CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT AND CLINICAL MANAGER - PLAYOLOGY

Heidi graduated in 2020 with her Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant. Heidi enjoys spending her time with her family, her husband and their two cats.  

What excites Heidi most about her work is the dynamic nature of the occupational therapy profession. Each day presents new challenges and learning opportunities, allowing her to grow both personally and professionally. At Playology, she thrives in an environment filled with colleagues who share her passion for OT. Heidi is particularly enthusiastic about mentoring students from local universities as they complete their observation hours and fieldwork at the clinic. She finds great fulfillment in guiding newcomers to discover their own passions within occupational therapy, fostering connections that contribute to the growth of the OT community.

Heidi looks forward to continuing her journey in occupational therapy, eager to share her knowledge and experience while supporting others in their professional development. Her commitment to the field and her love for working with others make her an invaluable asset to her team and the clients she serves.

CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT - PLAYOLOGY

Jeanie is a Keiser University Graduate with her Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. A proud mother of seven adult children and grandmother to four, Jeanie values family time and enjoys horseback riding as a cherished pastime.

What drives Jeanie in her profession is her commitment to helping families and their children acquire new skills and reach important milestones through occupational therapy. She embraces the opportunity to learn each day, drawing inspiration not only from her co-workers but also from the unique experiences of the children and families she serves. Jeanie believes that successful outcomes depend on collaboration among therapists, families, schools, daycares, behavioral therapists, and other medical professionals.

Her goal is to ensure that every family she works with feels her genuine passion for their child’s success, fostering an environment of support and encouragement that empowers children to thrive. Jeanie's dedication to her work and her clients makes her an invaluable member of the occupational therapy community.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - PLAYOLOGY

Devina graduated from Touro University Nevada with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She holds a wealth of certifications including Certified ADHD Rehabilitation Specialist, Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist, Safe and Sound Trained Provider, and ILS Focus System Trained Provider. Devina has spent the last decade honing her clinical skills across diverse settings such as schools, early intervention programs, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.

Devina's passion for disability advocacy and enabling participation drives her work, inspiring her to educate parents and professionals alike. She finds immense joy in helping children and their families navigate the complexities of their child’s brain and body, facilitating meaningful participation in activities that resonate with them. As an educator, she develops curricula for occupational therapy programs, authors books, and creates continuing education courses across various areas of practice.

Her journey into occupational therapy began when her son was born extremely premature, sparking a deep commitment to the field. While her initial focus was on interventions for physical disabilities, her experiences as a parent—particularly with another child facing anxiety and behavioral challenges—have shifted her focus toward enabling behavioral success in children with sensory processing difficulties, motor planning issues, learning disabilities, autism, anxiety, ADHD, and executive function challenges. As someone who is autistic herself, Devina brings unique insights to her practice, allowing her to better understand and support her patients as they work toward their goals.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - PLAYOLOGY

Courtney received her Master of Occupational Therapy Degree from the University of Indianapolis in 2016. She is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming therapy and continually seeks to learn and grow alongside the families she supports.

Currently SOS trained and mentored, Courtney is working toward her SOS Certification in feeding therapy, recognizing the challenges that picky eating and feeding difficulties can bring to families. Her goal is not only to help children reach important developmental milestones but also to ensure that every family knows their child is worthy of love, value, and acceptance exactly as they are.

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband, Sean, and their two boys. As a Disney-loving family, they are always dreaming about their next magical vacation. Before life with boys, she loved using her Cricut to create fun projects like custom t-shirts and tumblers.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST - PLAYOLOGY

Sarah earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Southwest Baptist University near Springfield, MO, in 2022. Sarah began her career in the inpatient rehab setting, where she developed a passion for working with neuro patients and helping individuals regain mobility and independence.

From an early stage in her career, Sarah dreamed of working in pediatrics. She loves the resilience and optimism that children bring to therapy, believing that early intervention can significantly impact their lifelong outcomes. Her goal is to create a fun, encouraging environment where kids can thrive, play, and overcome challenges without letting their disabilities define them. Looking ahead, Sarah hopes to incorporate hippotherapy into her practice, further expanding the ways she can support her patients.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her lively 55-pound Bernedoodle. She loves summer and spends as much time as possible outdoors, whether hiking, kayaking, or relaxing at the beach. She is excited to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide the best care for the children she treats.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - PLAYOLOGY

Kate graduated with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Degree from Western Michigan University in 2016. Kate prides herself on being patient, encouraging, creative, organized, professional, competitive, and a team player. Her passion lies in supporting children of all abilities, helping them engage in activities that foster their independence. She strives to create a nurturing atmosphere where play serves as a tool for engagement and learning. This approach allows children to overcome physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental challenges, empowering them to achieve meaningful goals and make significant strides in their lives.

Kate has many passions and she states she is blessed with a loving and supportive husband, and a sweet stepdaughter. Together, they enjoy camping, kayaking, playing games, and baking, and they share their home with their fur babies, a Pomsky and a kitty cat. Kate also volunteers with the children’s ministry at her church; sprinkles a little bit of magic to special events and birthday parties through her side business, and is a lifelong learner. She is currently pursuing the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) School-Based Practice Professional Certificate and recently completed the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) Level 1 certification program, which teaches foundational handwriting skills to early childhood and elementary school students.

OFFICE MANAGER

Lisa Goodman is a dedicated office manager at Nurture and Playology’s Mishawaka location. She is passionate about working for two exceptional companies that are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children. Lisa takes great pride in being part of a team that focuses on helping children thrive and grow, and she enjoys the rewarding environment that comes with supporting such meaningful work. Her enthusiasm for her role and dedication to the mission of the organizations she serves make her an invaluable asset to the team.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST - NURTURE

Brianne is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist who earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Ball State University in 2019. During her time at Ball State, she met her husband, and together they now have two wonderful boys, along with their beloved dachshund.

Brianne is passionate about working with children of all ages, helping them build confidence in their communication skills. She also enjoys empowering parents by providing effective therapy strategies and creative activities to support speech and language development at home. Since graduating in 2019, she has worked in outpatient pediatric settings and joined Nurture in 2023 to continue making a meaningful impact in children's lives.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST - NURTURE

Jen received her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2024. She has a wealth of experience with children of all abilities. In addition to utilizing evidence based practice to address speech and language delays; Jen is also passionate about working with children with a variety of feeding difficulties.

Jennifer is excellent in practicing family centered care and providing caregivers with tools to promote success. Outside of working, she enjoys spending her time with her family, husband, and son.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST - NURTURE

Anna graduated with her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2024. She finds immense joy in witnessing children of all ages grow and develop new skills, and she treasures the opportunity to get to know each child individually. Anna thrives on the challenge of tailoring her treatment approaches to meet the unique needs of every child, ensuring they receive the best possible support on their journey.

Outside of her professional life, Anna enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Andrew, as well as their beloved dog and cat. Her commitment to her work and her passion for helping children shine through in all that she does, making her a valued member of the speech-language pathology community.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST - NURTURE

Emily her has Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She works full-time as a school-based SLP and provides speech therapy services at Nurture in the evenings. With a deep understanding of school-based speech services and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Emily is always happy to answer any questions parents may have about the process.

Emily finds immense joy in being part of a child's communication journey—whether celebrating their first word, expressed verbally, through sign language, or via augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is also a passionate advocate for children working through speech sound challenges, always cheering them on as they reach new milestones. Her professional interests include AAC and fluency, and she continuously seeks new resources to enhance her therapy approaches.

Emily lives in South Bend with her cat. She loves making a difference in children's lives and is committed to helping each child find their voice in a way that is meaningful to them.