections accounts, financial reports, and more.
Interests:
Tina has four adult children and three grandchildren in their blended family. Her favorite “child” is her Golden Doodle, Miss Mobi Mae (nobody can be jealous of a dog!). Tina and her husband have been together for twenty five years and are both members of the Willamette Valley Street Rods. Her hobbies include golfing, camping, and playing games.
Valerie Vanderford
Insurance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Valerie joined our team in 2020 as an Insurance Specialist. She has an extensive background in insurance verification, billing, and authorizations. Valerie worked for Neuro back in the early days when it was only one clinic in Oregon City, and she is excited to be part of the team again at Neuro.
Interests:
When Valerie is not at work, she is usually outdoors. She enjoys gardening, birdwatching, exploring the many beautiful trails in the Northwest, and kayaking on local lakes and rivers. She loves to cook, watch a good movie, and root for the San Francisco 49ers. She has two grown sons and a grandchild, Henry.
Yvonne Schmitz
Lead Insurance Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Yvonne has been with Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies since 2015 and leads our Insurance Team. Yvonne works closely with our therapy staff, prescribing physicians and insurance carriers, both contracted and non-contracted, to ensure our clients receive the maximum benefit available to them. She is adept at assisting our clients with questions about their plan benefits or if insurance and authorization issues arise. Before joining our team, Yvonne was already familiar with our organization as a foster parent, bringing her foster children here for therapy services. Yvonne’s background in administration and her experience as a foster parent is a perfect fit for our clinic.
Interests:
Yvonne enjoys cooking, especially for her two boys who love to eat! She loves to spend time with her family outside – hiking, camping, fishing and exploring.
