Meet the Thera-Peds Pediatric Therapy Team

Cathy Kelley

Cathy Kelley is the heart, driving force, and often the person wearing all the hats behind Thera-Peds. From CEO and CFO to HR, problem-solver, and even janitor, Cathy has always been willing to do whatever it takes to make Thera-Peds a place where children and families feel supported, welcomed, and cared for.

Cathy and her husband, Ryan, opened Thera-Peds in 2014 with their twin daughters, Mallory and Bridget, at the heart of it all. Mallory passed away in 2020 due to complications from cerebral palsy, and her memory, strength, and spirit remain an important part of Thera-Peds today.

Cathy’s big heart, determination, and genuine love for children are at the core of everything she does, and everything Thera-Peds stands for.

Alyssa B.

Alyssa is our fabulous Office Manager, and while her title may say “Office Manager,” she does so much more than that! She keeps our Macomb and Richmond offices running smoothly, handling everything from billing and insurance authorizations to scheduling and answering all those questions that seem to pop up along the way.
Insurance and scheduling can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Alyssa is always ready to help. With her patience, experience, and calm demeanor, she has a wonderful way of making even the most complicated situations feel a little easier.
Whether you have a question about your schedule, insurance, authorizations, or anything in between, Alyssa is always happy to help and find a solution.
She keeps a lot of moving pieces organized across both locations—and somehow manages to do it all with a smile. We are incredibly lucky to have Alyssa as such an important part of the Thera-Peds family, and we absolutely love her!

Jen D.

Ms. Jen joined the Thera-Peds team as a receptionist at our Macomb office. She attended Central Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State University and enjoyed a 26-year career as an elementary school teacher in Richmond. After retiring from teaching, Ms. Jen wanted to continue working with children and families, making Thera-Peds a perfect fit. She loves interacting with the children and getting to know all of the wonderful families who visit us each week!

Jennifer E.

Jennifer is the ray of sunshine you’ll meet when you call or visit our Richmond location! She is often the first friendly face and voice you’ll encounter, and she’s here to make every step of your experience as easy and welcoming as possible.

From answering your questions and verifying insurance information to coordinating schedules, Jennifer keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. More importantly, she truly cares about the families we serve. She’s always ready to listen, lend a helping hand, and celebrate as your child works toward their individual goals and thrives.

With her warm smile, positive attitude, and willingness to go the extra mile, Jennifer has a special way of making everyone feel supported and cared for. We’re so grateful to have her as part of our team!

Finn

Finn, our lovable Cavalier Spaniel, is the official mascot of Thera-Peds! You’ll often find him lounging in his favorite bean bag chair behind the front desk or happily strolling around the clinic with Cathy.

Finn absolutely loves kiddos and is always ready to make new friends. His favorite way to say hello? A big, happy kiss!

Occupational Therapy

Alex K.

My name is Alex and I have been a pediatric occupational therapist for over five years. I earned both my Master’s of Occupational Therapy and Bachelor’s of Health Science from Wayne State University where I developed a strong foundation in pediatric occupational therapy. I strive to create a supportive environment where each child feels comfortable, confident, and motivated to participate in therapy while working toward their individual goals. I love aiding the children in building their independence and improving their ability to participate in the activities that are important to them at home, at school, and within their communities. I have specialized training and certifications in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Beckman Oral Motor, and Learning Without Tears.

Jessica V.

My name is Jessica and I am a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Thera-Peds. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and my master’s degree in OT from Grand Valley State University. I am certified in the Beckman Oral Motor approach which can help with feeding difficulties. I wanted to become an OT after learning about the career while being a part of an adaptive sports program at MSU. I’m so glad I did because it’s a blast! I love working as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist because it is a chance to help kids build self-esteem and become more independent with their daily activities, all while being disguised as play!

Jessica is certified in Beckman Oral Motor and Learning Without Tears.

Jessica works full time in our Macomb Township location

Maddie M.

My name is Maddie, and I am a pediatric occupational therapist at Thera-Peds. I earned my master’s degree in occupational therapy from Saginaw Valley State University. My passion for OT and working with children began through my experiences at a summer camp for individuals with special needs. Being able to support children, build meaningful connections, and help them participate in activities within their community inspired me to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I have always had a passion for working with children and feel incredibly grateful to be able to do what I love every day. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and fun environment where children feel comfortable being themselves, trying new things, making mistakes, and celebrating their accomplishments. I believe every child has unique strengths and abilities, and I look forward to helping each child build confidence, develop new skills, and reach their goals while having fun along the way!

Sara A.

Sara Androyna, MS, OTRL is a pediatric occupational therapist with more than a decade of experience in the occupational therapy profession. She began her career as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in 2012 and practiced as an OTA until earning her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and becoming an occupational therapist in 2021. Throughout her career, Sara has worked in both school-based and outpatient pediatric settings, supporting children and adolescents with a variety of developmental, sensory, motor, self-care, and learning needs.

Sara is passionate about providing individualized, strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming care that supports each child’s independence, participation, and quality of life. She values collaboration with families and other professionals and focuses on practical, evidence-based strategies that can be incorporated into everyday routines.

Sara earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley State University and a Graduate Certificate in the Education of Students with Autism or Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders from Johns Hopkins University. She also holds a Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Introductory Level A certification and previously served as the Michigan Representative to the American Occupational Therapy Association Representative Assembly (2016-2022).

Physical Therapy

Carly C.

Hello! My name is Carly, and I graduated from Oakland University‘s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2022. Since then, I’ve been practicing in the pediatric outpatient setting. I am passionate about helping children reach their developmental milestones and improve their functional mobility. I have experience working with children with torticollis, plagiocephaly, delayed gross motor skills, muscle weakness, neurological and neuromuscular disorders, genetic conditions, orthopedic/sports-related injuries, and gait disturbances (including toe walking). I emphasize play-based interventions during my treatment sessions and tailor your child’s care plan to their specific needs and interests. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love taking my son to the park, walking around the farmers market, reading, and trying out new board games!

Sam W.

My name is Ms. Sam. I am a pediatric physical therapist, practicing part-time at the Richmond location. I graduated with my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Oakland University following my final clinical rotations in orthopedics and pediatrics. I spent 2.5 years at a pediatric office with Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, gaining a lot of clinical experience with neurological, sports injury, and post-surgical conditions, before joining the Thera-Peds team in 2024. The best part of Physical Therapy for kids is seeing them learn new skills for the first time and do things that they’d never done before, like learning to crawl, walk, or ride a bike. In her free time, Ms. Sam loves baking, spending time with family and friends, and taking family walks.

Speech Therapy

Erin L.

My name is Erin and I have been a practicing speech pathologist for 4 years and have loved my time working at Thera-Peds! I received my bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and my master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Wayne State University. I have previously provided speech services to children in both outpatient and school settings and have worked with adults as well. I have experience working with children with a wide range of communication and language needs including speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive language, early language development, fluency, and I am also trained in Gestalt Language Processing! I believe all children deserve to be heard and want to create meaningful opportunities for any and all forms of communication! In my free time I love to read, spend time with family and friends, and try new restaurants.

Jenna G.

My name is Jenna and I am a speech-language pathologist at Thera-Peds! I graduated with my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. I have experience in the school and private practice setting with pediatrics as well as in an acute care hospital setting with adults. I wanted to become a speech therapist after I saw how much of a positive impact speech therapists had on my Papa’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury. I love being able to help children communicate their wants and needs and improve their quality of life!

Outside of speech therapy, I enjoy the outdoors, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with my friends and family!

Nicole B.

Hi! I am Nicole! I’m a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with 7 years of experience working with children across both school and outpatient settings. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Central Michigan University. I have always had a passion for working with children and helping them develop the communication skills they need to express themselves, connect with others, and participate more confidently in their everyday lives. Throughout my career, I have continued to build my knowledge and clinical skills in areas including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Gestalt Language Processing, early language development, and speech sound disorders. I believe therapy is most effective when children feel comfortable, supported, and motivated to participate. I strive to make each session fun, engaging, and meaningful while tailoring therapy to each child’s individual strengths, interests, and needs.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, hiking, spending time with my dogs, and going to yoga. I love being outdoors, trying new things, and spending time with the people (and pups!) I love most. So excited to be a part of the team here at Thera-Peds!

Nicole is part-time at the Richmond location.