I’m a licensed pediatric occupational therapist in the state of California. I began working in the field of occupational therapy almost 10 years ago, but from the time I was in high school, I have always loved working with families. Over the course of my nearly 10 years of experience, I have been afforded the opportunity to work at sensory-based clinics, early intervention clinics, various schools, and an outpatient clinic at a large medical center.

I hold advanced training in sensory processing through USC, sensory-based feeding therapy as well as habit-based feeding therapy, oral motor training, and advanced practice with the state of California in swallowing assessment and intervention. I am also a certified lactation educator and hold additional advanced training in baby-led weaning and infant feeding/eating. I have also taken advanced coursework in handwriting.

I am very passionate about giving families the tools they need to have big wins with their kids! As a parent, I love providing families with practical tools that are realistic for everyone’s busy lives and beneficial for the daily challenges families face. I believe parents are the experts on their children, and my role is to provide them with the support they feel they need to continue to help their children learn, grow, and thrive into the people they are meant to become!

Outside of work, I have a husband, daughter, and senior Goldendoodle. I love spending time outdoors walking, hiking, and running. I also love reading—both about child development and for fun! As a family, we love to travel to new places. My family is a “foodie family,” and we love to try new cuisines.

I am so excited to be a part of Kinspire! I have seen the positive, tangible effects that parent education and involvement have on children’s development and growth, and I am so excited to be able to work with new families.

How would you describe your approach to working with families?

I feel I am very approachable, empathetic, and realistic. As a parent, I try to provide families with realistic tools and activities to improve the challenges they face on a daily basis, but that are realistic in the busy world we live in. I also empathize with parents, as a parent: it is so rewarding, but also so challenging at times! I am dedicated to the families I work with: if I don't know an answer to something, I will never pretend I do, but I will always find the answer for them OR connect them with resources that can provide them with the answers they are in need of.

How did your work come to focus on conditions treated by Kinspire clinicians, like ADHD, Autism, and SPD?

I found a particular passion for sensory processing disorders, ADHD, and Autism due to the individuality of these conditions: each person that carries these diagnoses has unique strengths and challenges. I love that each person, despite having similar diagnoses, presents so differently. I love that I can be creative in my treatment approach and that every treatment approach is different, depending on the person!