At Growing UP Therapy we, your occupational, physical and music 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.
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!
OUR CLINICS
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