I am a board-certified, practicing occupational therapist licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire with over 22 years of experience working with children and families. My passion is to support children and their caregivers using a unique, individualized, strengths-based approach that includes collaboration with the child’s team.  When a child feels safe, supported, and valued, their world becomes a place where growth, self awareness, self confidence and self advocacy can and will occur, and my mission is to help each child feel empowered to reach their highest potential.

I am the founder and owner of kidSHINE LLC- an outpatient pediatric OT clinic with three locations in MA, north of Boston. At kidSHINE, our mission is “Strong Bodies. Strong Minds. Strong Hearts. And helping kiddos SHINE”.  kidSHINE is a welcoming community where children (and caregivers) will develop self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem and “find their people”, through a combination of 1:1 OT sessions (in an open, collaborative environment) and group programming that channels high intensity exercise as a novel frame of reference for growth and change.

Beginning in 2015, I founded, designed, developed, researched and refined the innovative EXERSHINEkids POWER Bootcamp Program, headquartered at kidSHINE. This program targets strength, motor skills, regulatory skills, social participation skills, and confidence in ALL children, by using high-intensity exercise as a change agent to self regulation and functional outcomes in children with sensory processing challenges. 

I also run the EXERSHINEkids clinician training and certification program quart-annually. This evidence based and evidence informed program is designed to inspire other OTPs and like minded clinicians to harness the POWER of high intensity exercise.

In 2020, I completed research on the efficacy of high-intensity exercise as a change agent for improved sensory processing skills in children. I presented this research at the AOTA Children and Youth Conference in 2021, the Georgia Alliance of School-Based OTs, and PTs in 2022, and had my poster presentation accepted for the 2020 AOTA National Conference. 

In addition, I am a passionate guest lecturer at universities and collaborative e-learning conferences, including at UCSF, Johnson and Wales, and St Anslem’s College. I also provide in-person and virtual continuing education for several local preschools and elementary schools, including participating in a post-COVID educational support grant program to bring my BOOST program to two area schools.

​I am also a co-author of a children’s book series about sensory processing, friendship, and empowerment: King’s Day Out.