Sara Weiser, OTR/L is a native of the DC Metropoltian area and received her degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Prior to joining Good Beginnings, she worked in the private school setting specializing in the areas of sensory integration, fine motor and visual motor development. Sara was instrumental in developing the occupational therapy department at a newly formed local charter school and has been a guest speaker for local community organizations and universities. She has developed a special interest in working with children with visual perceptual challenges and feeding difficulties. Sara expanded her knowledge to include nutrition and treatment of pediatric obesity. She has been piloting our "Astronaut Training" program and feeding groups at Good Beginnings. Sara also has advanced training in regulatory disorders and is a certified "Therapeutic Listening" practitioner.
Our staff is dedicated to excellence and success in the fields of Occupational and Physical Therapy. At Good Beginnings you will observe that your child will benefit from our staff's broad level of expertise.
Isabelle Babington trained in France where she received the D.E of Ergotherapie in 1981 and later passed the US Board of Certification exam in 1994. She joined Good Beginnings when moving to the DC area in 1998. Her 20 years of experience includes 16 years in Pediatrics in various settings and countries. She has completed her initial training with courses in sensory integration, handwriting, narrative therapy, floor time, art therapy and hyppotherapy. She also trains occupational therapists in Paris twice a year in sensory integration.
Fern Barry, OTR/L is a graduate of Boston University and has over eleven years experience as an occupational therapist. Fern has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including sensory integration clinics, early intervention, and public and private schools with a diverse population of children. Fern has advanced training in sensory integration, fine and visual motor development, feeding disorders, and Autism Spectrum disorders. In addition, she is certified in therapeutic listening and has a strong background in fitness. When not at work, Fern can be found spending time with her husband and two young sons, crafting, baking, and teaching group exercise classes.
Jeannine Buckland joined the staff at Good Beginnings in September 2010. Jeannine graduated in 2007 with her degree as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Prior to coming to Good Beginnings, she was employed by Fairfax County Public Schools as a school-based therapist. She has experience working with children who have autism spectrum disorders, fine and visual motor delays, developmental delays, sensory processing difficulties, visual impairments and others. She believes that a key component to successful therapy is recognizing that each child is unique and requires an individualized approach that addresses his or her specific needs.
Christy Chase joined Good Beginnings in 2011. She earned her M.A. in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In 2009, she was awarded a training grant by the Department of Education for specialized care in the early intervention and early elementary settings. She is expected to complete The Certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University in June 2015. Christy has a passion for collaborating with families to embed therapeutic experiences into practical, everyday routines. Her clinical experience also includes a diverse population of clients in school-based settings, in-home to medically complex children, and in child-care centers to infants and toddlers age birth through three years. She has a research interest in visual, auditory, and vestibular systems and their effects on postural control and higher-level learning skills.
Juliet Copeland has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 1994. Before joining Good Beginnings in 2005 she worked in Early Intervention and in two hospital settings - The Hospital for Sick Children and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Both settings provided a plethora of opportunities to work with a variety of clients with challenging issues. Juliet developed skills in the areas of feeding and swallowing, handwriting and fine motor skills, and sensory processing issues. Juliet's interest in Early Intervention led to her research for a Master's Thesis at VCU on Parent and Therapist Perceptions of Sensory Based Strategies Used by Occupational Therapists in a Family Centered Early Intervention Practice. She continues to bring a high level of expertise to Good Beginnings by providing early Intervention services, leading feeding programs, and treating children with varied therapeutic needs.
Christine "Chris" Fleming graduated from VCU with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and worked for Arlington County Public Schools until July 2004 when she joined our team at Good Beginnings. With over 31 years of experience, she has worked with disabilities including hearing/visual impairments, autism, developmental delays and learning disabilities. Chris has attended numerous conferences on sensory integration, IEP development, wheelchair fittings and fine motor/visual motor activities. She has also assisted with Special Olympic activities and volunteered in infant-parent programs. Chris resides in Virginia with her husband and two children.
Amber Coyne, is a new editition to Good Beginnings (2015). She is a native of Oregon state with a graduate degree in occupational therapy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. She has provided occupational therapy services in a variety of settings including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, school based and outpatient pediatrics. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist she worked as a camp counselor at Easter Seal’s Camp Stand By Me and was a Montessori classroom teacher’s assistant. She has taken courses in handwriting, fine motor/visual motor development, sensory integration, Neurodevelopmental therapy and feeding. She lives with her husband, son Oliver (2 yrs), and their yellow labrador.
Sharyn Kagan has worked in the field of pediatric occupational therapy for over 30 years. Her educational training includes an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including the Arlington County Early Intervention Program and Fairfax County Public Schools. Having worked at Good Beginnings for the past 20 years, she specializes in the treatment of children ages 0-5 with cerebral palsy, motor delays, sensory integration dysfunction, and autism spectrum disorders. Sharyn is also trained and certified in Sensory Integration and Praxis Testing,Therapeutic Listening, and the fabrication of orthotics (DAFOS).
Susan Murphy graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy. She began her career as a traveling therapist and has gained valuable OT and life experience through her various assignments in Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia and finally the Northern Virginia area. With over 15 years of experience in both adult and geriatric rehab, Susan realized a long-term career goal when she began working at Good Beginnings in 2008, exclusively in the field of pediatric OT. In addition to her love of working with children, Susan has also trained in sensory integration, fine motor & visual motor development and autism spectrum disorders. Susan is happily married and resides in Falls Church with her husband and two young sons.
Marcela Abril Pisani graduated from the Universidad Del Rosario in Bogota, Columbia. She has lived and worked in diverse settings including neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care and outpatient rehabilitation in Europe, South America and the United States. She joined Good Beginnings in 2007 and has brought to our practice her wealth of knowledge with infants and young children as well as her special skills in the areas of craniosacral therapy sensory integration, disorders of feeding and swallowing, Neurodevelopmental treatment, and mild learning disabilities. Marcela has advanced training in Neurodevelopmental treatment, sensory integration, and is working towards completing her training as a craniosacral therapist. Marcela loves to meditate, exercise, play tennis, read and spend time with her two children, Rosie (11) and Michael (7).
Maurisa Shyne - Therapy at the Medical College of Virginia/VCU. She has 15 years experience as a pediatric O.T. and has worked with a wide range of ages - from 2 to 22 - in the public schools and in private practice. She has experience with children with sensory processing difficulties, fine and visual motor delays, visual perceptual impairments,dysgraphia/handwriting difficulty, feeding disorders, developmentaland physical disabilities and is trained in Therapeutic Listening. Maurisa loves using a holistic, individualized approach and is passionate about empowering families and children to achieve their greatest potentials.
Crista Seipp grew up in Arlington, Virginia and earned her Master of Occupational Therapy Degree from the University of Florida. She has been a part of the Good Beginnings team since 2008, and her experience includes work with a wide range of ages and developmental disabilities in pediatric private practice, physical rehabilitation, and the public school system. She has advanced training in sensory processing disorders, difficult behavior, autism spectrum disorders, visual perceptual delays, and traumatic brain injury. She is a certified provider for both Interactive Metronome and Therapeutic Listening programs. Crista has a special interest in swing dancing, and when she's not at work as an OT, she can probably be found on a dance floor.
Erin Quigley, MS, OTR/L – Grew up in Ashburn, Virginia and received both her bachelors and masters degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She joined Good Beginnings in 2014 and has previous experience working in the public school system, as well as working with adults with orthopedic injuries. Her passion is in collaborating with children and their families, as well as other therapists, to develop and problem-solve ideas for full engagement and participation in activities important to the child and family she is working with. Erin enjoys running races, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and volunteering.
Marie Zurlo, OTR/L grew up in Sterling, Virginia and received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joined the Good Beginnings team in the Fall of 2014 and has previous experience in acute care, trauma and orthopedic surgery, and pediatric home health. Marie has experience working with pediatrics in Special Olympics and in the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center. She is passionate about working with kids of all ages and believes that the best therapy takes on a holistic, inclusive approach that addresses not only the child, but the entire family. When not at work, Marie can be found spending time with her family and friends, playing with her chocolate lab or at the yoga studio!
Kate Grassmeyer - Kate is a native Southerner, growing up in Savannah, Georgia, and attending the University of Georgia, where she studied Exercise & Sport Science. Political work originally drew Kate to Washington, but she went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Marymount University. Her doctoral thesis explored the effects of exercise on Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, and her clinical case report studied Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in a young patients with TBI. Kate treats patients from birth through elementary school using various techniques of developmental and therapeutic exercise, gait training, NDT, Brain Gym, neuromuscular re-education, and kinesiotaping. She is a certified Clinical Instructor, and certified Early Intervention Specialist, having worked in private therapy, the school system, and home setting through Arlington County. When she isn't working, Kate is blogging, re-decorating, or running! She lives in Alexandria with her husband and two young children.
Megan Knapick is a native of Upstate New York, having grown up in Schenectady. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mental Health and Human Services from Franciscan University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at The George Washington University. During her studies Megan had a special interest in pediatrics. She also gained in-depth experience with orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation. Megan has been fortunate to work in both home-based early intervention (birth - 3 years old), and clinic-based physical therapy (birth - 15 years old). Megan treats a wide range of patients including patients with genetic disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and orthopedic conditions and abnormalities. Megan uses various therapeutic techniques including therapeutic exercise and activities, manual therapy, joint mobilization, developmental assessment and progression, gait training, neuromuscular re-education, and kinesio-taping. Megan believes that including parents through education and home exercise is key to ensuring successful outcomes. When she isn’t at Good Beginnings, you can find Megan photographing fun sites around NoVA and DC. Megan and her husband are foodies who love to travel the world and run races together!
Amy O'Malley, PT, MPT, PCS has been practicing physical therapy since 1998, exclusively in pediatrics. She joined Good Beginnings of Falls Church, VA in 2004. She is currently the Clinical Support Manager in addition to treating patients. She also teaches internationally, previously with Health Volunteers Overseas in Haiti, Firefly, Inc. in Russia, and currently with The Michelo Project in Swaziland. She became a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist via the American Physical Therapy Association in 2014. Her special interests include development from birth to twelve months, global health issues, and exercise training for children with special needs. Out of the clinic she likes to run half-marathons and is very involved with Rotary International.
Renee Sturgill PT/ MPT / PCS - Renee has worked as a pediatric PT for over 15 years. Last year she was certified as a pediatric clinical specialist. She loves helping families learn how to help their children develop their motor skills and play skills. When not working, Renee enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids. She enjoys camping, hiking, biking, cruising, and going to Disney with her family.
Mary Battey, our practice manager, can’t seem to get enough of Good Beginnings! A graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Columbia University Business School, Mary spent many years in the oil industry until her 2nd child was born. Bored with sitting in the waiting room while her son was getting OT and PT, she decided to put her MBA to good use and set up Good Beginnings’ first administrative office back in 1993. She left Good Beginnings in 2000 when the office manager job became a full-time one and she wanted to work on a part-time basis. In the ensuing years Mary worked part-time at several different medical practices and volunteered at her children’s schools. She eventually returned to full-time employment when her children went to college. Mary returned to Good Beginnings in January 2010 after the last tuition payment was made! She is very happy to be back. Mary is in the office (at our Falls Church location) Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to running the practice, Mary is responsible for making all new patient appointments for both offices.
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