OUR MISSION

At Growing UP Therapy we, your occupational and physical therapists, believe in partnership. Together we collaborate with you and your child to achieve developmental goals through playful interventions, sharing of knowledge and a nurturing environment.

SARAH CONKLIN

While attending the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth Minnesota, I earned a Bachelors of Arts in 2010 and then my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2011. First I explored being a travel occupational therapist, before finding my true calling in pediatrics. Over the past several years, I have been able to hone and develop my clinical skills. I have advanced training in the areas of Sensory Integration, visual-motor, ocular motor and visual perceptual development. I am also a certified SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) feeding therapist as well as a DIRFloortime practitioner.

LISA HELENIUS

I have been an Occupational Therapist since 1996 and have specialized in Pediatrics for 23 of those years. Stateside I have worked in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Mexico in early intervention, school therapy and at the Center for Development and Disability at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Most recently, I have spent the past 10 years working here in Germany for the EDIS program through the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in early intervention and in multiple schools: Ramstein Elementary, Vogelweh Elementary and Sembach Elementary and Middle Schools as well as several schools in the Stuttgart area. I earned my Master of Occupational Therapy degree at Texas Woman’s University and have extensive continuing education in the areas of sensory integration and praxis, autism, ADHD, developmental and motor coordination disorders, various manual therapies and orthotics. My philosophy as a therapist is to build off a child’s strengths and to help him/her feel safe and comfortable when facing challenges. Finding a “just right” challenge is key, so that the therapeutic process is fun while attaining one’s goals.

ELSJE GEYSER

After completing my Bachelor in Occupational Therapy in 2001 at the University of the Free State in South Africa I started working in peadiatrics. This has been my passion ever since. I embarked on my Masters degree at the University in Witwatersrand, with a special interest in peadiatrics, neurology, developmental visual perception and Ayres Sensory Integration. I have worked at private practices, schools for children with special needs and remedial schools. I enjoy furthering my “OT toolbox”, and I am a certified Interactive Metronome practitioner, and currently busy with my Trauma Releasing Exercises qualification. I completed my training in functional capacity assessments and did pediatric functional capacity assessments for the road accident fund in South Africa. Later, I also started assessing adults. I have designed developmental programs for children with limited access to resources in South Africa, and I am currently writing up my PhD, investigating the sensory profiles of children from adequately resourced backgrounds, compared to those without access to resources. My family has recently embarked on our European adventure, and I am thrilled to be able to continue working and helping children to achieve success in every-day life through building their skills in a playful and meaningful way, as well as working closely with the family and therapy team.

JULIE BRANNON SCHOENEFELD

I have been a pediatric Occupational Therapist since 1997. My career started in private practice and school therapy in Albuquerque, NM. Since 2001 I have worked for the Educational Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) program as an Early Intervention OT, focusing on partnering with parents to help their infant or toddler grow and develop in the context of their everyday activities together. Understanding autism, and helping families understand it, has been a long-term interest of mine. For this reason I decided to pursue specialized autism training with the PLAY Project. It’s exciting to begin 2022 as a new team member at Growing Up Therapy. I’m ready to join this team that values and focuses on partnering with parents (the experts on their child) in order to help their child reach his or her developmental potential.

WENDY LEE

After enlisting in the Army out of high school I returned to my home state and completed my professional education. I attended the University of Montana where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Health and Human Performance in 2011 and my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2014. Since then I have treated children in outpatient, early intervention, home health and school based settings. I continued my military career after college by commissioning as a physical therapist in the Army Reserves. With my husband being active duty for the Army, we have been a family on the go, and I have held licenses in the states of Washington, Idaho and Texas. Along the way we have welcomed 2 amazing children, one of whom was born here in Germany. Living overseas is an amazing opportunity but also adds an increased challenge. My goal is to use my experience, both professionally and as a mother and military spouse to help families navigate the unique health care system in the Kaiserslautern Military Community and ensure each child’s success!

MEREDITH CARPENTER

I completed my bachelors in Psychology at the University of Arizona in 2015 before continuing on to complete my Occupational Therapy Doctorate at Northern Arizona University in 2018. I have gained experience in early intervention, schools, telehealth, and primarily outpatient pediatrics which I am excited to continue here at Growing Up. My husband is active duty Air Force which has allowed us to move around the United States and now to Germany where we have lived for over a year with our two young boys. I am fortunate to have gained valuable experience at multiple clinics throughout our moves that have all helped grow and shape me as a therapist. I look forward to working together with the kids and their families to encourage growth and development in a safe and fun environment!

REBECCA T.

After earning my Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2009 I received my Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2013. I have worked in outpatient pediatrics throughout my career and also as an early intervention provider. I love working with children and their families and strive to create family centered care to meet goals that are important to each family and meaningful to the child. I feel privileged to be able to watch children grow and reach new milestones through playful and fun activity. I have recently completed training in Total Motion Release TOTS as well as Liesa Ritchie Persaud’s toe walking intervention. This is my second time living in Europe. I was lucky enough to spend three years living in Southern France, and now am enjoying exploring Germany with my husband and two children.

JENI TILMAN

After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy at East Carolina University in 2001, I have explored various settings as an Occupational Therapist, such as pediatric clinics, schools and hospitals. My career started as a pediatric therapist, and, although I loved working in the school setting, my hunger to work abroad grew. From 2004-2023, my OT career took me to Australia, Maryland, San Diego and Belgium. With over 20 years experience and extensive continuing education, my skills range from Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Treatment with a certification in NDT, Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), Physical Modalities Certification, and Mental Health. My biggest “aha moment” was during the COVID pandemic when I realized I wanted to deepen my knowledge and skills working in a pediatric clinic. I recognized that children globally need more support physically, emotionally and socially to be successful in life. During this time, I finished my 200-hour Yoga Teaching Certification (RYT) and currently pursuing my Kid’s Yoga Certification. My intentions are to use my skills, both as a traditional pediatric OT and a yoga instructor, to provide holistic treatment to my clients. In 2024 I moved to Germany with my husband and 3 amazing daughters ages 12, 9 and 7 years old. Other than yoga, my passions are exercising (in nature), cooking and traveling. I am so excited that my journey and all my experiences have brought me to Growing Up Pediatric Therapy services where I can continue to deepen my knowledge and skills as a pediatric clinician to serve the children in this community.

MEGAN MEIER

Growing up in Missouri, I always knew I wanted to travel the world and to be able to work with children. During my undergraduate degree, I initially thought I wanted to be a child psychologist. However, once I had my first anthropology class, I was hooked, so I changed my major to a BA of Anthropology with a minor in African Studies. My first experience outside the United States was travelling to Guinea Bissau in West Africa with my advisor and another student. I did my dissertation on unstructured play in children there. After graduating, I got my first experience with military families and with autistic children while working as a paraprofessional at an elementary school on Fort Hood. From there, I finally got to travel to volunteer in Nepal and fell in love with the country. I worked in Nepal, Tanzania, and Uganda for a couple years before returning to the States and deciding to get my Master’s in Occupational Therapy. While abroad, I had made friends from London who recommended I study OT there. While waiting to get accepted to the OT program, I travelled around and worked in New Zealand. I finished my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Brunel University London in 2016, after completing my dissertation on children with disabilities in a Karachi, Pakistan. As an OT, I’ve worked privately with autistic children in their homes, in a school for children with brain injuries in NYC, in early intervention in Hawaii, in clinics and special schools with families in London, and with Growing Up Therapy here in Germany. I love working with children of all ages, and I am passionate about supporting neurodivergent families and being as neurodiversity affirming in my OT practice as possible. While in Hawaii, I completed the SOS Approach to Feeding course, and I enjoy supporting families with feeding.

JASMINE JENKINS

My name is Jasmine and I am so excited to join the Growing Up Therapy team! I am originally from Los Angeles, CA and attended undergraduate school in San Francisco, CA before making the big move to Omaha, NE to receive my doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy in 2021. Since then, I have practiced in many practice settings, including pediatrics, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities and in acute care. As a military spouse myself, I thoroughly enjoy supporting military families and children to help them reach their full potential!I have experience working with kiddos on meeting their developmental milestones, exploring foods for picky eaters, emotional regulation, play skills and social skills. In my free time I love to explore the many beautiful parks with my little one and husband in the area, try new foods, read, spend time with my family, travel and shop! I look forward to working with kiddos and their families on goals that are meaningful to them!

OUR STORY

Sarah and Lisa knew of one another through the school channels in the KMC area, sharing students in common. Sarah’s business was growing and Lisa was looking to shift gears. Their dear mutual friend, Julie, recognized a great opportunity. Knowing Sarah and Lisa shared a common work ethic and therapeutic styles, she made introductions and the rest is history!