Jessica Ravineala, MS, OTRL is an occupational therapist and co-owner of The Therapy SPOT. Jessica developed an interest in working with children at a very young age. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, after studying psychology, human development, and art at Central Michigan University. She has experience treating children with Autism spectrum disorders, children with Sensory Processing Disorders and regulation issues, feeding and oral motor difficulties, visual processing and perceptual issues, as well as other physical and neurological impairments, such as Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. She also has experience working with children with anxiety and mood disorders. Her continuing education has focused on a variety of areas, including sensory integration, visual development and perceptual skills, the vestibular system, neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), Therapeutic Listening, Myofascial Release, Visceral Manipulation, Kay Toomey’s SOS Approach to feeding and oral motor feeding techniques, Social Thinking strategies, and DIR/Floortime approach. Her favorite part about working with kids is being able to affect the entire family’s ability to function by helping children overcome their challenges and realize their potential. When she’s not working, Jessica’s hobbies include painting, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
To contact Jessica, call our office or email her at jessica@therapyspotmi.com
Paula Gomoluch, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and co-owner of The Therapy SPOT. Paula has over 20 years of experience with children and adults in the hospital, outpatient clinic, rehabilitative and private practice setting. Paula has experience in developing and running both special need preschool programs and summer speech groups. Paula developed and implemented preschool speech screenings provided to area preschools. She works with therapeutic listening, DIR/Floortime, feeding issues and sensory diets. Paula is proficient in Boardmaker software, PECS, and iPad applications such as ProLoQuo2Go. She holds a Michigan State license and is ASHA certified.
To contact Paula, call our office or email her at paula@therapyspotmi.com
Danielle Lacanaria, CF-SLP joined the Therapy SPOT team in February 2021 to complete her Clinical Fellowship. She graduated from New York University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, after receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Wayne State University. She has experience working with children of all ages across a vast range of diagnoses in both elementary school and outpatient settings. She enjoys incorporating her client’s interests into therapy to make for a fun, motivating session where their acquired skills can be generalized to the home and school environments.
Stefanie Mitchell, MSOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who joined the Therapy Spot team in January of 2018. She graduated from the University of Michigan with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish, and then completed Grand Valley State University’s Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy program. Stefanie completed 12 weeks of pediatric training at The Therapy Spot from January to March of 2016. She currently works at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan on the spinal cord injury inpatient unit in addition to the Therapy Spot. Stefanie has always had a passion for working with children, especially in the outpatient setting where the family can be incorporated into treatment.
To contact Stefanie, call our office or email her at stefanie@therapyspotmi.com
Karen Goss, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who graduated from New York University’s occupational therapy program. She has over 20 years of experience working with children from birth through adolescence in outpatient clinics, as well as in home and school settings. Karen has extensive continuing education and certifications with specialty areas including sensory processing and regulation, P.L.A.Y. Project (D.I.R/Floortime), infant massage, feeding\oral motor skills, play skills, social skills, Therapeutic Listening, fine/visual motor skills, and activities of daily living skills. Karen makes challenging children to reach goals fun and is dedicated to partnering with all the members of the child’s team to facilitate the child reaching his or her highest potential.
To contact Karen, call our office or email her at karen@therapyspotmi.com
Jaimie Durden, MS, OTRL, is an occupational therapist, who joined the Therapy Spot team in March 2019 after moving from Illinois. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, after receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from the university. Jaimie has experience working with older adults and children, but has a passion for working in the pediatric setting. Most recently Jaimie has experience in an outpatient pediatric clinic in Illinois. She has treated children from birth-27 years old with various diagnoses, such as Autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing dysfunction, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, feeding difficulties, and fine motor delay. Jaimie loves working with children and collaborating with their families to create the just right challenge in order to promote growth and success in their environment.
To contact Jaimie, call our office or email her at jaimie@therapyspotmi.com
Kaitlyn Van Hees, MA, CF-SLP is a speech language pathologist who joined the Therapy Spot team in 2015. She completed her undergraduate education at Central Michigan University and obtained her master’s degree at the University of Montana. She has enjoyed working with both adults and children in a variety of different clinical and educational settings, but has found her true passion in working with the pediatric population. She particularly likes to include families in therapy techniques that they are able to bring home as well. When she is not working, she spends her time with her husband, twin daughters, and son.
To contact Katie, call our office or email her at katie@therapyspotmi.com
Andrea House, MA, CCC-SLP completed her education at Western Michigan University and has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist with the pediatric population for over 15 years in both individual and group sessions, including collaborative groups, social skills groups, and teaching a speech and language based preschool. She has received specialized training in the DIR/Floortime approach for working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She also has experience in addressing sensory processing needs during therapy, using visual supports, treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and the SOS Feeding Approach. She truly enjoys working with children and helping their families find successful tools and activities to use at home. When not at work, Andrea enjoys spending time with her husband and two young boys.
To contact Andrea, call our office or email her at andrea@therapyspotmi.com
Teresa Juodawlkis Pesci, MPT, CKTI received her Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of California: San Francisco in 1994. She has worked at Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, California, the William Beaumont Rehab Center in Birmingham, Michigan, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, the University of Michigan – Visiting Nurses and at the Abilities Center, a branch of the Detroit Institute for Children. Her interest areas are the birth to three population, infant massage, yoga for the special child, myofascial release and therapeutic taping. She has practiced in the following settings: inpatient, acute rehab, PICU, outpatient, interdisciplinary clinics (NICU follow-up, Movement Disorders, Spina Bifida, Hemophilia, and JRA), school and home. While most of her career has focused on pediatrics, she has experience in treating everything from birth to geriatrics. She is a certified Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage and a certified Kinesio Taping instructor through the Kinesio Taping Association.
Julianne Martin, MS, CFY-SLP joined The Therapy SPOT to complete her clinical fellowship in 2019. Julianne graduated with her Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University after obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. She has experience working with pediatric and adult populations in a variety of settings including clinics, schools, summer camp, outpatient rehabilitation, individual therapy, and group therapy. Julianne enjoys working with children and their families to achieve their communication and language goals. When she is not working, Julianne enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, walking her dog and spending time with her family and friends.
To contact Julianne, call our office or email her at julianne@therapyspotmi.com
Tori Bakewell, MA, CCC-SLP Tori is a speech-language pathologist at the Therapy Spot. She graduated with both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Eastern Michigan University specializing in communication sciences and disorders. She has experience in the school setting as well as the private clinic setting. She has worked with children with Autism, developmental disabilities, cognitive impairments, and emotional impairments. She also has a special interest in equine-assisted therapy. She often volunteers and helps those with special needs learn to ride horses! In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her dog Enzo, spending time with her family, and traveling!
Christina Yaldo, MSOT, OTRL, CTRSChristina is an occupational therapist who graduated with her Master’s of Science degree from Grand Valley State University. She is also a Certified Recreational Therapist who graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. Christina completed her Level II Fieldwork at the Therapy Spot. She is a creative therapist who enjoys coming up with new ways to help children and their families achieve their goals while incorporating activities that are meaningful to the child. Christina has experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X Syndrome, Fetal alcohol syndrome, Down Syndrome, Anxiety and regulation difficulties. She has certifications in Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) and DIR/Floortime. She enjoys collaborating with the other disciplines to be able to provide the best carryover and success for the child. Christina enjoys spending time with her family, reading her bible, crafts, painting, dancing and singing.
Amy Lazar, B.A., COTA/LAmy completed her education at Macomb Community College and Oakland University. She holds an associate degree in Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has also completed extensive training through the Optometric Extension Program's Vision Therapy Institute. She has worked in the outpatient pediatric setting for over 25 years, providing vision therapy since 1994 and occupational therapy since 2010. Amy's continued education has included Beckman Oral Motor Treatment, Universal Exercise Unit, Assessment and Treatment of the Baby via NDT, Interventions for Challenging Behavior, Interactive Metronome, Animal Assisted Interventions, Handwriting Without Tears, Kinesio Taping, Self Regulation and many more. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing the look of pride on their faces when they are able to achieve their goals, no matter how big or small. Amy has recently completed the Master Gardener course through MSU Extension Program and enjoys gardening at home as well as through volunteer work. In her free time, she also enjoys reading, cooking, kayaking, playing the piano, sailing and yoga.
Taylor Naumann, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Wayne State University in 2019. Taylor has experience working with children and adults in various settings but has always had a passion for working with pediatrics in the outpatient setting, using a sensory based therapy approach. During her level II fieldwork as a student, Taylor gained experience applying Ayres Sensory Integration, DIR/Floortime, Interactive Metronome, attachment-trauma therapy, and various other therapeutic techniques. She has experience working with children with a variety of diagnoses’ including autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. Her most recent continuing education has focused on sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, vision, and feeding. Outside of work, Taylor loves reading, working out, and spending time outside with her golden retriever.
Jaclyn Grad, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who earned her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley State University after earning her Bachelor’s of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Western Michigan University. Since beginning her career, Jaclyn has worked in both the schools and pediatric outpatient settings. Jaclyn has treated individuals from birth through 27 years old with varying diagnoses to help them gain independence in everyday activities by addressing her client’s fine motor, sensory, visual motor/perception, oral motor, and behavioral needs. Jaclyn’s passion is working with children of all ages and parents on feeding difficulties. In particular, she works with picky eating and problem feeders using the SOS Approach to Feeding. She has completed advanced SOS training focused on transitioning babies and toddlers to solid foods, and helping children on the Autism spectrum to increase their repertoire of foods. Jaclyn’s knowledge and expertise of feeding extends down to infants and parents. She is working toward becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and has specialized training in lactation. In addition to her professional knowledge, Jaclyn has personal experience conquering the challenges of breastfeeding, further allowing her to motivate, empower, counsel, and empathize with parents and parents-to-be who are struggling with lactation and breastfeeding. Jaclyn loves mixing the science of OT with her creativity to help her clients learn and grow, while using an approach that shines value on the family and generalizing skills to the home and community. Jaclyn enjoys traveling near and far and around the globe, photography, spending time with her family and reading.
