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owner/director

With over 20 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist, Nathalie serves families in private practice throughout West LA, providing clinic, home, and school-based services and consultations. She specializes in the areas of sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, social/emotional regulation, executive functioning, social thinking, developmental delays, premature birth, social skills, fine motor/visual motor difficulties, and feeding/oral motor skills. Nathalie received a B.A. In Kinesiology, a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a M.A. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California, and a post-professional Doctorate degree from Boston University. She is passionate about holistic treatment and works closely with parents, teachers, pediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and other professionals to ensure every child’s needs are fully recognized and met. Nathalie resides in West LA with her husband and three sons. 

 

Advanced Training: Sensory Integration theory and practice, Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), AOMT orofacial my-functional therapist, Swallowing Assessment and Intervention (SWC), Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Therapeutic Listening Program, iLs Integrative Listening System, U.S. Department of Education traineeship for USC School-based Occupational Therapy Training Project, Floor Time (DIR Model)

Nathalie Aluisi, OTD, OTR/L, SWC

Megan Conner, OTD, OTR/L

pediatric occupational therapist

Megan Conner is a pediatric occupational therapist skilled in targeting the areas of fine and gross motor skills, self-regulation and sensory processing, and pediatric mental health. She received a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. As a young child, Megan was exposed to Occupational Therapy as a patient at CHLA, where she remembers being struck by the creative and compassionate approach of her OT - from that point on, Megan knew she wanted to pursue occupational therapy in order to offer even a small portion of the care she once received.

 

Favorite Occupations: going to the beach, baking, & cheering for USC football

 

Advanced Training: Handwriting without Tears, Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation

Megan Connor

Claire Mijares, OTR/L

pediatric occupational therapist

Claire Mijares, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with extensive experience working with infants through school-aged children in a variety of settings (community, clinic, and school), with specialties in targeting fine and gross motor delays, visual motor and perceptual difficulties, sensory-based feeding difficulties, sensory processing challenges, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental delays. Claire graduated from the University of Southern California Occupational Therapy program in 1998. Through careful assessment of the child’s strengths and needs, and in collaboration with parents, educational teams, and other therapeutic professionals, she is able to formulate a plan of action to help the child reach their fullest potential. Claire resides in Los Angeles and enjoys spending time with her three children, husband, and extended family.

 

Favorite Occupations: Reading and Travel  

 

Advanced Training: USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education Certification Program, basic Neuro-Developmental Treatment, SOS Approach to Feeding, Handwriting without Tears, ALERT Program 

Claire Mijares

Tracy Wind, OTR/L

pediatric occupational therapist

Tracy Wind, MA, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with specialties in early intervention, sensory processing disorders, feeding and handwriting difficulties, and developmental delays associated with various genetic, neurologic, and orthopedic diagnoses in young children. Tracy received her Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and has an extensive background with various settings, including outpatient pediatrics, home health, and preschools. Tracy is passionate about working collaboratively with parents to determine how occupational therapy can best support their child’s development and family dynamics. Tracy currently resides in West LA with her husband and three children, and is an avid volunteer in her children’s school and extracurricular activities. 

 

Advanced Training: Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), SOS Approach to Feeding

Tracy Wind

Faye Arbues, MA, CCC-SLP, QOM 

speech language pathologist

Faye is a speech-language pathologist with a demonstrated history in early intervention, phonological/articulation disorders, feeding therapy, and myofunctional therapy. She services both children and adults with speech-language, feeding and swallowing, orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), and cognitive impairments. Faye is a graduate of UC Berkeley and St. John's University. She is ASHA certified and licensed in both California and New York. She is ecstatic to be a part of PlaySpace with the hope to develop a strong speech program to allow the families in our community access to high-quality speech-language care. She is passionate about guiding parents and caregivers with the proper tools to interact with their little ones, as well as assist them with oral-motor development that is necessary to speak, eat, and drink. Faye is an LA-transplant by way of NYC, Portland, OR, and the Bay Area. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and working out (specifically boxing, pilates, and yoga). 

Advanced Training: Qualified Orofacial Myologist (QOM), TalkTools Sensorimotor Approach to Feeding, FEES, and MBSImp

Faye Arbues

Amy Kimaara

educational specialist & advocate

Amy has 25 years of experience working with children with mild to severe learning disabilities in the preschool & elementary school setting to help them foster a love for reading and learning. Amy is able to provide early reading intervention and strategies for improved depth comprehension skills and active reading habits. She can support critical thinking and test taking skills as well as mindful learning and executive functioning. Amy is a doctoral candidate and holds a Master's degree in Child and Adolescent Literacy. She has earned mild to moderate, and moderate to severe educational specialist credentials along with her clear multiple subject credential. 

Availability:

Monday-Friday: 4-7pm

Saturday & Sunday: By request

Individual and group sessions available

Our Therapists
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