TherapyWorks Cincinnati 25-26 ASP Scholarship
As a graduate from EKU in OT and with over 27years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist, I specialize in working with children with sensory processing disorders, emphasizing the integration of retained primitive reflexes and a whole-child approach to therapy. My practice is grounded in understanding each child’s unique developmental profile, fostering functional independence, emotional regulation, and meaningful participation in daily life through individualized, play-based interventions. I have extensive experience supporting the development of feeding and self-help skills, including activities of daily living. I’m passionate about empowering families and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, I am committed to supporting children in reaching their full potential. When not working with children and their families, I love spending time with my own family, including my husband and 3 young adult children. We enjoy traveling, hiking, biking and staying active in the great outdoors together.
Hi! Everyone calls me Joe G. I am a Speech Language Pathologist, and I earned my Masters in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati and I earned my Bachelors in Music/Voice from Northern Kentucky University. I also earned an Associates degree in Electronic Media from the University of Cincinnati. I live in Northern Kentucky with my lovely wife, Jacynda, and two daughters, Cyndi Lou and Jovie. I also have son in heaven, Hank, that I look forward to seeing again one day. I love my family. As a SLP, I am currently interested in and learning more about autism, speech apraxia, and executive function. I enjoy going on cruises with my family. I have spent around ten years being a group leader and volunteer for two of my home churches in middle school and high school ministries, and have enjoyed singing Barbershop Quartet music for around 20 years. If you don’t know what that is, please ask the next time you see me. :) I look forward to meeting you and your family in the future.
Emily is a proud Cincinnati native who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Morehead State University and a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, Emily is certified with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s National Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).
Emily is licensed to practice speech therapy in the state of Kentucky. Her professional interests are centered around helping children achieve their full communication potential, and she is passionate about making a difference in their lives through creating an engaging and enjoyable environment in speech therapy, incorporating playful strategies to enhance learning and progress.
Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her fiance, Andy, and spending quality time with her loving parents and siblings.
In Emily’s downtime, she loves hanging out with her three dogs. Additionally, she enjoys teaching gymnastics and cheerleading, which allows her to share her passion for movement and teamwork with others.
Emily is always eager to connect with individuals who share a passion for helping others, whether it’s in her professional life or through her personal interests.
Kaylee was born and raised in Arkansas and earned her Master’s in Communication Disorders from Arkansas State University in 2021. She’s passionate about play-based early intervention and supporting autistic children. She also has a strong interest in facilitating communication through AAC and SGDs. Kaylee has recently developed a growing interest in gestalt language processors and strives to continue learning in that area. She aims to create a fun and supporting environment that meets each child where they are. Kaylee enjoys spending quality time with her boyfriend and their 3 dogs, reading, and crafting in her time away from work. She’s recently moved to the area and is excited to explore all the city has to offer!
Melissa is the Office Administrator and Billing Specialist for TherapyWorks Cincinnati. With approximately 15 years of administrative and medical office experience, Melissa joined TherapyWorks Cincinnati in 2016 and takes immense pride in being part of such an exceptional team. Her primary role involves assisting clients by explaining and discussing insurance benefits and meticulously processing claims. Melissa lives in Loveland with her husband, Bill, their two daughters, Allison and Audrey, and their beloved Goldendoodle, Margo. Melissa finds joy in a variety of activities, including reading, traveling, cooking, hosting bonfires, and enjoying leisurely walks with Margo.
Prior to joining the TherapyWorks team, Nicole worked as a kindergarten teacher in South Korea and as a middle school teacher in California and Ohio. Now, as the Operations Manager, Nicole puts her skills to work ensuring efficiency for clinicians and families. She is looking forward to developing new programs to help TherapyWorks meet the needs of children in the community. Outside of work, Nicole spends her time with her six-year-old daughter, Nora, and their Bernedoodle, Margot. She used to have hobbies, but now she is a mom and always needs a nap.
Melissa is a dedicated Counselor and Academic Instructor based in Milford, Ohio. Melissa obtained her education at Xavier University and holds a license in Ohio. With a genuine passion for assisting students and families, Melissa is committed to guiding them towards achieving their goals, ensuring they live life to their fullest potential. Her professional interests lie in post high school ambitions, life skills development, fostering positive peer interactions, and monitoring academic progress. Melissa and her husband, Brad, are proud parents to two daughters: Ellie, who is pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist, and Laura Jane, currently a junior at Pepperdine University, studying marketing.
Alexandra, the Director of Creative Arts at Ken Anderson Alliance, provides music therapy to clients at TherapyWorks. Alexandra earned her Bachelor’s degree at Ohio University, and she holds an MT-BC credential from the Certification Board of Music Therapists. Alexandra harnesses the power of music to facilitate communication, emotional regulation, and social connection, all while prioritizing fun as a means to drive personal growth. Her areas of interest span music technology, community music therapy with asset-based approaches, and trauma-informed techniques, showcasing her commitment to innovative and holistic practices. Her research, “Music Therapy Students’ Preparedness and Training to Work with LGBT Clients”, won a national award and was published in the academic journal Music Therapy Perspectives. Outside of work, Alexandra enjoys the company of her three cats and loves baking.
Sheri is an Intervention Specialist with degrees from Miami University and the University of Dayton. Licensed in Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, and Colorado, Sheri’s areas of interest encompass Special Education and Administration. She is certified in General Education (1-8), Special Education (K-12), and Administration (5-12). Beyond her career, Sheri finds immense joy in her role as a mother to five children and a proud Nana to ten grandchildren. In her leisure time, she indulges in a variety of interests including reading, gardening, camping, and traveling.
Meghan is an Ohio Licensed K-12 Reading Specialist with 22 years of teaching experience. She received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education (1999) and her Masters degree in Reading (2000) from Bowling Green State University. Certified in Orton Gillingham and Wilson Fundations, her passion is working with all types of children on their strengths and solidifying their specific skill gaps through a multi-sensory, encouraging, and supportive approach. Meghan absolutely loves teaching children, setting them up for success, watching them learn and grow, and contributing to her community. She also enjoys traveling (especially to the mountains), listening to music, hiking with her family, cooking, and taking photographs.
Lisa is an Intervention Specialist and Reading Specialist with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has taught students with a range of developmental disabilities in Kindergarten through 12th grade, both in the classroom and private tutoring settings. She integrates techniques from her studies to address areas such as phonics, decoding, fluency and reading comprehension, while creatively tailoring lesson plans to fit each student’s unique needs. She continually adapts her instruction by monitoring her students’ progress and adjusting accordingly. Her teaching success is driven by proactive and continuous professional development and a consistent commitment to her students.
Ms. Forschner graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 1999. As part of her coursework at Miami University, she completed the Orton Gillingham Literacy Training Phonics Program. She has used Orton Gillingham techniques and methodologies with the majority of her students throughout her career. She earned a Master of Special Education Degree at Temple University in 2003 and has since completed 30 additional hours of coursework from various other universities. In 2010, she participated in the Annual Summer Institute of Teaching Reading at Columbia University in New York, which included workshops conducted by the program’s founder, Lucy Calkins, as well as other reading education gurus such as Tim Rasinski. She also earned a Reading Endorsement from the University of Toledo in 2010.
Tracy is an Intervention Specialist licensed in Ohio. Tracy attended the University of Cincinnati for her undergraduate degree, Antioch University Midwest for her Master’s, and Mount St. Joseph University for her Reading Endorsement. Teaching is more than just a career choice for Tracy; it’s a personal calling, a testament to her unwavering dedication to making a difference in students’ lives. Her areas of interest within her career are diverse, ranging from her Orton Gillingham certification to co-teaching 10th Grade English and tutoring across various academic subjects. Tracy’s commitment to education hasn’t gone unnoticed; she was recently recognized by a senior athlete as ‘a person of impact’ at her high school. Beyond the classroom, Tracy and her husband share four wonderful children, along with their expanding family, including two sons-in-law and a grandson on the way. Living by a river, Tracy and her family enjoy watching kayakers while playing with their four rotten but lovable dogs.
Katie DeNeve, a Developmental Interventionist based in Northern Kentucky, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Louisville and a Master’s in Special Education from Xavier University. Driven by a deep-seated passion for witnessing children’s growth, Katie finds immense joy in those “lightbulb” moments when children grasp new concepts. Her specific interests lie in speech therapy and Autism, areas she continually seeks to expand her knowledge in. With a Master’s degree under her belt, Sarah is equipped with the expertise to cater to the diverse needs of her students. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, their fur baby “Louie”, and their one-year-old son Chase, named after her favorite Bengals player, Jamar “Chase”.
I am originally from the Fort Mitchell area in Kentucky. I graduated high school from Beechwood High school in 2013 and continued my education at Spalding University in Louisville, KY, graduating with my Master’s of Science of Occupational Therapy in 2018 .
Pediatric feeding disorders and treatment is where I really love to treat and have several years experience with. I developed a passion for feeding while working at a medically complex daycare center with infants and young children who were transitioning from NG and G-tubes to by-mouth feeding skills. Early interventions is another area I love and have experience with. I have also have a large interest and experience with working with kiddos who are neurodivergent and using play and sensory based interventions to help kiddos. Medically complex kiddos are also an area of interest for me. I have been an OT for almost eight years and have had such a great opportunity to work with kiddos in a variety of settings and with a variety of diagnoses.
I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have been together, in total, for 12 years. We got married in May of 2021. I am the middle child of my family and have two amazing parents and an older brother and younger sister!
Hobbies: I am the biggest FC Cincinnati fan around! My mom and I have had season tickets since their second season in the USL all the way to now being in the MLS! I go to every home game, and we travel to at least one away game. I played soccer since I was about five up until college and love watching it. I love baking and cooking for my friends and family and also crafting things with my cricut! I love to read and will read any and all recommendations! I am also a big anime/Disney/Harry Potter nerd!
Kim is the Intake and Scholarship Coordinator for Therapyworks Cincinnati. Her primary roles include assisting new clients and helping them get started with services as well as managing enrollment, scheduling, and billing for scholarship students. She is committed to providing clients with a welcoming, positive experience while supporting the exceptional team at Therapyworks. Kim and her husband Jason are proud parents of Ella and Ty along with their dog Jager. In her free time, Kim enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with family and friends.
Anna is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati. Anna lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband Matthew, daughter Thea, son Coen, and their furry friend Lou, a boxer husky mix. Holding licenses in both Ohio and Kentucky, Anna’s areas of interest within her career include speech disorders, particularly articulation and fluency, language disorders focusing on receptive language difficulties, social disorders, and autism. Outside of her professional pursuits, Anna finds joy in spending quality time with her family and friends, exploring new experiences, and indulging her passion for sports by watching and attending sporting events. A lifelong tap dancer, Anna has been taking tap classes since the age of five and continues to pursue her love for dance into adulthood.
Sheila is a speech-language pathologist new to the Cincy area (but a lifelong Reds fan). She received her degrees from Indiana State and the University of Virginia. Although Sheila has over 30 years experience with all ages and different settings, her favorite ages are preschool and school age, including middle school. Sheila has been married to her husband, Vince, for 40 years; together they have three sons and three cats. Sheila recently began providing teletherapy and her areas of interest include apraxia, hearing impairment, language development, social communication, and articulation. In her free time, Sheila loves to travel, garden, and attend “old people” concerts.
Mariah is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a heart for empowering individuals to express themselves confidently. Originally from Kentucky, Mariah pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences at WKU before furthering her education with a Master’s in SLP from Southern University and A&M College. Her career choice stems from a desire to facilitate growth and confidence in communication, believing everyone deserves to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Mariah’s professional interests span autism, language development, phonological and articulation disorders, as well as executive functioning. She holds a certification in Meaningful Speech NLA, further enhancing her expertise in the field. Outside of work, Mariah finds joy in spending time with her husband and bull terrier, indulging in her love for reading in her hammock, exploring the vibrant city of Cincinnati, and attending concerts to unwind and recharge.
Kate grew up just outside of Louisville, KY and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master’s of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2021. After completing her own speech therapy journey throughout school and college, Kate decided she wanted to help others who stutter like she does. In her schooling and work experience, she has found several new areas of interest outside of stuttering, such as early language intervention, articulation and phonology, and Natural Language Acquisition. Outside of work, Kate enjoys reading, hiking, hanging out at coffee shops, photography, and trying new hobbies. Recently, she has been learning origami!
Sarah is a passionate Speech-Language Pathologist whose journey began at Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science, Masters of Arts in Communication Disorders, and Rank I. Originally from Pikeville, Kentucky, Sarah now resides in Brooksville, Kentucky, and has been an integral part of the Bracken County School System since 2006, expanding her reach to KEIS in 2020. Sarah’s career path was ignited during her senior year of high school through a School to Work program at an outpatient clinic, sparking her love for the field. Alongside her professional achievements, Sarah is a mother to Noah (15) and Sophie (13), and their home is shared with two beloved dogs, Resee and Oreo. In her leisure time, Sarah enjoys kayaking, reading, and listening to music.
Katy has been a Speech Language Pathologist since 2010. She was born and raised in Cincinnati and has recently returned to her hometown after residing in Ft. Myers, FL for the last 15 years. She is definitely a Florida AND Ohio girl! She attended the “old” Lakota High School and upon graduation, she headed to Morehead State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in Developmental Psychology. After several years in the workforce gaining experience in the hotel/hospitality industry, case management, and travel/tourism, Katy decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue the field of Speech Pathology. In 2008, she returned to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Miami University at Oxford. Much of Katy’s clinical focus has been within the areas of Autism, Apraxia of Speech, Language and Articulation delays/disorders, and Auditory Processing Disorders in the early intervention and school age populations. Her goal is to eventually pursue Hippotherapy as well as to bring her knowledge to the university classroom as an adjunct professor. Outside of her day (and sometimes night) job, she enjoys reading, crafting, movies, live entertainment of all kinds, spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and generally exploring new adventures and hobbies. Katy is grateful to be able to make a difference in the lives of children and families, whatever their unique needs may be!
Carrie, founder of TherapyWorks, holds an American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s National Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). She is licensed to practice as an SLP in Ohio and Kentucky. Carrie also holds an Ohio Department of Education school license. She graduated from Miami University in 2001 with a Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology. Carrie has decades of experience with children in the school, early intervention and private practice settings. As an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, Carrie is helping future clinicians hone their clinical skills. Through Kentucky’s First Steps Early Intervention program, she provides primary level evaluations used to determine eligibility for services. She enjoys working with children with feeding based disorders, motor speech disorders as well as neurodiverse children.
Carrie has been awarded the ASHA ACE award for her dedication to continuing to advance her skills and knowledge base. Some specialized training that Carrie has completed include: The Play Project, PECS, PROMPT, SCERTS, SOS Approach to Feeding, Kaufman, Myofunctional Therapy and Executive Functioning. Carrie strives to continue to learn and be a well-rounded therapist and employer. Hiring like minded educators and therapists is essential to her.