Let us introduce ourselves…

Meet Katie.

  • Creator and owner of CAYA. She’s an occupational therapist on mission to serve others with empathy, creativity, education, and her never-ending passion for learning.

    After practicing for nearly a decade in outpatient pediatric settings, Katie returned to school, earning a post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy. CAYA Therapies is the culmination of her studies, clinical expertise, and deep passion for providing holistic support for vulnerable, disadvantaged populations. Katie aspires to build environments and communities for people to “Come As You Are” (the basis for the CAYA acronym). She does this at CAYA, but also through her teachings and trainings, where she imparts knowledge and perspectives that propel foundational, systemic changes outside of her clinic’s walls.

    Katie’s professional continuing education has revolved around trauma-responsive care, sensory integration, auditory interventions, polyvagal theory, and neurodevelopment.

    Katie has experience working with immigrant and refugee youth, juvenile justice involved youth, youth living in foster care, and other neurodivergent individuals (including diagnoses of Autism and ADHD).

    Her favorite moments include storytelling, nature, creativity, good food, coffee, friends and family.

Meet Lette.

  • An occupational therapist motivated to build skills and relationships through connection, creativity, and fun.

    Lette finds delight in the simple connected moments of therapy, and can often be found playing, climbing, crafting, building, swinging, or singing during sessions.  She is quick to get her clients (and sometimes their caregivers, too!) moving in fun and creative ways in order to build dynamic relationships while strengthening brains and bodies.  Lette welcomes parents and caregivers into sessions - she enjoys collaborating with them and empowering them to support their children at home.  Lette has a younger sister with Down syndrome, so her heart for people with various abilities and experiences is both professional and personal.

    Lette has experience with clients across the developmental age span (2-25+) with a wide variety of needs, including Autism, anxiety, ADHD, sensory differences, trauma and attachment challenges, mood and behavior disruptions, and motor concerns.  Lette loves to learn and strives to continually grow and strengthen her clinical skills.  Her continuing education has centered around sensory integration and regulation, trauma-responsive care, auditory and vestibular interventions, and relationship-based developmental models.

    Lette enjoys spending time with her family, making the most of the Michigan’s outdoor beauty year round.  Going to the beach, hiking, running, picking fruit, and XC skiing are just a few of her favorite outdoor activities.  She also enjoys hosting a festive gathering or sharing a cozy cup of tea with people she loves.

Meet Sarah.

  • A speech-language pathologist committed to fostering genuine connections that lead to effective communication. 

    Sarah believes that all behavior is communication and works to strengthen speech and language skills for meaningful interactions. By focusing on interest-based therapy and sensory-informed approaches, she empowers individuals while maintaining dignity and promoting true connection.

    Sarah has experience supporting a variety of populations, including: ADHD, articulation, ASD, AAC, childhood apraxia of speech, early intervention, executive functioning, Natural Language Acquisition (aka Gestalt Language Processing), receptive-expressive language disorders and social/pragmatic language. She is passionate about partnering with parents through education and coaching and loves to see the gleam in her client’s eyes as they learn how to effectively communicate. Sessions with Sarah frequently include movement, rhythm, and song. 

    Sarah has extensive training and experience with Natural Language Acquisition/Gestalt Language Processing, and has participated in sensory based and trauma informed training. She received recognition as a Top Speech Therapist in West Michigan in 2024 by GR Kids.

    Originally from out of state, Sarah has made Grand Rapids her home, embracing the community as her own. Outside of work, she can be found with her family and many pets (dog, cats, chickens oh my!). She enjoys puzzles, games, books, and home projects.

Meet Emily B.


  • An office manager with a unique perspective.

    Emily uses her occupational therapy background to help make sure all the bases of services are covered.   

    She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University’s occupational therapy program. With time, Emily found her niche in organizing office systems, chatting with insurance companies, and coordinating the care of clients (and fellow staff members). If you have any questions about insurance coverage, costs, scheduling, or anything really, she would love to chat with you.

    Emily enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and spending time outside - especially in the summer.

Meet Taylor.

  • A clinic coordinator with a desire to serve and empower others by connecting compassion, creativity, and neuroscience.

    Taylor is a certified occupational therapy assistant with a unique career experience working with kids and teens in both the public schools and residential care, supporting therapists and staff in private practices, and teaching in various settings. Whether she is working with clients or in the office, she is passionate about seeing people where they are and helping them get where they want to go.  

    Taylor's favorite things are a good cup of coffee, trying new recipes, and watching soccer games.

Meet Lauren.

  • An expert with a special interest in using practical intervention strategies to build life skills at home, school, and in the community.

    Lauren is an occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience working with the pediatric population in both private practice and school-based settings. She builds strategic treatment plans to address functional skills, from the inside out.

    Lauren’s expertise in building sensory integration, attention/executive functioning, and interoceptive awareness make her a great match for tweens, teens, and young adults.  She has a special passion for addressing the pre-driving needs of neurodivergent adolescents and young adults, to increase their potential to safely drive in the community.

    Lauren was raised in West Michigan, and loves everything the area has to offer – from spending time outdoors to exploring beach towns. Lauren is married with three school-aged children. Outside of work, she enjoys watching her children play sports and spending time with her yellow Labrador retriever, Whisper.

Meet Irma.


  • An occupational therapist focused on helping people reach their full potential.

    Irma’s favorite treatment sessions are filled with smiles, play, and caregiver collaboration. She has focused her career on assisting pediatric clients and their caregivers to reach meaningful goals through client-centered and play-based therapeutic interventions.   

    Her experience includes working at a children’s hospital with youth of all ages - from infancy to young adulthood. Irma has worked with a variety of medical diagnoses, including premature birth complications, spinal fusions, Nuss procedures, burns, brain injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and anxiety. She’s no stranger to collaborating with parents who are scared, exhausted, and ‘in the thick of it’. Currently, Irma is focusing her studies on building advanced skills in sensory integration intervention, critical reasoning, and trauma-responsive care. Irma is bilingual, speaking English and Bosnian.

    Irma enjoys traveling, walking her playful Goldendoodle, reading, and exploring the many nature trails Michigan has to offer.

Meet Regan.

  • An occupational therapist with a passion for providing holistic care to help individuals thrive and feel seen.

    Regan loves building meaningful relationships through play, connection, and collaboration with clients of all ages and abilities as well as caregivers. She strives to bring a calm, steady energy balanced with playfulness to each session to create a safe environment for each individual she works with.

    She has primarily gained experience through working with children and families in outpatient pediatric settings specializing in sensory integration. Regan has worked with a variety of populations, including children and adolescents with sensory processing differences, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, and motor coordination challenges. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, she gained years of experience facilitating healthy living programs for youth in her community and local school district with her background in exercise science. Regan loves learning and has pursued continuing education on polyvagal theory utilizing the Safe and Sound Protocol. She is most passionate about continuing her studies on ways to support an individual’s nervous system with a trauma-responsive approach and implementation of therapeutic techniques including sensory integration, auditory interventions, mindfulness, and yoga.

    Regan enjoys nature-based activities, traveling, reading, trying new coffee shops, exercise, and connecting with family and friends in her free time.

Meet Megan.

  • Megan’s favorite treatment sessions are filled with smiles, creativity, connection, and caregiver collaboration. Megan believes true progress is made when you understand the whole client including their passions, interests, and what makes them tick. Megan loves learning and has continued her education in trauma-responsive approaches, sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, vision rehabilitation, reflex integration, and polyvagal theory.

    Prior to her arrival at CAYA, Megan worked with a variety of populations and ages, including those with sensory processing differences, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, motor coordination difficulties, rare diseases, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and orthopedic conditions. Along with her clinical experience, Megan has a strong passion for promoting health equity and bringing awareness to rare diseases, including advocating and raising funds for continued research of rare diseases.

    In Megan’s free time she enjoys spending time with her horse, exploring new hiking paths with her dog, practicing yoga, and connecting with family and friends.

Meet Stacey.

  • Stacey is very passionate about incorporating play and the child’s interest into her sessions to promote diverse opportunities for all children. 

    Stacey has clinical experience working with children of all ages in private practice and medical based outpatient settings as well as the school system. Stacey has worked with a variety of populations including those with ASD, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, motor coordination challenges, and neurological differences. She has pursued continuing education toward sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, auditory interventions, and trauma-responsive practice.

    Stacey enjoys spending time outdoors, trying new restaurants, getting coffee, and taking her dogs, Ford and Mya, on walks or to the park.

Meet Emily H.

  • An occupational therapist driven to empower individual passions and strengths to promote meaningful growth.

    Emily’s favorite days in the clinic are those that offer a wide variety of child and adult engagement. She loves the playfulness, fun and creativity found while playing with an energetic 5-year-old in one session and being able to foster meaningful connection and problem-solving alongside an adult client in the next. Above all, Emily values neurologically-driven yet practical, supportive strategies that seamlessly fit into daily life, making progress feel natural (and often playful!) rather than overwhelming.

    Emily has experience working with clients across the lifespan and a wide range of needs, including ASD, attention deficits, anxiety, sensory differences, motor challenges, and complex medical diagnoses. While she has spent most of her career in outpatient pediatrics, she has also worked in adult inpatient rehabilitation. Committed to continuous learning, Emily’s training has centered around sensory integration and sensorimotor approaches, interoceptive awareness, auditory-visual-vestibular training, neurodiverse and trauma-informed practice, and the DIR/Floortime approach.

    Outside of work, Emily’s favorite moments are spent with her family— sharing laughter with her husband, playing with her two daughters, or tossing a frisbee with her German Shepherd. She holds a special place in her heart for rainy days, cozy coffee shops, soothing music, baking, audiobooks, and podcasts.

Meet Kim.

  • A speech-language pathologist dedicated to helping individuals build authentic communication skills through creativity, compassion, and FUN.

    Kim’s passion for working with neurodiverse individuals began at a young age when she accompanied her father to local summer camps and then continued working at regional camps throughout college. She believes that all people deserve to build a life based on their strengths and interests rather than their challenges. Therapy should be a safe place where clients and caregivers feel supported in trying new skills and finding supports that allow them to thrive. Kim understands that all communication is rooted in relationship, so you can always find her knee-deep in a client’s current interest and enjoying the thrill of learning something new along with them.  

    Kim has 13 years of experience in a variety of settings including schools, private practice, juvenile justice, and long term care, so she thinks creatively about communication across the lifespan. Kim has experience supporting a variety of populations including ADHD, articulation, ASD, AAC, childhood apraxia of speech, Natural Language Acquisition, trauma-based pragmatic language difficulties, deaf/hard of hearing, and early intervention. On the days she is not at CAYA, she homeschools her 3 boys. She understands the unique joys and challenges that come with homeschooling and is passionate about serving the needs of those in this community.  

    Kim has extensive training in Natural Language Acquisition and using AAC with Gestalt Language learners. She is PROMPT and DTTC trained as well as participating in learning communities focused on supporting executive functioning challenges.

    Outside of CAYA, Kim can be found with her husband and 3 boys. She loves playing pickleball, trying new recipes, serving at her church, and checking places off her National Park bucket list. 

Meet Alyssa.

  • Alyssa is passionate about creating a safe and empowering space where clients feel comfortable and confident in their abilities. She brings a calm, playful presence to sessions and believes that genuine connection, trust, and collaboration are the foundation for meaningful progress.

    Alyssa earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and completed her Level II fieldwork here at CAYA, where she was mentored by Irma and Lette. She has experience working with individuals across the lifespan and has supported clients with a variety of needs, including mental health challenges, neurodivergence, orthopedic injuries, and neurological/cardiac conditions. Now working full-time at our Fuller location, Alyssa is excited to continue building strong therapeutic relationships within the CAYA community.

    In her free time, you can find Alyssa reading by the beach or pool, trying new restaurants, traveling, downhill skiing, or baking some goodies in the kitchen.

Meet Jo.

  • Jo is an occupational therapist passionate about helping children, teens, adults, and families feel seen, supported, and empowered through connection-based care. She believes one of the most important parts of therapy is creating a sense of safety and trust, and she strives to meet each client exactly where they are with compassion and curiosity. Jo brings a calm, collaborative, and playful approach to sessions while helping clients build confidence, regulation, independence, and meaningful participation in daily life. 

    Jo earned her degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. During her doctoral capstone at CAYA Therapies, she developed a project focused on increasing access to occupational therapy services for foster youth, which ultimately led her to joining the CAYA team. Jo has experience working with individuals across various settings and diagnoses including autism, ADHD, developmental delays, motor coordination difficulties, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological conditions. Jo values creating inclusive and welcoming spaces where clients and families of all backgrounds and identities feel respected and understood. 

    Outside of work, Josephine loves spending time with her dog Leo, staying active through weightlifting and sports, connecting with family and friends, reading, traveling, and playing the piano and guitar. 

Meet Olivia.

  • A speech-language pathologist committed to building meaningful relationships that foster open communication and trust.

    Using a strengths-based approach, I focus on recognizing and developing the unique talents and perspectives each person brings. By creating an environment where people feel valued and understood, I help cultivate collaboration, growth, and lasting partnerships. I aim to create a space for people to feel heard, respected, and empowered, I want to help others grow and succeed together.

    I earned my master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Michigan State University where I gained experience in supporting those with ASD, AAC, pragmatic language difficulties, articulation, and early intervention. I have participated in learning communities focused on supporting executive functioning challenges as well as Natural Language Acquisition.

    When I am not in clinic, you can find me trying new restaurants, reading, going for long walks, or spending time with friends and family.

Meet Ashlyn.

  • Ashlyn is passionate about helping children and families feel empowered and successful in their everyday lives. She believes therapy should build confidence in what children can do today while also helping them develop skills to navigate new challenges with independence and self-belief. She values creating a supportive and engaging environment where children feel safe to explore, try new things, and grow through meaningful activities. Ashlyn enjoys building strong relationships with both children and caregivers and designing sessions that feel motivating and fun.

    Ashlyn earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. She has experience working across the lifespan in pediatric outpatient, school-based, community, and neurorehabilitation settings. Her clinical work has included supporting children with sensory processing differences, Autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. She uses relationship-based approaches to support meaningful participation in daily routines and activities.

    Outside of the clinic, Ashlyn enjoys crafting, thrifting, yoga, and spending time outdoors. She also loves video games, exploring new coffee shops, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.

Meet Anna.

  • Anna is dedicated to creating a safe, collaborative space where children feel empowered to learn, grow, and express their authentic selves. She blends a calm, grounded presence with a playful spirit to build strong, trusting relationships with both clients and their caregivers.

    Anna earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and has experience working with children and adolescents with a variety of needs, including ASD, sensory processing challenges, ADHD, anxiety, and motor skill difficulties. She takes a child-led approach to therapy, making sessions both engaging and meaningful. Anna values close collaboration with families and caregivers, believing that consistent support across environments is key to a child’s growth. Now practicing full-time at our 3 Mile location, Anna is eager to serve the CAYA community!

    Outside of work, you can find Anna relaxing by the pool, playing pickleball, kickboxing, exploring coffee shops, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Meet Katie E.

  • Katie has been a pediatric speech-language pathologist for more than 20 years. She loves engaging with children in motivating, child-directed play and encouraging a client’s strengths and personality to shine! She seeks those moments of smiles and connection to best promote functional, meaningful, relationship-based communication. She highly values collaborating with a child’s family, empowering caregivers and supporting the parent-child connection! Katie seeks out the expertise of clinicians from a broad variety of disciplines to best apply an integrated, individualized therapy approach for children. She is endlessly fascinated at how the areas of development connect with one another, and is always learning new insights in this area! 

    Katie has enjoyed working in pediatric private clinic and early intervention settings. She has experience with clients with receptive/expressive language delays, ASD, ADHD, motor speech disorders/apraxia of speech, articulation delays, sensory/emotional regulation challenges, and trauma-based communication challenges. She has received training in Profectum’s DIR/Floortime framework (Level 1 certification), PROMPT, Hanen It Takes Two to Talk, and the SCERTS Institute model. She has recently begun studying orofacial myofunctional disorders.

    When not at work, Katie enjoys spending time rock climbing, hiking, reading, cooking, and spending valuable time with her husband and two children.

Interested in joining our team?

  • If you’re interested in an internship, volunteer role, or job shadow, please complete the application linked below and we will be in touch with next steps.

  • We accept resumes and cover letters on a rolling basis…click the button below to apply!

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