OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Kimberly Gardener

Kimberly is a licensed Occupational Therapist and graduated from the University of Southern California with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She has extensive training in Sensory Integration and received her SIPT certification, as well as her Advanced Practice in Swallowing, Assessment, and Intervention Certification (SWC). Kimberly specializes in children with oral motor and feeding sensitivities, food intolerances, and difficulties with the transition to solids. Kimberly has experience with both the pediatric and adult settings and previously worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as provided in-home therapy for older adults. She currently owns and manages TP4K, a multidisciplinary clinic in Santa Monica CA.

Kimberly has worked closely with a variety of top clinicians and professionals in the pediatric therapy business and has experience in a wide array of learning programs to help children struggling in school including PACE (Processing & Cognitive Enhancement), AMPS (Attention, Memory & Processing Skills), The Listening Program and Integrated Listening Systems, Handwriting Without Tears, Social Thinking, and Retrain The Brain. She also has had experience with professional and teacher in-service training, and local parent support groups.

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Caroline Fournier

Caroline is a licensed occupational therapist originally from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies and Master of Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Caroline is passionate about sensory integration therapy, handwriting and feeding therapy. She has experience with providing occupational therapy services in-clinic to children of all ages and in-home through Early Intervention to children ages 0-3. Caroline has attended seminars to implement programs into her practice such as the SOS Feeding Approach and Feeding Therapy: A Sensory Motor Approach. She has her Sensory Integration Certification through USC, her advanced practice in feeding and swallowing, and is certified in Handwriting Without Tears.

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Rebecca Prosser

Rebecca is a California native who recently moved back from Chicago to rejoin the amazing team at a Therapy Place 4 Kids. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University in California in Early Childhood Education, she taught preschool for several years before returning to school. After graduating from California State Dominguez Hills with her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, she combined her love of education and working with children and families and began her career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Rebecca has an extensive history of working with children with a variety of abilities such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), and more. In Chicago, she helped to create and run their fieldwork education and mentorship program for new graduate therapists. She enjoys working with a great multidisciplinary team to provide holistic, quality care and is excited to be back at TP4K!

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Natalie Waechter

Natalie Waechter, MS, OTR/L earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College in Springfield, MA where she also competed on the collegiate swim team. She has spent her career working with children in both outpatient and early intervention settings and worked with children with various disabilities and diagnoses. She has taken continuing education courses in Handwriting without Tears, sensory integration, feeding-related disorders, and sensory-motor approaches to feeding. Natalie is passionate about making therapy fun and enjoyable for children and their families in order to best support them and help them achieve their goals.

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Cheyanne Garcia

Cheyanne received a Bachelor of Arts in Health and the Human Sciences with a minor in Occupational Sciences from the University of Southern California in 2019. Cheyanne discovered occupational therapy during her first semester of undergraduate as she participated in USC’s Lifestyle Redesign program and fell in love with the profession’s mission to provide individuals with client-centered care and opportunities to improve their participation within meaningful occupations. She then moved to Massachusetts to receive her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Boston University in 2022. The majority of Cheyanne’s clinical experiences center around pediatrics, varying from early intervention, school-based settings, and outpatient pediatric clinics, heavily influencing her decision to pursue a career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Cheyanne is passionate about providing a fun and inviting therapeutic experience for children and their families. She is interested in functional play, sensory integration, and feeding therapy. She is excited to continue her professional development and learn more about diverse practice areas within pediatrics. When not in a clinical setting, Cheyanne enjoys spending time with friends and family.

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Abby Leven

Abby graduated from California State Dominguez Hills with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She previously attended Tulane University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Management. Abby has always loved working in pediatrics and is passionate about working with children with sensory processing differences as well as feeding challenges. She has continued her education in sensory processing and is excited to further her learning in feeding therapy. She finds OT to be a rewarding career as it affords her the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with her clients and help them reach their fullest potential. In her free time, Abby loves traveling, hiking, and taking her pooch, Otis, to the dog park.

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Marissa Maddalena

Marissa received a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Minor in Special Education from James Madison University in Virginia. She moved to Montana to receive her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain College. Marissa first discovered occupational therapy through volunteering at summer camps working with children with disabilities. After her clinical rotations in early intervention, school-based, and outpatient pediatric settings she decided to make pediatric therapy her career path. Marissa is passionate about sensory integration and feeding therapy. Marissa enjoys spending her free time outdoors, she loves to hike, bike, swim, and camp on the weekends.

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Jennifer Saeedian Cohen

Jennifer is a licensed occupational therapist, born and raised in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California with a BA in Psychology, and completed her MA at the University of Southern California. She is currently completing her doctorate there as well.
Jennifer’s passion is working with children. She has followed this pursuit through many different avenues as a preschool teacher, afterschool elementary teacher, OT assistant, tutor, and behavioral interventionist. She has also obtained advanced training in Sensory Integration, as a Postpartum Doula, and in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.
In both her work and volunteer experiences, she has created enriching, developmentally appropriate programs, geared towards nurturing the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional needs of children. And by attending various conferences, such as the Council for Exceptional Children Convention and the California Association for the Education of Young Children Conference, she has eagerly connected with those who share her passion.

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Maya Paz

Maya graduated from Jefferson University with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She previously attended University of California at Santa Cruz where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Maya has previously experience in pediatrics as well as with adults with neurological conditions during time spent in Washington D.C. When she relocated to Los Angeles in 2022, she decided to combine her passion for kids and development with her ongoing passion for occupational therapy! In her free time, Maya loves spending time outside, traveling and playing with her nephew.

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