OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

Kathy Nicholson, OTR — Kathy began practicing as an occupational therapist in Canada, in 1974. Her professional experience has included working with emotionally disturbed and juvenile delinquent children who were institutionalized, adults with mental retardation in a group home setting, children, adolescents and adults with neurological deficits in a hospital setting and in a specialized Center, adult home care and geriatrics in nursing homes. She has focused her area of expertise on adults and children with sensory processing disorders, learning disabilities and children on the Autistic Spectrum. Kathy also completed a degree in Psychology and has done postgraduate work in Neuropsychology and in Sensory Integration, for part of a Masters degree. She has participated in several research projects for the Canadian government on Sensory Processing Treatment and in the S.H.E. Project (Stay Healthy Early) for young single mothers. She is certified to administer The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests and is an Instructor for Sensory Integration International.

Robyn Wiley, OTR - Robyn graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1995.  She has been providing occupational therapy services to children from infancy to 16 years of age since that time. In 1997, she became a co-owner, director, and therapist at From the Heart Therapy Services where she works with children with a variety of conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, genetic/chromosome disorder, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ADD, dysgraphia and poor gross and fine motor skills. She is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests.  She has a special interest in evaluating and treating children adopted from foreign countries, as she has adopted two children, herself, internationally. 

Tammy Santoro, OTR — Tammy has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 1982. Her professional experience has included working with children who were deaf and blind with severe mental retardation, adolescents and adults with cognitive deficits, adolescents and adults who were legally blind, adolescents and adults post traumatic injury or neurological insult with special training in upper extremity amputation and pain management. She also has had experience with adults and children with sensory processing disorders, and children with neurological conditions. She has dual certifications as a Neurodevelopmental Therapist and to administer The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests.

Susan Montgomery, OTR — Susan graduated in December 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. She began her career at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, where she spent two years. During this time, she worked with patients with a variety of conditions including hand injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. She also worked with premature infants and pediatric patients. In the summer of 1990, she took a job at Capital Area Easter Seals where her career became more focused on the pediatric population. During her five years at Easter Seals, she evaluated and treated children with disabilities and conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifuda, congenital disabilities, autism, and developmental delays. She also worked in an outpatient clinic with children with sensory integration dysfunction. In 1995, she began working with children at Pflugerville ISD, and then took a part-time job at From the Heart Therapy Services in 1997 after the birth of her second child. She has been SIPT certified since May 2001.

Sarah Sweeney, OTR — Sarah received her Bachelor of Science degree at The University of Texas at Austin and her Master's in Occupational Therapy at Texas Women's University. She has worked at From the Heart Therapy since 2000 and is currently working toward her SIPT (Sensory Integration Praxis Test) certification. Sarah has also worked at the Rise School of Austin, a preschool providing education services to children 14 months to six years of age with developmental disabilities, since 2003.

Julia Wehman, OTR — Julia was born right here in Austin, TX and was raised in Buda. Julia graduated with her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in May 2007, and received her license and certification in June 2007. She completed her affiliations at Texas NeuroRehab Center working with adults with traumatic brain injury, and Kidworks where she worked with children with sensory processing disorders for her graduate program. She came to From the Heart after she graduated in May 2007.

Michelle Cerpa, OTR  - Michelle moved to Austin from St. Louis, Missouri after graduating with her Master's in Occupational Therapy from Saint Louis University in May of 2008.  In graduate school, she completed clinical affiliations at the Miriam School working with elementary age children with special needs, and at Barnes-Jewish Hospital working in an acute, general medicine setting with adults.  She joined From the Heart Therapy in August 2008.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Cheryl Wanek, PT - Cheryl has been practicing as a physical therapist since 1974.  She decided early in her career to specialize in working with children and obtained her Neurodevelopment treatment (NDT) certification in 1975 and her Baby NDT Training in 1984.  Her professional experience has included working with infants and children with a variety of congenital, orthopedic and neurologically based developmental disorders in Birth to three programs, preschool and school ages settings, outpatient pediatric clinics and hospital based NICU settings.  She has assisted in the assessment process for addressing the adaptive equipment needs of the children on her caseload.  Cheryl has chose to specialize in serving the therapeutic needs of high risk neonates and young infants with an emphasis on parent participation and training and to better serve this population.  While living in South Texas, opened her own private practice in 1989.  She also has had experience working with infants with Erb’s Palsy, torticollis and plagiocephaly.  Her recent interest and training in yoga practices, particularly Kundalini yoga, in which she is a certified instructor, has added another dimension to her therapeutic intervention techniques.  She come to From the Heart Therapy as newcomer to the Austin Area where her three grown children and grandson reside. 

 

 

 

SPEECH - LANGUAGE THERAPISTS

Meredith Brookner-Ansel, M.A., CCC-SLP — Meredith is originally from New York and graduated with a B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She received her M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Texas at Austin in 1997 and worked at A.I.S.D. and other pediatric facilities in Austin. Meredith came to From the Heart in April 2002. Her certifications include the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, Hanen Parent Training Programs, and P.R.O.M.P.T.

Christi Kobelan, M.S., CCC-SLP - Christi was born and raised in Texas.  She received her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Speech Pathology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  She has worked at From the Heart Therapy Services since 1999.  Before coming to FTH, Christi worked with children and adolescents with emotionally disturbed difficulties at treatment facilities in Austin beginning in 1982.  She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association and a Texas License to practice speech pathology.  Christi is trained in P.R.O.M.P.T. and Hanen Parent Training.

Janel Ridlehuber, M.S., CCC-SLP — Janel was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. After graduating, she worked for three years as a licensed speech-language therapist assistant at From the Heart Therapy where she was mentored by and worked closely with highly experienced therapists, gaining a wealth of hands-on experience in the field while assisting in the evaluation and treatment of children with a variety of communication difficulties. After receiving her Master of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2006, she returned to From the Heart as a Speech Language Pathologist. Janel has devoted the majority of her learning and experience to pediatrics and has worked with children who have a variety of diagnoses including receptive and expressive language delays/disorders, motor speech and articulation disorders, autism spectrum disorders, central auditory processing disorders, sensory integration disorder, feeding disorders and various syndromes. She is licensed by the Texas State Board of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists and is certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Janel has received advanced training in P.R.O.M.P.T Intro to Technique, P.R.O.M.P.T Bridging to Intervention, and MORE-Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Function. She has also received informal training in Hanen, Floortime and the "How Does Your Engine Run" Alert Program for Self-Regulation.

Angela Murphy, M.A. CCC-SLP — Angela was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in December of 2000 through the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation, she spent six months working as a one on one aide in a preschool classroom with a child with autism. Angela attended the University of Kansas where she participated in a specialized autism-training grant. She received her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2004. Before coming to work at From The Heart, she worked with the preschool through grade five populations within the public schools. During her time in the schools, Angela worked with children who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, syndromes, cerebral palsy, sensory integration disorders, and motor speech and articulation disorders. Angela has spent much of her time and training increasing her knowledge of autism spectrum disorders and working with augmentative communication. Angela has both volunteered and worked at a variety of summer camps with children on the autism spectrum. She has also attended various conferences by notable teachers in the field of autism spectrum disorders (Michelle Garcia Winner, Temple Grandin, Carol Gray, Jed Baker, Tony Attwood). Angela has received formal training in the P.R.O.M.P.T. Into to Technique and Beckman Oral Motor technique. Angela is certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association as well as the Texas State Board of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Lauren McKee, M.A., SLP-CFY — Lauren was raised in Colleyville, Texas, until moving to Austin in 2001. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Lauren received her Masters of Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin in Communication Disorders. While in graduate school, Lauren worked with both children and adult patients with a variety of diagnoses, including stuttering, articulation disorder, language delay/disorder, voice disorder, autism spectrum, aphasia, traumatic brain injury, dysphagia, and cognitive disorders. As both an undergraduate and graduate student, Lauren worked at the Precision Fluency Shaping Program (PFSP) in Norfolk, Virginia, a clinic focused on therapy for stuttering. While at PFSP, she worked under a renowned speech pathologist who received Fluency Certification from the American Speech and Hearing Association. Lauren joined From the Heart after she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in August 2007.

OFFICE STAFF

Amy Spargo, Office Manager and Insurance Coordinator

Miriam Ferguson, Front Desk Coordinator and Receptionist – Miriam is a transplanted New Yorker and has been with From the Heart Therapy for six years. While in school, Miriam was enrolled in the B.O.C.E.S. Vocational Nursing Program, where she received training at Vassar Brothers Hospital, St. Frances Hospital, and Hudson River State Mental Institute, all three of which are in upstate New York. Miriam also attended Dutchess Community College for a brief time, where she chose to study Medical Assistance. In 1974, she decided to leave school and joined IBM where she did process and machinery qualification audits both in house and to outside vendors. In 1989, she transferred within IBM to the Administrative Department in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1990, she once again transferred within IBM to Austin, where she did final inspections in the Quality Department. After over 25 years of service with IBM and not wanting to transfer again, Miriam chose to leave IBM. Shortly thereafter, her desire to work in the medical field and with children brought her to join the From the Heart staff in 2002. Miriam is married to a Corrections Officer, and together they have three children. One is an Austin Police Officer, and the other two are both students studying nursing. She also has three grandchildren, ages 9, 3, and 6 weeks, and is fluent in Spanish.