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.
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.
Carrie Young, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
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.
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.
Emily Cutler, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Emily graduated from Stanbridge University with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Her experience includes working in outpatient pediatric therapy settings.
As an Occupational Therapist, Emily loves seeing the small bits of progress add up to clients meeting their goals. She is motivated by finding what someone loves to do and making that activity work toward their objective.
Interests:
In her free time, Emily loves hiking, fly fishing, and traveling. She enjoys eating fancy meals and playing with her dog, Lily. She likes to travel and read, and she is very good at Mario Kart.
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.
Erin Franke, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Prior to graduating with her Masters degree from Pacific University, Erin worked as a rehabilitation aide in a hospital rehab setting. Erin’s desire to become an occupational therapist was confirmed during her 3 years as an aide. Her passion and creativity is evident throughout her interactions with each client and family she works with. Erin has completed additional professional training in Therapeutic Listening®, Handwriting without Tears®, and is pursuing additional professional courses which are focused on address sensory processing disorders and feeding issues in children.
Interests:
Erin is from Seattle, WA. She is a photographer and enjoys being outside, including being active in mountain bike riding, tennis, soccer and going running with her dog, Kuma. Kuma is a pure white Siberian husky who can say “I love you”.
Jen (Maze) Horton, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Jen graduated from Pacific University with a doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She began her work in the special needs field in 2008, and has worked in a variety of settings including the classroom, the home, the community, and private clinics. She had many roles including adapted art and garden instructor, 1:1 classroom aide, in home ABA interventionist, and social mentor. During her time working as an adapted physical education instructor, she worked closely with the onsite occupational therapist. She witnessed the impact occupational therapy had on the lives of the kiddos she worked with, and she knew this profession would allow her to use her creativity and passion for helping others. Her desire to pursue occupational therapy was further confirmed by her own post-injury rehabilitation after a traumatic accident.
Jen loves what she does and finds fulfillment in working with children to reach their full potential. She is passionate about working with parents and caregivers throughout the therapy process and hopes to empower them with the tools to help their child succeed.
Interests:
Jen is passionate about the outdoors and you can sometimes find her hiking or backpacking in her free time. As a former collegiate softball payer she loves competition and being active. Some sports she currently enjoys are boxing, hot yoga, and surfing. She also enjoys trying new art mediums and is presently dabbling in watercolors. Most of all, she loves spending quality time with her family and friends.
Kayla Lowman, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Since graduating with her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Clarkson University, Kayla has worked in a pediatric outpatient setting serving kids with a variety of disabilities. Kayla loves being a therapist because of the children that keep her on her feet and the daily interactions that continue to surprise her. She loves that therapy feels like a puzzle that needs to be solved, and that it creates innovative, creative, and experienced problem solvers. Kayla has experience with handwriting without tears, zones of regulation, and the alert program.
Interests:
Kayla loves to read, see live music, and try new baking recipes. She enjoys taking road trips and spending time at the coast with family and friends. Kayla drove across the country to attend grad school in New York, which allowed her to see and experience Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Nashville, the Carolina Coasts, The White House, and Niagara Falls. A fun fact about Kayla is she has a twin who is a pediatric speech therapist!
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!
Maggie Armstrong, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Maggie graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Kinesiology and from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate. She has been working with kids with disabilities since she was in the fifth grade and gained professional OT experience in an adult acute care hospital setting in St. Louis where she worked for about a year. When she moved here, she also helped a school with the busy end-of-the-year before the start of summer.
Having the opportunity to work with kids of varying disabilities from a young age, Maggie realized how much she loved the population. She began to explore how she could apply this to a job and found occupational therapy. She stated that she learned a lot along the way, and even more once she started school. She felt everything she learned made her even more excited about the profession!
She is motivated by her goal to help people participate in life to their fullest potential and to feel good about themselves while doing it. Maggie hopes to help everyone identify their strengths and support needs, learn how to communicate those to others, and apply this to what is most important to them in their lives. With an interest in growing her skills in neurodiverse affirming therapy practice, she loves all her interactions with autistic children and adults and other neurodiverse populations. There is great interest in transition to young adulthood and building skills for autonomy.
Interests:
In her free time, Maggie likes to read, do embroidery, play with her dog, go hiking/camping, and hang out with friends. She is looking forward to learning many more outdoor activities now that she is in what she describes as such a beautiful place for it.
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, and she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Pomona College. Sam has experience with school-based services (ages 3-21), and prior to finishing her OT degree she worked for a nonprofit that brought children and adults with disabilities into the community to practice skills such as money management, social skills, navigation, and self-advocacy. Sam has additional continued education in reflex integration, motor planning, visual perception, and pediatric hand skills.
Sam’s passion for occupational therapy began with an internship where she spent her summers working at a program for children with Autism, ADHD, and ODD. 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 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 paint, go for walks, drink coffee, and spend time with her husband and two cats. Sam played collegiate softball. A fun fact about Sam is that she has lived in four states (WA, WI, MO, OR) in the last couple of years, but she is happy to call Portland, OR home now!
Sarah Bocchicchio, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Sarah graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Master’s in occupational therapy and has work experience in pediatric clinical and home health. Her love and passion for watching children grow and improve is what contributed to her decision to become a therapist, and she loves to see the happiness of children and their families when they accomplish their goals and reach milestones.
With experience in MNRI reflex integration conferences and pediatric sleeping interventions, her areas of interest are in sensory integration and MNRI reflex integration.
Interests:
In her free time, Sarah hikes with her two pups, plays volleyball, does dance, and paddle boards. She is originally from North Carolina!
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
Chris Luther, PT, BSPT, C/NDT
Lead 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.
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.
Sam English, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
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!
Tara Rich, MSPT
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.
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.
Leah Tyler, 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]
Availability:
Not Accepting New Clients
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’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.
Jamie 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, 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!
Emalee Moore, BS, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth
Experience:
Emalee is a Mental Health Therapist Student Intern currently pursuing her Master’s in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy 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.
Erin Sweet-Brazel, MA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth
Experience:
Erin earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from George Fox University in Oregon. She spent seven years teaching parenting classes that focused on supporting parents and children during family reorganization, generally separation or divorce. She has worked doing hands-on parent training in the community, and she also has experience supporting parents in recovery as they take brave steps toward sobriety.
Erin is passionate about creating a safe space where children and families can grow, heal, and work toward their goals. She is motivated by the tenacity, resiliency, and creativity of children and families to write a life story with hope and purpose. Erin enjoys collaborating with children, adults, and families in the process of creating a healthy foundation and an atmosphere that facilitates emotional safety. She uses talk therapy and play therapy to explore new patterns of thinking, healthy coping tools, and steps toward healing. She is passionate about working with clients through life transitions of adoption, foster care, and separation/divorce.
Interests:
Erin loves the outdoors, especially backpacking in the Wallowa Mountains and camping with her family. She enjoys gardening and relaxing by the river in the summer. In the winter, she likes to get lost in a good book, snuggled with a warm blanket and sipping peppermint tea. Erin loves to travel and learn about other cultures and how they live.
Grace Nguyen, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth
Experience:
Grace earned her Master’s Degree from George Fox University in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. She has experience working with adults who struggle with a variety of mental health issues and addictions, and she has helped children and their families learn new ways to manage their challenges.
Grace decided to become a therapist because of the power of one session with a counselor. It was the first time she felt like someone listened to her and taught her that counseling can heal through the connection established with another human being. She hopes to make a difference in the world one person and one family at a time. Grace wants to see children grow up to be healthy and well-adapted individuals, and she wants to support families reaching their goals. She approaches her clients from a place of encouragement, and she capitalizes on people’s existing strengths and builds on them. Her passion is to support people rewriting the stories of their lives because it’s not what happened to a person, but it’s the meaning they give to their stories.
Interests:
In her free time, Grace loves to run, hike, read, paint, and spend time with her loved ones.
Lindsey Killian, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth, Nature Based Therapy
Experience:
Lindsey completed her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at George Fox University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from University of Oregon with a focus on Child Growth and Development. Lindsey has done undergraduate and professional research in areas ranging from how children learn to the neurology of cravings at the University of Oregon.
Lindsey has always had a strong love of helping people work through the challenges they encounter in their lives. She fell in love with psychology in high school, and has since developed a passion for working with and advocating for neurodiverse children. She is motivated by helping people find those little things that make every day a little easier.
Interests:
In her free time, Lindsey enjoys doing a variety of crafts including crochet, painting, and woodworking. She likes to bake, and she enjoys relaxing through creating something or playing video games. A fun fact about Lindsey is that she’s a scuba diver!
Mark Hale, BA, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth
Experience:
Mark is a Mental Health Therapist Student Intern currently pursuing his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health at George Fox University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi. Mark’s prior experiences include working as a research assistant in Tanzania, Africa, where he explored environmental and cultural ties to social psychology. He also worked as a teaching assistant in Angel Gabriel Escuela Especial Lima, Peru, and in the aquatic industry with children and families for over 10 years.
Mark believes that cultivating an attitude of gratitude and connecting with the universe around us are essential for personal growth. He finds this is best done by grounding yourself in nature and nurturing your circles of support. Mark finds that immersing oneself in nature can help individuals become their true and best versions of themselves to improve internally and continuously foster valuable relationships.
Interests:
In his free time, Mark enjoys exploring the forest, beach, or mountain with his dog and boyfriend. He also has a passion for food and learning where it comes from. If he is not outside, he is often found in the kitchen pretending he is a classically trained chef or at the farm harvesting food for ideas!
Melanie Sellers, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth
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
Mental Health Therapist
Offering:
In-Clinic, 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
Offering:
In-Clinic, 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!
Nicole Wiegand, MA
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Certified PCIT Therapist
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, Telehealth, Nature Based Therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Experience:
Nicole completed her Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from George Fox University. She has experience with community mental health working in Youth and Family Programs.
Becoming a mother played a large role in Nicole’s decision to become a therapist, and showed her that she wants to help people through their struggles and curiosities. She also believes that her experiences working in a wide range of jobs contributed to her decision to pursue therapy as a career. Whether it was babysitting, housekeeping, administrative roles, bookkeeping, being a Sunday school teacher, or a park greeter at Disney World (yep, she knows Mickey and Minnie Mouse), each role contributed to her journey and helped her find her passion – being a safe space for people to feel seen and heard.
Nicole is passionate about creating a space for the clients that pass through her door (or computer screen) that is non-judgmental, encouraging, safe, and that helps them feel seen and heard.
Interests:
In her free time, Nicole enjoys reading (especially outside in the fresh air), watching movies, and long car rides with no specific destination. She loves spending time with her family and friends.
Rachel Hasse, BS, QMHP
Graduate Student Mental Health Intern
Email: [email protected]
Offering
In-Clinic, Telehealth
Experience:
Rachel Hasse is a graduate student at the University of Western States in MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrated English/Language Arts Education from Miami University in 2013. She has extensive experience working and volunteering in education, where she was previously a student advisor/supervisor, and a high school English teacher and softball coach. She currently works as the Director of Student Success at her university.
In becoming a therapist, Rachel has always been interested in working with teenagers in some capacity, which eventually led her to pursue teaching. Her experiences working with kids at that stage in her life as a high school teacher and coach increased that interest. Her personal counseling experiences helped her realize the aspects of a career she most values, leading to her decision to become a therapist. While interested in gaining experience with a wide range of populations and treatment modalities, she is especially interested in working with adolescents. She is also curious to learn more about evidence-based trauma treatment. In the future, she would love to learn and gain experience in canine-assisted therapy.
Interests:
She loves watching sports, hiking, and spending time outside with her husband and dogs in her free time! The Cincinnati Bengals are her favorite team. She was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, loves sneakers, and she has a small collection (which, yes, she wears them!).
Sarah Senderling, MA
Professional Counselor Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, 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
Professional Counselor Associate
Offering:
In-Clinic, 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!
Unique Page, PhD, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Lead Associate Therapist Supervisor
Clinical Supervisor
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
Not Accepting New Clients
Experience:
Unique holds her Ph.D. in Counseling with a specialization in Counselor Education and Clinical Supervision from Oregon State University. Additional degrees include a master’s in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling from George Fox University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University. She is currently part of the teaching faculty at Oregon State University and has experience working in private practice, community mental health, and as a clinical supervisor.
Unique’s research interests focus on the impact of racial trauma and linguistic analysis within race and ethnicity and she has conducted several national presentations on racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her proficiency as a clinical supervisor and facilitator of trainings and workshops promotes the leadership and empowerment of counselor trainees, mental health professionals, and nonprofits to engage in issues of diversity, power, racism, equity, and inclusion that advance empathy and relational ethics and empower organizational change through a social justice lens.
Unique has always known that her purpose is to help people and it was through school, personal experiences, and incredible Black psychologists, social workers, and counselors who mentored her, she found her passion for mental health counseling. Her work focuses on providing the highest standard of care for children, families and couples. She strives to offer a haven and collaborative environment utilizing counseling techniques that make room for clients to address core emotions of fear, shame, trauma, rejection, and abandonment. She believes that the therapeutic relationship is an essential component of counseling and together we can explore, encourage, and nurture perpetual curiosity about client’s multifaceted identities, experiences, and culture. The connection that Unique establishes with clients is one based on compassion, genuineness, and empathy.
Interests:
In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, go on dates with her husband, and attend Zumba classes!
Victoria Saager, MA
Professional Counselor Associate
Email: [email protected]
Offering:
In-Clinic, 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]
Experience:
Dr. Amanda is a licensed naturopathic physician who graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine. She has experience working in an integrative pediatric primary care setting, and previously served as an attending physician at the National University of Natural Medicine Health Centers. Dr. Amanda is a course director and teacher of pediatric/adolescent medicine, mental illness, and suicide prevention to naturopathic medical students.
Dr. Amanda’s love for working with families and children started when she was a teen and volunteered as a coach for a cheerleading team of girls with special needs. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She started working with children with developmental disabilities and found that she wanted more tools to offer the children she encountered. This led her to pursue her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr. Amanda really emphasizes “doctor as teacher,” and she loves teaching both her patients and in academic settings. She is a big proponent of patients making informed decisions about their healthcare, and she does her best to present information in a balanced way so that they can walk away feeling like they are taking care of their healing. Dr. Amanda is passionate about holistic medical care, and she has a strong interest in developmental and behavioral pediatrics.
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]
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.
Girija Bhonsle, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Email: [email protected]
Experience:
Dr. Girija is a licensed naturopathic physician currently completing her second year in an academic residency focused on evidence-based, integrative primary care at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon. She obtained her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from NUNM in 2021. Growing up, Dr. Girija was inspired by the book Doctor Critter, a story her mom often read to her as a gift from a family friend when she was a newborn. It was her go-to for bedtime readings, often multiple times per night. Since her mother was a physician, Dr. Girija spent many hours playing doctor with her mom’s white coat and stethoscope and their family’s unsuspecting, furry, cooperative cat as her first patient. She considers herself exceptionally lucky to wake up every day and fulfill her childhood dream.
When starting with a new patient, Dr. Girija’s goal is to create a non-judgmental environment that builds a genuinely therapeutic relationship that benefits her patient and remains two-sided so they can bring their own needs and wishes to the table. Meanwhile, she is guided by labs and objective data alongside the patient’s life outside our clinic doors. Her areas of expertise include supporting adults and children struggling with eating disorders, mental health concerns (such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and PTSD), and additional training in contraceptive management, PCOS, perimenopause, and menstrual cycle dysfunction and optimization.
Interests:
Dr. Girija enjoys watching scary movies, reading mystery novels, and attending art exhibits around Portland. With a double major in psychology and neurobiology, Dr. Girija has always fostered a deep understanding and seeks to support neurodiversity and neurodivergence. She is a cat mom with 3 fur babies: Willow, Violette, and Gose! Dr. Girija was originally from Utah but moved across the country twice, spending a decade in Boston, MA, before returning to the West in 2016 for medical school.
Hayleigh Ast, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Email: [email protected]
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]
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!
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!
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.
Administrative Staff
Amanda Watters, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Executive Director
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Amanda is a licensed naturopathic physician and joined the Neuro family in 2019 as our Medical Director. During her first two years years at the organization, she not only expanded the medical program, but was also responsible for leading Neuro’s response to COVID-19. She then accepted a position as the Interim Executive Director in November 2021. Prior to coming to Neuro, she earned her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), where she also completed 3 years of residency and was the chief resident in her final year. In addition to her work at Neuro, she maintains her role as an adjunct faculty member at NUNM where she teaches on topics such as pediatric growth and development, mental illness, and suicide prevention.
Outside of patient care, Dr. Amanda is a leader in the community, including having served on the board of directors for the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians, initiating the foundation of the Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity Awareness (IDEA) Team at Neuro, and actively participating in Oregon’s legislative process. Her leadership at Neuro continues as she learns to take the reins as Executive Director from Karen Brelje, who ran the organization for decades prior.
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!
Lovett Grigoryev
Business Director
Email: [email protected]
Lovett has been at Neuro since 2014 and is currently our business director. She oversees the entire claims billing cycle and accounts payable. She also works with families to set them up with financial assistance programs. Lovett graduated in 2014 and has always desired to work for a non profit organization and see families lives changed for the better.
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.
Melissa Youd
Marketing and Community Outreach Director
Email: [email protected]
Melissa has been with Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies since 1995. Her position on the admin team has varied greatly over the years and in 2011 Melissa began overseeing the marketing department. She manages the development and implementation of all marketing strategies, communications, and networking events for Neuro. Along with her team, she is committed to creating and maintaining successful connections and partnerships with other providers, organizations, community leaders, schools, and families in order to further increase awareness of Neuro’s programs.
Melissa brings a unique perspective and passion to her role as a parent of a child living with disabilities. Her compassion and understanding from a parent’s perspective is a valuable resource for the families and professionals we work with.
Interests:
As a native Oregonian, Melissa enjoys the Pacific Northwest and all the beautiful places it has to offer. She loves the science fiction genre (Star Wars, Doctor Who, & Star Trek top her series favorites), reading, music and gardening; And also spending time with her husband, two active children, their dogs (Zoe and Astrid), a bearded dragon (Gypsy), and a hognose snake (Hazel).
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.
Aliyah Zepeda
Care Coordinator
Mental Health and Medical Program Services
Email: [email protected]
Aliyah joined the Neuro team in 2022 as an Office Specialist. She is currently attending PCC, and she is hoping to transfer soon to Concordia to receive a bachelor’s in nursing. Wanting to watch the growth of each child’s journey here at Neuro and wanting to help, she looks forward to being a part of a huge team of professionals and hardworking colleagues. Aliyah carries the responsibility of being an older sister to three younger siblings and takes care of a family dog. She also values her education and abilities to help others in any way possible; she looks forward to the opportunity to work in a healthcare environment and gain more experience to create a beneficial pathway for herself and her future.
Interests:
She has played soccer since she was around seven (although no longer playing competitively since graduating from high school) and has interest and skill in writing/journaling. Aliyah also really enjoys baking pastries and desserts in her free time!
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.
Caitlin Morey
Lead Marketing Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Caitlin joined the team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2015 as our Marketing Project Manager. Caitlin manages a wide variety of marketing projects including printed materials, resource fairs, fundraising events, educational presentations, and more. Caitlin is a positive, caring and passionate person who enjoys being a part of an organization that is making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Interests:
Caitlin is an avid skier and a coffee connoisseur. She loves Oregon and living in the Pacific Northwest, and her favorite month is October!
Cindy Dominguez
Office Specialist, Canby 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
Office Specialist, Hillsboro Clinic
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!
Jana Hadden
Employee Relations Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Jana started working at Neuro in 2020 as a Scheduler/Receptionist for our Canby Clinic and recently transitioned to working in our HR Department as Employee Relations Specialist. She enjoys working for a family-centered company and is passionate about helping kids and their families feel supported and thrive.
Interests:
In her free time, Jana likes to travel, go camping, and attend concerts. She enjoys Broadway musicals and all things Disney. She loves spending time with her husband and two kids.
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.
Jill Uyeda
Office Specialist, Oregon City Clinic
Email: [email protected]
Jill graduated from Pacific University/Forest Grove in 2021 with a BA in Psychology. Her primary responsibilities include overseeing the office, checking in clients, scheduling, processing families into our system, and gathering all necessary material to be put on the waitlist or scheduled at all clinics. She applied to Neuro because she loves helping others and felt she could make a positive impact on both the children and parents. Jill is most driven by the values of family, kindness, and personal growth.
Interests:
She has played college softball at Pacific and enjoys activities outdoors like golfing and snowboarding. Her favorite drink is matcha!
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.
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.
Lynn Charlier
Bookkeeper, AP and Payroll Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Lynn joined Neuro in 2022 and is our Bookkeeper and Payroll Specialist. She oversees all accounting functions at our organization. She was born and raised in Burlington, Vermont and lived there for the majority of her life. It was also where she graduated from Rice Memorial with a Latin – Science degree. She has also lived in Washington DC before while her husband was stationed, and she has spent eight years living in Florida. However, she realized she missed being close to her grandchildren. After raising sons, she now has three granddaughters to enjoy!
After visiting Wilsonville over the last few years, she decided to move to Wilsonville. Lynn appreciates the opportunity to ski and visit an ocean in the same weekend.
Interests:
Lynn enjoys spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters. She is looking forward to finding some groups to join and making new friends to also spend time with and enjoy activities in Oregon.
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 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
Administrative Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Reyna joined our team in 2022 as the Assistant to the Executive Director and Therapy Director. She works alongside the Executive Director and Therapy Director in providing support with a variety of administrative projects. Reyna’s love for kids and admiration towards 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.
Shelby Turner-Imholt
Billing Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Shelby joined our team at Neuro in 2023 as a Billing Specialist. She holds a Medical Billing and Coding certificate from Clackamas Community College. She applied to work at Neuro because she wanted to be able to work in and give back to the community she grew up in! She is driven by kindness, honesty, and integrity. She also believes that having fun is a good thing and tries to make everything she does a bit of fun.
Interests:
Her hobbies include reading, writing, and spending time with her two dogs and family. A fun fact is that she was named after a country singer, not a car!
Susan Sessions
Volunteer Coordinator
Floating Office Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Susan joined our team at Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2019. She is our Volunteer Coordinator and 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 is excited to facilitate and build up Neuro’s Volunteer Program and 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
Lead Billing Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Tessa joined Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies in 2020 as an Office Specialist, and transitioned to the role of Medical Billing Assistant in 2021. She works with insurance billing, claims processing, and patient accounts. 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.
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 team of Insurance Specialists. 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.
