Team of Specialists
Therapy 4-Kids's expert staff works in partnership with the family and referring physician to plan individual and confidential programs for each patient, to identify short or long term functional goals and coordinate therapies. We utilize a variety of theories and therapeutic approached to pediatric treatments, including: Neurodevelopment treatment techniques, Sensory integration activities, Floortime and PRT models Motor control- motor learning principles, Craniosacral and Myofascial releasing, Yoga and relaxation for children.
Founded in San Diego North County, California, Therapy 4-Kids's multidisciplinary team includes; Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Therapists, Psychological Consultants, Community Education Groups and Classes.
Speech-Language Therapy Specialists
- Laura Driessen Walls
Clinic Director of Innovative Therapy 4 Kids - M.S., CCC-SLP #9589 - Tom Milroy
Clinical Specialist - M.A., CCC-SLP - Lorelle Vascos-Pages
Clinical Specialist - M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinical Specialist - M.S., CCC-SLP
5. Ali Atchison
Clinical Specialist - M.S., CCC-SLP
Physical Therapy Specialists
- Amy Duffner Johnson
Assistan Clinic Director/Clinical Specialist - PT
- Debby Testrake
Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapy Specialists
- Shellie Reeder
Clinical Specialist - M.A. OTR/L - Christiane F. Colhado
Clinical Specialist - M.S. OTR/L - Danielle Rainey
Clinical Specialist - M.A. OTR/L
Clinical Psychology Specialist
- Sylvia Mende
Clinical Psychologist- Psy.D
Laura Driessen Walls
Director of Speech-Language Therapy - M.S., CCC-SLP #9589
Director and Owner of Innovative Therapy 4 Kids Speech Pathology Services and founder of Innovative Therapy 4 Kids. A California Native who graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders and Hearing Sciences from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and obtained her graduate degree in Speech Pathology from California State University of Hayward (CSUH). She is an ASHA member and holds a California State License. She has spent the past 10 years working in a pediatric center including: the South San Francisco School District, Tri City Medical Center Pediatrics, and Private Practice. An interesting component of her skills were developed when working on A Developmental Assessment Team for high risked infants and children. The team included Neonatology, Pediatric Nursing, Physical Therapy and Occupation Therapy and Respiratory therapists. She currently specializes in children from infancy through school aged. She has advanced training in Neurodevelopment Training (NDT), Sensory Integration, Dysphagia (swallowing disorders), Oral Motor Specialties, Brain Gym, Floor-Time, Kinesiology and Postural function.
Her experience includes diagnosis and treatment of autism, apraxia, oral motor and feeding disorder, phonology, child language disorders, articulation, social pragmatics and play based disorders.
Tom Milroy
Clinical Specialist - M.A., CCC-SLP
A native of Long Island, New York, Tom spent the majority of his University experience in upstate Plattsburgh, NY. There he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders. He later went on to receive his Masters of Arts Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Plattsburgh State University. He is Both ASHA certified and California State Licensed to provide Speech and Language services. He is well versed in pediatric speech and language pathology working with a broad range of disorders and syndromes. Areas of specialized training are in the diagnosis and treatment of language, speech, fluency, voice, pragmatic, and oral motor disorders. Field experience includes diagnosis and treatment of language, speech, fluency, voice, and pragmatic disorders, child facilitation of social integration, oral motor specialties, peer integration and social groups. He utilizes traditional based therapy with a multi-disciplinary approach and incorporates knowledge of floortime, pivotal response training, ABA, Brain Gym and sensory integration to tailor to each individual's needs.
Clinical Specialist - M.S., CCC-SLP
Colleen is a native of Rhode Island who attained an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Boston College in 1998. She spent two years at the New England Center for Children in Southboro, MA where she received extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the Early Learning Program while working directly as a case manager for children on the Autism spectrum. From there Colleen relocated to San Diego where she spent one year in a resource room at Sage Canyon School in Del Mar and a subsequent year at the Autism Intervention Center at Children’s Hospital San Diego where she was the Special Skills Coordinator for clients on the Autism spectrum who attended the Toddler School. Her interest in speech and language resulted in Colleen returning to Boston to pursue a master’s degree in Communication Disorders at Emerson College in Boston, MA. While at Emerson, she received extensive training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), as well as the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and adult speech and language disorders. After receiving her master’s degree in 2004, Colleen returned to San Diego where she completed her Clinical Fellowship at Innovative Therapy 4-Kids and began work as a certified speech-language pathologist. During her two years at Innovative Therapy 4-Kids, she received extensive training in apraxia, feeding, and oral motor therapy under the supervision of Laura Walls, M.S., CCC-SLP. Colleen was a part of the Buddy Bunch social skills group, and continued to gain extensive experience in the treatment and diagnosis of pediatric speech and language disorders while incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to therapy. From October 2006 to July 2007 she took a hiatus from Innovative Therapy 4-Kids to return to the Boston area where she worked at Franciscan Hospital for Children (FHFC), a children’s rehabilitation hospital in Boston, MA where she treated children with a broad range of disorders and syndromes. Her love for running on the beach, the California weather, and her personal belief in the techniques and intervention utilized at Innovative Therapy 4-Kids prompted her to relocate for a final time. Colleen has resumed her position as a pediatric speech-language pathologist at Innovative Therapy 4-Kids. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of speech and language disorders including apraxia, feeding and oral motor/motor planning disorders, articulation disorders, and expressive/receptive language disorders as well as the diagnosis and treatment of children with AAC needs. Colleen is an ASHA member and holds a California and Massachusetts State license.
Amy Duffner Johnson
Physical Therapist
CA State License # PT-21696; NY State License # 014378
Director of Physical Therapy Services
Director and owner of Innovative Therapy 4-Kids Physical Therapy, co-founder of Innovative Therapy 4-Kids multidisciplinary, outpatient, pediatric therapy clinic. Amy is a native New Yorker who attained her Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University ( formerly Quinnipiac College…Go Braves!!) in Hamden, Connecticut. Amy began her love of Pediatrics in 1993 when she completed her elective PT specialty internship at Children’s Hospital and Health Center in San Diego ( also the start of her love for California). Since that time she has remained an active, pediatric physical therapist for more than ten years and two states!
Amy worked at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, where she provided PT intervention to children with a wide range of neurological and orthopedic diagnoses, ages 0-21, in both school-based and outpatient programs; She performed Early Intervention PT Evaluations for infants and toddlers, participated in hospital clinics for cerebral palsy, spinabifida, orthotics and equipment. Amy assisted with the “Shooting Stars” junior wheelchair basketball team and adapted classes for wheelchair aerobics, tai chi and mobility.
In 1996 Amy relocated to San Diego, CA where she worked for California Children’s Services and continued her pediatric physical therapy experience in both school and clinic settings. She often collaborated with the APE teachers and designed an aquatic therapy program for wheelchair-bound children.
In 1998 Amy moved to Los Angeles and worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA where she was able to specialize in Early Intervention by providing PT to “graduates” of the Cedars-Sinai Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Department. Amy evaluated and treated many premature infants, multiple birth babies (twins and triplets) and developed a Torticollis protocol for the PT department in collaboration with the Craniofacial Clinic and the Infant Progress Clinic teams. She practiced yoga with groups of children, taught prenatal exercise classes and torticollis classes. While in Los Angeles Amy also contracted with the Children’s Institute International where she was part of a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy team of Physical, Occupational and Speech therapists along with Social Workers and Psychologists who developed and facilitated a weekend program, “Project Stable Home,” to help children and their parents who were part of a substance abuse rehabilitation program.
Amy united with Laura Walls, SLP and Harmony Pyper, OTR/L, to found Innovative Therapy 4-Kids in 2003, has been enjoying the pediatric private practice setting ever since! She currently specializes in evaluations, consultations and treatments for infants, toddlers and school-aged children, having extensive experience with a wide range of diagnoses including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Prematurity and developmental delays, Downs Syndrome, Plagiocephaly and Torticollis, Spinabifida, Muscular Dystrophy, JRA and scoliosis. She has advanced training in Neurodevelopmental Treatment; Motor-control and motor-learning; Craniosacral therapy techniques; Baby handling; Torticollis; Components of movement; Sensory integration; Kinesiotaping; Postural analysis; Yoga and PT; Gait analysis; Orthotics; Women’s health, Prenatal and Postpartum fitness.
Shellie L. Reeder MA, OTR/L
Shellie is a pediatric occupational therapist who recently moved to the San Diego area. She received her Masters degree from the University of Southern California in 2000 and has a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology from Cal State University of Long Beach. Shellie has had additional training in school-based practice, NDT, Sensory Integration, Visual Impairments and is pursuing her Advanced Practice Certification in Swallowing for the state of California. Shellie has two young boys who keep her busy and active in a sensory rich life! She believes in respecting each child as an individual and the healing power of play!
Christiane Colhado MS, OTR/L
Christiane is a native of Brazil and has been living in the United States for the past 10 years. She holds a Master degree in Public Health from the University of Sao Paulo and a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil.
Her professional experience has allowed her to provide care for a diverse population in a variety of settings that include rehabilitation, home health, private practice, and schools.
Christiane has taken specialized courses in Sensory Integration, NDT, Interactive Metronome, Handwriting and Praxis.
Chris looks forward to going to work each day and feels honored to be part of the staff.