Our Team
Brittney MS, OTR/L
Owner & Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(Carmel & San Jose)
I founded Children’s Therapy Center, Co. with a simple belief: children deserve therapy that honors who they are, supports the whole family, and allows meaningful relationships to flourish. After becoming an Occupational Therapist in 2011, I opened Children’s Therapy Center, Co. in 2014 to create the kind of practice I always wished existed: one where therapists have the time and support to provide truly individualized, relationship-based care.
Today, I’m grateful to lead an incredible team of therapists who share that same vision. Together, we strive to create a space where children feel understood, families feel empowered, and therapists are able to do their very best work.
Throughout my career, I have worked with children across hospitals, outpatient clinics, California Children’s Services (CCS), schools, homeschool settings, and private practice. While I enjoy supporting children with a wide variety of needs, my clinical passion is sensory processing. I completed extensive training in Sensory Processing Disorder under Dr. Lucy Jane Miller and love helping families understand how sensory differences influence behavior, participation, learning, and everyday life.
My approach is rooted in neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-based care. Rather than focusing on compliance, I help families understand what their child’s nervous system is communicating and build practical, brain-based strategies that foster regulation, confidence, and independence. I believe that when we empower caregivers, we create lasting change for children.
Whether I’m working one-on-one with a family, mentoring a therapist, leading a community workshop, or creating resources for parents, my goal is always the same: to help children and the adults who love them feel more confident, connected, and understood.
Fun Facts About Me
I moved from Almaden to Carmel Valley with my husband in 2017, and we love calling the Monterey Peninsula home.
Becoming a mom after a long infertility journey has given me an even deeper appreciation for supporting families.
I am completely obsessed with golden retrievers. We’ve had three over the years: Abagail, Archie, and now August.
I didn’t discover occupational therapy until I was already in college. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
I genuinely love creating new ideas and projects. If I’ve crossed everything off my to-do list, it’s usually only a matter of time before I dream up something new.
Kelly MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(San Jose)
Coming Soon.
Hannah MS, OTR/L
Clinical Lead & Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(San Jose)
I graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and continued my education at Florida Gulf Coast University with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. After growing up and living in Florida for 22 years, I moved across the country to the Bay area of California to start the next chapter of my life on the west coast.
Throughout my educational and clinical background, I have developed a love for working with individuals across the lifespan. My experiences in acute inpatient rehabilitation and community practice settings have provided me opportunities to work with a wide range of ages and conditions. I have experience working with autistic individuals, children and teens with learning disabilities and different neuro types, individuals with intellectual disabilities, neurological conditions, orthopedic conditions, and youth trauma survivors. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, I worked with children as an assistant preschool teacher at a Montessori school.
I strive to support children, teens, and their families through life’s many transitions in a collaborative and fun environment. I am inspired by the joy that children find in even the smallest things in life. It is my goal as an OT to promote positive, successful experiences in the activities that are meaningful to my clients and their families.
Fun facts about me:
- In my free time I love to cook and create new recipes, especially when I make food to be shared by friends and family. One day I would love to start a food blog as a hobby.
- I have been to 10 National Parks and cannot wait to continue exploring more.
- I love a good podcast for a long car ride or even when I am just doing chores around the house.
Jennifer OTD, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(Remote)
My background is in psychology, child adolescent and mental health, and occupational therapy. My focus in pediatric occupational therapy has been inclusive of individual OT assessment and treatment, as well as work with related disciplines for consultation, assessment, and treatment for children and teens with a range of sensory-motor needs which are oftentimes linked to behavioral needs and co-occurring mental health diagnoses.
Most of my experience has been to support children with Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, language-based learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, and sensory processing challenges. My goal and role as an OT is to meet children where they are, encourage them to own and be proud of their successes, and positively nurture their interest in working through their areas of challenge.
My approach is to be supportive, play-based, collaborative, and work with children to use their strengths to address their difficulties. I also believe that working with family and any other providers who are part of the child’s team is essential to making lasting, positive change.
Fun facts about me:
- I grew up on the east coast.
- I love to travel and explore, but I also love to stay home and spend time with my significant other, dog (Appa), and plants.
- I love listening to audiobooks while driving!
Alison MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(San Jose)
I am a writer/editor-turned-OT who loves supporting kids and families as they navigate their unique journeys. I have experience in treating clients from infancy through older adulthood in in-patient, private clinic, and community settings, and with diagnoses including ASD, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, stroke, prematurity, genetic disorder, and other psychosocial disorders and developmental disabilities. I am also trained in Integrated Listening Systems (iLs).
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, teaching English as a foreign language in China, and starting a career in Silicon Valley, I learned about OT and haven’t looked back since.
My favorite moments in OT are when creativity and problem-solving meet, bringing clients closer to their goals. When I’m not in the clinic, you can find me playing with my two boys, enjoying the outdoors, or painting.
Fun facts about me:
- Before becoming an OT I wrote children’s stories and comics.
- My love of Tolkien brought me to study abroad at Oxford as an undergraduate.
- If it’s pistachio flavored, I’ll love it.
- Mindfulness and yoga are my go-to strategies to keep me grounded.
April
Office Coordinator
(Carmel & San Jose)
I graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and I have spent most of my career working as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. I enjoy working with children and their parents in an environment where my efforts directly help people in my community. I believe that it is important to be part of a team that collaborates to better support the individuals we serve. As the office coordinator, I am dedicated to helping families and the Almaden Valley Children’s Therapy Center staff, by supporting them to the best of my ability.
Fun facts about me:
- I enjoy spending time with family & friends, cooking, and listening to podcasts.
- I grew up in Aptos, CA so one of the things I enjoy doing is going for walks on the beach with my husband.
- I love to travel with my family and our two dogs and my favorite destination is Lake Tahoe.
Alex MS OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(Carmel & San Jose)
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and my Masters of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. I have experience working with a wide-range of individuals and in a variety of settings including acute, inpatient rehabilitation, subacute, and school-based. My current professional interests include sharing the power of neuroscience-backed and strengths-based approaches; advocating for neurodiversity-affirming care; and further refining my clinical reasoning skills through continuing education and mindful reflection. My work for CTC currently includes supporting one of our school contracts at a local charter school as well as supporting clients within our clinic.
Fun facts about me:
- I’m from the Monterey peninsula and went to college in Nashville, TN–I love traveling near and far, but spending time with family and friends nourishes my soul!
- I grew up in a “foodie” family with my parents being chefs/ restauranteurs– I enjoy cooking and baking (especially gluten- and dairy-free creations), visiting farmers markets, and trying new restaurants. In elementary school, I wrote an ode to my Grandpa’s chicken burritos.
- Getting a lot of proprioceptive input helps organize my brain and makes me feel calm–I have a numerous weighted blankets; coloring books and making crafts are also in my “toolbox.” Something I’m interested in learning more about outside of the clinic is gardening and how to play pickle ball with Ms. Brittney!
Lisa MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(Carmel)
As an occupational therapist, I am passionate about helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their fullest potential. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science from CSU Monterey Bay and received my Master’s in Occupational Therapy from West Coast University in Los Angeles. My journey into occupational therapy began at a young age when I unofficially acted as my father’s therapist after he suffered a stroke. Helping my father regain motor skills through his love of restoring classic cars showed me the power of combining creativity, personalized care, and healthcare.
I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients, including autistic children and adults, individuals in skilled nursing facilities, and those in early intervention settings. My experience also extends to adaptive aquatic occupational therapy, and I am dedicated to supporting mental health and overall wellness. My guiding principle is, “If it matters to you, it matters to me.” I strive to provide the tools and support needed for my clients to live, learn, work, and play in meaningful ways.
I am committed to making a positive impact on my clients’ lives and am inspired every day by their resilience and determination.
Fun Facts About Me:
- I love exploring new workout classes like Pilates, barre, yoga, and cycling, and I’m always up for an outdoor adventure, whether it’s camping or stand-up paddleboarding.
- I enjoy curling up with a good book, and my reading interests span both fiction and non-fiction. You can almost always find my emotional support Kindle stowed away in my bag!
- I have a corgi/golden retriever mix named Bixby, who loves joining me on my outdoor adventures and keeping me company while I read.
Karyna MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
(San Jose)
As a pediatric occupational therapist, I aspire to build relationships with my clients and guide children in reaching their full potential through a playful, strengths based approach. I earned my Bachelors in Psychology with minor concentrations in education and Spanish from University of Portland. Soon after, I received my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University where I learned how daily activities influence health outcomes and overall well-being.
I have worked with clients from infancy to adulthood in settings such as: outpatient pediatrics, schools, pediatric sub-acute, acute care, as well as community based organizations. Diagnoses I have treated are sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, down syndrome, learning and developmental disabilities and more. My current areas of interest include infant and toddler growth and development and developing therapeutic programs that empower parents to best support their children. I aim to provide neuroaffirming care that is fun, as my core belief is child-led play is where learning happens.
As your occupational therapist, my goal is to be a resource in your family’s tool kit so your child can learn and grow. I see so much value in fostering a therapeutic relationship with both the kids on my caseload and their parents. Through trust and communication, we can work together so your child fosters the skills to engage in their most important daily activities and every family feels nurtured, thus, bringing daily sparks of laughter and joy to their day.
Fun Facts About Me:
- I am a wife, a new mom to a sweet 1 year old, and owner of a playful chocolate lab; they keep me busy and bring so much laughter to my day!
- I have a love for learning. You will always catch me listening to audio books or a podcast as I am walking, driving, or doing the dishes. Some of my current favorite topics include self-development, nutrition, habit formation, and parenthood.
- My biggest tool for regulation is through yoga or outdoor activities. I look forward to annual lake trips with our family. My husband and I are currently building the courage to take our toddler on a backpacking trip.
