Team

Kids in Motion has assembled an exemplary team of outstanding professionals to work with your child.

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PHYSICAL THERAPISTS:

NATALIE NAZELEY
Natalie Nazeley, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She graduated from the University of Southern California earning her clinical doctorate in physical therapy. She has been providing home and clinic based services to infants and toddlers between birth and 3 years of age since the time of her graduation and incorporates the principles of evidence based practice and family centered care into her daily practice as a physical therapist.

MARCIE RHEE
Marcie Rhee, DPT, PCS is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 1999 with a clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy. Marcie is a board certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric physical therapy, a distinction she earned in 2005. She started her Pediatrics career at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center evaluating and treating children on the acute rehabilitation service primarily with brain injuries and spinal cord injuries and broadened her Pediatric experience while at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach on the inpatient acute service, acute rehabilitation service and outpatient clinics including the rehabilitation clinic and cystic fibrosis clinics. Marcie has dedicated the last 8 years to early intervention and therapeutic intervention for young children and is the founder and director of Kids in Motion Pediatric Therapy. She has evaluated thousands of infants and toddlers in the surrounding community to assist with eligibility determination and service coordination for the Early Start program and is passionate about helping every child meet his or her full potential using an evidence based, family centered approach that focuses on parent participation and an emphasis on play.

THÉRÈSE WILLIS
Thérèse Willis, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas in 1995 and her clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2000. She has been working in the pediatric setting for the past 10 years. She has worked with infants, toddlers, children and adolescents with varying developmental, neuromuscular, orthopedic, genetic and cardiopulmonary diagnoses in a clinic setting and as a staff physical therapist with California Children Services. In addition, she has provided in-home physical therapy intervention to infants and toddlers through Regional Center’s Early Start Program. She joins the Kids in Motion Pediatric Therapy team with enthusiasm to work closely with children and their families to assist each child in achieving his or her optimal potentia.

MARGARET WOJTKIEWICZ
Marc Wojtkiewicz, MSPT, is a physical therapist with 32 years of experience. She graduated from Boston University with her bachelor’s in Physical Therapy in 1977 and earned her master’s degree in Neuromuscular Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990. Marc has worked with infants, toddlers, children and adolescents with a broad range of neuromuscular, rheumatic, musculoskeletal, genetic, hematologic/ oncologic, and cardio-pulmonary diagnoses through her experiences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Duke University Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS:

KELLY COLLINS
Kelly Collins, OTR/L is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1999. Since then, she has gained extensive experience with children with various needs, including: Autism, learning disabilities, and neuromuscular disorders. She is certified in the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and has extensive experience in Sensory Integration. Her 10 plus years working in the public schools has given her the chance to address children’s cognitive, social, and sensory development within their natural environment. As a part of this experience, she has learned to work collaboratively with teachers and parents to ensure a child’s success. She has also served on the Assistive Technology team, selecting and implementing tools that help children participate more fully at school. For the past 2 years, she has worked with children in sensory-based clinics at the school district and at a private outpatient pediatric clinic in North Hollywood.

KRISTIN CORDRAY
Kristin Cordray, MA, OTR/L earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern California (USC) in 2005. Kristin has spent her career as an occupational therapist working with children within both clinic and school-based settings. Kristin is dedicated to working with children and their families to foster growth and development within each child. Kristin completed the Sensory Integration training course and Sensory Integration Praxis Tests (SIPT) certification course at USC and Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance in 2009.

MICHELLE KUWABARA
Michelle Kuwabara, OTD, OTR/L is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy and continued her education obtaining her master's degree and clinical doctorate of Occupational Therapy in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Michelle has spent her occupational therapy career thus far working with children and their families and is passionate about making a difference in each and every child’s life. Michelle completed the Sensory Integration training course and Sensory Integration Praxis Tests (SIPT) certification course at USC and Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance in 2005.

CARLY M. ROGERS
Carly M. Rogers, MA, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist specializing in sensory integration. Carly earned her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2004 at the University of Southern California and is currently working towards her Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), at USC as well. She has completed advanced coursework in Sensory Integration and is Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) certified. Carly has worked for Pediatric Therapy Network of Torrance where she specialized in Early Intervention, School-based Intervention and individual clinic-based services. For the last four years, Carly has been working for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. Carly provided both clinic-based and school-based services for children aged 3-17, but her focus was facilitating occupational therapy intervention at the preschool level and supporting parents and children during this critical transition phase. Carly was considered the Sensory Specialist for the district and provided lectures and training on the subject for parents and teachers alike. Outside of traditional pediatric intervention, Carly is the Program Director for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation where she facilitates a therapeutic surfing program she created called Ocean Therapy. The program facilitates improved self-efficacy and self-esteem in At-Risk Youth and Injured Marines and Veterans. Her philosophy centers on the “whole child” as an individual. She believes that each child is a puzzle to unravel, each with specific strengths and weaknesses, as well as specific motivations and preferences. Her goal is to use intrinsic motivation to strengthen a child’s areas of need in efforts of increasing independence and functional participation in their daily lives.

RONIN SATO
Ronin Sato, OTR/L earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at McGill University - School of Physical and Occupational Therapy in 1994. McGill's Occupational Therapy program is the top 1 or 2 ranked programs in Canada. Ronin has worked with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders for more than 12 years in a wide variety of practice settings including home based, clinic based , gymnastic centers, self contained classes and pull out school settings. He also has been working with his own 8 year old son with Autism. Ronin has completed extensive continuing education over the past 15 years including the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) administration course, intervention course, and perspective course, a seminar called “Picky Eaters versus Problem Feeders:  The SOS Approach to Feeding" and a 1 week intensive training course on the Son-Rise Program (an intervention program for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders). Ronin is adept at using his physical self as a tool for sensory integration work with kids, drawing on 3 years of applying the Son-rise program at home, his 8 years of competitive gymnastics experience, and 19 years of martial arts training.

SHAWNA TOWNSEND
Shawna Townsend, OTR/L, SWC earned her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2003. Shawna began her career at Pediatric Therapy Network where she had extensive training in sensory integration and processing, and was the co-coordinator for the summer camp. Shawna has also worked at Ronald Reagan UCLA medical center gaining experience with various populations including, brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and pediatrics. Shawna has trained in the neonatal intensive care unit and has completed an Advanced Practice Certification (SWC) for the evaluation and treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders by the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT). In addition, Shawna is completing her Master’s degree in occupational therapy with an additional graduate certificate in low vision rehabilitation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS

ANDREA ANDERSON
Andrea Anderson, MS, SLP, earned her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Redlands in 1995. Her pediatric speech therapy experience has been gained across varied settings including a pediatric internship at Rancho-Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Andrea has provided clinic based therapy for children to adults and home based therapy as a part of early intervention programs for many families in Santa Monica and the South Bay for the past 12 years. She has been a presenter for the Infant Development Association, “Edu-play”, and Regional Center on the topic of Language and Play. She developed a social skills program for children with Autism and emphasizes targeting functional communication exchanges across settings. Andrea’s therapeutic approach focuses on each child’s unique profile of strengths and needs while incorporating evidence based practices. She finds joy working with children and supporting them in reaching their greatest communicative potential.

PRAGNA BHAKTA
Pragna Bhakta, M.S., CCC-SLP graduated in 2000 with a Master’s Degree In Communication Disorders from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX. She has provided individual and group-based assessment and therapy to children in a variety of settings including specialized sensory clinic, school, community, and home. She worked at a center-based early intervention program at Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance from 2000-2006. While there, she also received training in “Sensory Integrative Dysfunction and Practice”. She believes in a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and encourages a strong collaboration between families, therapists, teachers, and other professionals.

JULIE KASTIGAR
Julie Kastigar, MS, CCC-SLP, graduated from Arizona State University with a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders in 1998.  She began her career working with preschool and elementary-age children in public schools in Arizona and California.  She has provided clinic based therapy for children at More Than Words Speech & Language Services in Long Beach for the past 6 years.  Julie’s areas of expertise include autism spectrum disorders, language disorders, apraxia of speech, and early-childhood intervention.  She has her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and is a California licensed speech pathologist.  Julie has attended training on various topics and programs, including Links to Language, PROMPT, and Defeat Autism Now.  She believes strongly in the importance of fun, effective therapy, and has served as an expert witness for families advocating to obtain services for their children.

RIMA SEJPAL
Rima Sejpal, M.A., CCC-SLP, graduated with a Master's Degree in Communication Disorders from Northwestern University in 2008. She worked at pediatric clinics in the Chicago area where she provided both individual and group therapy in both the home and clinic settings. She worked with many children age birth-three through the early intervention program in the state of Illinois. She is PROMPT trained. Rima enjoys working closely with families and feels parent education and training is essential for optimal success and carryover of skills. She also encourages collaboration between therapists and other professionals. 

EILEEN WELSER
Eileen Welser, MA, CCC-SLP has a MA in Communication Disorders from California State University - Los Angeles as well as a BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology from East Stroudsburg University. Her 10 years of experience consists of assessing and treating patients across all age groups in a variety of settings comprised of education centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and nursing homes. Eileen has spent most of her time in the educational setting diagnosing and treating articulation/phonological/ motor speech delays and disorders, and receptive/expressive language disorders. She is not only passionate about working with her patients, but also embraces the opportunity to collaborate with parents and caregivers to provide the best possible outcomes. 

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