Therapy Team
Speech Therapists
Andrea Pham
Andrea Pham, M.A., CCC-SLP Research & Education Coordinator | Business Development | Myofunctional & Feeding Specialist
Andrea Pham, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Maryland-licensed speech-language pathologist and nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She earned her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, where she completed her graduate thesis in voice disorders and contributed to research published in the Journal of Voice (Solomon et al., 2022).
Andrea evaluates and treats children and adults across clinical and school-based settings and across the nine areas of speech-language pathology: articulation/speech sound production, fluency (stuttering), voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, cognition, feeding and swallowing, hearing, social communication/pragmatics, and communication modalities, including AAC. Her clinical interests also include pediatric feeding disorders and dysphagia, orofacial myofunctional disorders, gestalt language processing, EILO/vocal cord dysfunction, autism, auditory processing, dyslexia and literacy, ND-affirming stuttering, executive functioning, aphasia, and gender-affirming voice.
Andrea has completed specialty training across several areas, including pragmatics (e.g., PEERS®), pediatric feeding and swallowing (e.g., Feed the Peds® and the SOS Approach to Feeding), and orofacial myofunctional disorders and tethered oral tissues (e.g., TOTS: Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training® by Autumn Henning and Simon Says Myofunctional Therapy). She is also currently pursuing additional training in lactation counseling (CLC) and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).
Her practice is shaped by experience with Montgomery County Public Schools and more than 10 years in the medical field with the U.S. Navy and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a Hospital Corpsman. Her medical experience included inpatient medical-surgical care, internal medicine, immunizations, emergency medicine, neurology, sleep medicine, and healthcare support to the White House. Her experience as a foster parent also informs her commitment to trauma-informed care.
At Metro Therapy Center, Andrea contributes to research, education, business development, and specialty program development. Her passions have led to the initiation and implementation of specialty clinics in feeding, AAC, and myofunctional therapy, helping expand specialized services and collaborative relationships throughout the DMV community.
Andrea lives in North Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband and son, Rowan.
Madeline Swerdlow
Madeline Swerdlow, M.A. CCC-SLP, SPEECH TEAM LEAD, Clinical Quality Coordinator, AAC Specialist and Clinic Coordinator, Graduate Intern Program Coordinator received her B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland. She has worked with children and adults in school, teletherapy, and private practice settings.
Madeline has specific experience working with Autistic individuals and individuals with complex communication needs. She is proficient in the alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) programs TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, Unity, TD Snap, Avaz, Proloquo2Go, WeaveChat, and Grid. As AAC Specialist and AAC Clinic Coordinator, Madeline has established and maintained connections between Metro Therapy Center and multiple assistive technology vendors, including PRC-Saltillo, AbleNet, Tobii Dynavox, Smartbox, and NuMotion.
Madeline has received training in Simon Says myofunctional therapy, the Get Permission Approach to responsive feeding therapy, the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, gestalt language processing, dynamic tactile and temporal cueing (DTTC) for Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and AAC, specifically AAC for gestalt language processors and alternative access needs (e.g., eye gaze, switch access). Madeline is passionate about using multi-modal communication to enhance client outcomes.
Madeline aims to provide therapy that is client-led, play and interest-based, and neurodiversity affirming. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, doing yoga, supporting the Washington Capitals and the University of Michigan sports teams, and spending time with her friends and family.
Maya Waehrer
Maya Waehrer, M.S., CF-SLP, received her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Spanish from the University of Vermont and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from A.T. Still University in Arizona. During her graduate studies, she completed clinical experiences in school, clinic, teletherapy, and private practice settings, providing evaluation and treatment services to children with a variety of communication needs.
Maya is passionate about providing individualized, evidence-based, and family-centered care that empowers clients to reach their communication goals. She has a special interest in pediatric and adult voice, as well as feeding, oral-myofunctional therapy, language, and cognition. Maya values culturally responsive care and strives to create a supportive environment where every client and family feels heard, respected, and empowered throughout the therapy process.
Outside of work, Maya enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, Cash, as well as reading, puzzling, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.
Iliana Lambert
Iliana Lambert, M.A., CF-SLP, received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Concordia University Wisconsin, and her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland. During her graduate studies she completed internships working with children and adults across the lifespan in school, clinic, teletherapy, and private practice settings.
Iliana is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming, culturally responsive, and sensory-informed care that is evidence-based, child-led, and family-centered. She values the therapeutic alliance between the clinician, client, and caregiver, highlighting that collaboration is essential for supporting skill generalization, fostering trust, and maintaining motivation throughout the therapeutic process.
Iliana strives to celebrate the unique preferences, interests, goals, needs, and strengths of each client, while honoring and affirming cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. Iliana enjoys painting, embroidery, puzzles, trying new food spots with friends and family, and being with her cats, Willow and Muna.
Sarah Godbout
Sarah Godbout, M.S., CF-SLP, earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Monmouth University, and recently received her Master of Science in Education in Speech Language Pathology also from Monmouth University. Through her clinical training, she has worked with children and adults across the lifespan, providing evidence-based intervention for speech, language, and swallowing disorders, with particular interests in pediatric feeding and swallowing, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and language development.
She has also served in leadership roles with the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association as Vice President and Head of Public Relations and Recruitment for her school’s chapter. Sarah is committed to collaborating with families and interdisciplinary teams to support meaningful communication outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
Tamar Affner
Tamar Affner, M.A., CCC-SLP graduated from the Speech-Language Pathology program at George Washington University. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Ono Academic College in Israel, where she is certified as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist. Tamar has experience working with individuals with apraxia and autism, as well as serving adult and pediatric patients at the GWU Speech & Hearing Center. She is fluent in English and Hebrew. In her free time, she enjoys crafts, spending time with her family, and traveling.
Laura Morgan
Laura Morgan, M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS, received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in Aural Habilitation from the University of Tennessee. She started her clinical fellowship in Frederick, Maryland, but was a passenger in a motor vehicle accident. Despite wearing a seatbelt, Laura sustained serious injuries that delayed her return to work. This gave Laura a unique perspective as both a provider and recipient of cognitive therapy.
Once able to work again, Laura had to repeat her clinical fellowship and retake the SLP licensing exam. For more than six years she served as a speech and language pathologist at Head Injury Rehabilitation and Referral Services, Inc. in Rockville, MD. Inspired by a passion for cognitive rehabilitation, Laura passed the exam to become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist for the field of Speech Pathology. She has shared her clinical reflections as both a provider and a recipient of this discipline in many articles and dozens of multimedia presentations. Laura is certified to provide Interactive Metronome Training to address communication and cognitive goals, and integrates this technology into her sessions when appropriate.
When Laura was growing up, her parents provided foster care for scores of infants awaiting adoption in Maryland. Laura learned early how to care for young children. In her free time, Laura loves working out on her stationary bike, learning to play hammer dulcimer, and spending time with her young nieces.
Ellen Greenblatt
Ellen Greenblatt, M.A., CCC-SLP received her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Ellen has provided evaluation and treatment for articulation, language, and social skills in school settings with both typically developing and multiply disabled students. She has worked with adults in developmental and psychiatric settings addressing language, cognition, and swallowing disorders and has also worked with children and teens in private practice for many years. Ellen has extensive experience working with patients who have undergone frenectomies and those with literacy challenges. In all settings, she believes in using a multi-modal approach to therapy including visual and auditory input, gesture, sign and augmentative communication to help students achieve their speech and language goals. Ellen moved from New Jersey to Maryland to be near her children and grandchildren.
Mahayla Ram
Mahayla Ram, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Maryland-licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with national certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She currently serves students in the public school setting while also working in outpatient rehabilitation, providing support to individuals across the lifespan. Her clinical experience includes speech and language disorders, articulation, fluency, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, and dysphagia. She is also certified in the SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD Crowd® programs for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Mahayla has extensive experience working with Autistic individuals and those with complex communication needs. She specializes in implementing individualized AAC systems to support functional communication and is proficient with a variety of AAC platforms, including TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, Unity, TD Snap, and GoTalk. She collaborates closely with families, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to promote successful communication outcomes across settings.
Mahayla is passionate about providing individualized, evidence-based therapy that helps clients build confidence and achieve meaningful communication goals. She values collaboration with families, caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals to support communication success, independence, and quality of life.
Adrianna Leith
Adrianna Leith, M.S., CCC-SLP, received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and her master’s degree from University of Tennessee.
Adrianna grew up in Germantown, MD and moved to Rockville after graduate school. Adrianna was a part of a grant that focused on language and literacy for AAC users. Adrianna is very passionate about teaching and advocating for literacy skills for AAC users! Adrianna currently works full-time at the Kennedy Krieger Institute with students with varying developmental disabilities and loves to share her talents with Metro in an outpatient setting. Adrianna’s specific areas of interest include autism spectrum disorder, gestalt language processing, social skills, and AAC. Adrianna believes that no one therapy approach works for all clients and takes a child-led approach in order to promote authentic, functional communication.
Outside of work, you can find Adrianna reading a book, traveling, going on walks, or spending time with friends and family.
Brianna Fernandez-Calienes
Brianna Fernandez-Calienes, M.A. CCC-SLP, received her undergraduate degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland in 2022. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University in 2025. Brianna is nationally certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a full license to practice in the state of Maryland. Brianna is a bilingual Spanish-English SLP whose approach to therapy is evidence-based, culturally competent, and holistic. She believes in tailoring sessions to each patient’s individual needs and using their strengths to facilitate growth. Brianna has a strong passion for helping patients across the lifespan. Brianna recently completed her Clinical Fellowship and continues to work in Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Medical Day Centers in Montgomery County, with intervention focusing on those with dementia, progressive neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s), aphasia as a result of CVA, and dysphagia. She has also gained clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of both children and adults in various settings, including public schools, outpatient, and inpatient hospitals. In her free time, Brianna loves to dance, spend time outside in the warm weather, and cuddle with her two cats. Brianna is thrilled to continue developing her clinical skills at Metro Therapy Center!
Erin Thomas
Erin Thomas, M.A. CCC-SLP, received her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Pennsylvania State University in 2017, and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. She holds active licensure to practice in the states of Maryland and Virginia and certification and membership with the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).
Over the past 6 years, Erin has provided diagnostic and therapeutic services to both children and adults in the school, private practice and tele-therapy settings. She previously worked for Montgomery County Public Schools at a separate, public special education day school for 4 years. At MCPS, Erin gained experience working with children with complex communication needs and utilizing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) supports and a multi-modal communication approach to promote independence. She currently works for Loudoun County Public Schools at three different schools (elementary, middle and high school) servicing students with a wide variety of goals (e.g., speech sounds, expressive language, receptive language, fluency, AAC, etc.). Erin has received training in AAC (e.g., PRC Advanced Course on Access Methods, Tobii Dynavox Eye Gaze Access, AAC assessment courses), Dynamic Tactile and Temporal Cueing (DTTC) for Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and gestalt language processing. Erin is dedicated to providing functional and meaningful therapy that is oriented to the specific needs of children and their families to improve their overall quality of life. She recently moved from Gaithersburg, MD and currently lives in Fairfax, VA. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones, playing flag football, reading, watching the Philadelphia Eagles or Penn State football, and hanging with her pup, Fletcher!
Mary Aldaba
Mary Aldaba, M.S., CF-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Brooklyn College, where she also completed a specialization in Early Intervention. Prior to becoming an SLP, Mary worked with children in New York City schools as a paraprofessional, assistant teacher, and substitute teacher that strengthened her passion for supporting children’s communication and development.
Throughout her graduate training, Mary gained clinical experience across a variety of settings, including public schools, pediatric clinics, an auditory-oral school, and specialized school-based programs. She has worked with children with diverse communication needs in the areas of receptive and expressive language, speech sound production, social communication, early language development, literacy, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Mary is bilingual and speaks Tagalog.
Mary especially enjoys working with young children and their families and believes therapy is most meaningful when it is engaging, functional, and individualized to each child’s strengths and interests. She is excited to continue developing her clinical skills at Metro Speech and has particular interests in early intervention, AAC, feeding, and myofunctional therapy.
Outside of work, Mary enjoys exercising, staying active, exploring new places and restaurants, creating content about her SLP journey and spending time with family and friends.
Maria Aburn
Maria Aburn, M.S., CF-SLP, received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Brooklyn College. She is passionate about working with the pediatric population and believes that child-led, play-based therapy is an effective way to support children in reaching their communication goals.
Maria has experience working with students with high support needs, including individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. She currently works full-time in Baltimore City Public Schools, where she provides services to bilingual and diverse populations. Maria is bilingual and fluent in Spanish.
Maria has a growing interest in pediatric feeding and myofunctional therapy and is excited to continue expanding her knowledge and clinical skills in these areas. She values creating supportive, engaging, and meaningful therapy experiences that meet each child where they are.
Outside of work, Maria loves traveling and exploring new coffee shops and pastry spots!
Occupational Therapists
Mary Rose Soniregun
Mary Rose Soniregun, M.S., OTR/L, Lead Occupational Therapist, graduated Summa Cum Laude from an Accelerated Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy Program of Duquesne University and is a Maryland State-Licensed Occupational Therapist and is nationally certified by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Mary Rose has experience in Outpatient, Inpatient, Home Health, and Aquatic settings. She has years of experience evaluating and treating adults and children with developmental, neurological, visual, sensory processing, physical, and functional needs. She has extensive experience with sensory processing, visual, and developmental deficits in diagnosis including sensory processing disorder, genetic disorders, and visual impairments. Other modalities include vestibular processing, ataxia, fine motor, sensory motor, visual-perceptual, ocular motor disorders, sound-based listening interventions, self-regulation programs, and executive functioning programs. Mary loves believing a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches are a powerful combination to achieve goals.
Mary Rose strives to craft creative person-and-family-first oriented treatment plans to give patients the best tools to be successful in making lasting change. She is consistently engaging in further certifications and self education to learn about innovative treatment approaches that will help her patients. Mary Rose believes caregivers and extended family members are all integral parts of the therapy process and ensures that these individuals are appropriately educated so that they can be empowered to affect positive change toward their child’s progress. She is certified in specialized treatment techniques including Therapeutic Listening, The Astronaut Protocol, and Interactive Metronome.
Julie Underwood
Julie Underwood OTR/L graduated with a degree in family and child development from Virginia Tech and then continued to Virginia Commonwealth University and received her degree in Occupational Therapy. Julie has 24 years of practice working with children ages 3-18 in a variety of settings including public schools, private schools, and outpatient settings. She also has worked in rehabilitation facilities with geriatric patients. Her work includes addressing the needs of children with a variety of developmental delays including autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and a variety of physical disabilities.
Julie strongly believes in collaborating with families and other team members in order to improve a child’s overall functioning. She has enjoyed running parent workshops focusing on assisting families with choosing toys/activities to create sensory rich home environments and help develop their children’s motor and sensory needs. She has also run workshops for other occupational therapists and school support staff focusing on increasing knowledge of sensory and fine motor strategies to help promote independence and skill development in children.
Outside of work Julie enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with family and friends, and watching her boys run XC and Track. She lives in Clarksburg with her husband, two boys and her rescue dog.
Interns
La Rita Monagan
La Rita Monagan, Ed.S., is a seasoned Special Education leader with more than two decades of experience strengthening special education programs across public, charter, private, and international schools. She holds an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Special Education from Northcentral University, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). A proud UDC alumna, she is now a second-year graduate student in UDC’s Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology program. Ms. Monagan has served in roles ranging from Special Education Specialist to Director of Special Education in the United States, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, leading initiatives focused on compliance, equity, and high-quality instruction. Known for her expertise in IDEA regulations, teacher development, and program oversight, she continues to serve as a respected mentor, consultant, and advocate for students with disabilities.
Peyton Jane Wilkie
Peyton graduated a semester early from the University of Maryland, College Park, in December 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences. She is now back at UMD pursuing her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology!
She has experience working with both pediatric and adult populations across a range of speech, language, and cognitive-communication needs, including articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, cognitive-communication disorders, social-pragmatic communication disorders, autism spectrum disorder, aphasia, and frontal lobe and executive function deficits.
Her clinical interests include articulation, phonology, language, childhood apraxia of speech, fluency, and aphasia.
Abby Wittkamp
Abby Wittkamp is a second-year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at George Washington University. She completed a post-baccalaureate program in Speech-Language Pathology at George Washington University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Michigan State University.
She has gained clinical experience working with pediatric and adult clients with a variety of communication needs at the George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic. She enjoys providing individualized, client-centered care and helping individuals develop communication skills that are meaningful to their everyday lives.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, hiking, and running.
Pet Therapists
Hi! I’m Allegro, Metro Therapy Center’s Facility Dog! 🐾
I turned 2 on July 25th, and I’m a happy, loving Lab/Golden Retriever cross who loves people, making new friends, and learning new things.
I was specially trained by Canine Companions, and now I have a very important new job at Metro! I’ll be working alongside the therapists to help make therapy a little more fun, comfortable, and motivating.
The best part is that I’m still learning, too! Just like my new friends at Metro, I’m practicing new skills, trying things that can sometimes be challenging, and learning that a little patience, encouragement, and practice can go a long way. Maybe we can learn together!
You might see me helping with an activity, practicing one of my special skills, encouraging you to try something new…or sometimes just being there when you need a furry friend nearby.
I can’t wait to meet all my new friends at Metro. I have a feeling we’re going to learn a lot from each other. ❤️
Love,
Allegro 🐾
What is a Facility Dog?
A Facility Dog is a specially trained working dog who helps people in places like schools, hospitals, and therapy centers.
Allegro has been learning and practicing for almost his whole life, so he could have a very special job….helping our Metro families! 💙
Allegro knows lots of special skills that he can use during therapy. He might help you practice talking, moving your body, following directions, eating, completing an activity, or trying something that feels a little hard. Sometimes his job might simply be to sit quietly beside you and help you feel comfortable.
And guess what? Allegro is still learning, too! Just like you, he practices his skills, makes mistakes, tries again, and celebrates when he learns something new.
Allegro may look like a regular dog, but when he is at Metro, he has an important job to do. Your therapist will help you learn when you can pet, play, or work with him.
Allegro can’t wait to learn, work, and have fun with you! 🐾
Operations Team
Anat Sohn
Welcome to Metro Therapy Center! I’m Anat Sohn, M.A., CCC-SLP, Founder and CEO of Metro Therapy Center. With over two decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist and certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), I’m passionate about providing exceptional care and creating an environment where both clients and clinicians can thrive.
What inspires me most? The incredible team at Metro Therapy Center. I’m proud to work alongside dedicated professionals who share a commitment to lifelong learning, collaboration, compassion, and kindness. Together, we strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals and families we serve.
Outside of Metro, you’ll often find me practicing yoga, paddle boarding, or getting lost in a good book. Most importantly, I cherish time with my husband, my teenage daughter, my son at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Allegro, our beloved facility dog, who brings plenty of joy to both my family and our Metro team!
Julie Gonzalez
Julie Gonzalez, Office Manager and Billing Specialist, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She has over 30 years’ experience in her field, working with large corporations to small start-up companies. When her son was diagnosed with developmental delay, she took a job as an Education Technician in the local school district working with children who had learning disabilities – a job she found challenging but rewarding. Having personal experience with a child who faced challenges while growing up, and the multiple therapy sessions he required, gives Julie a unique perspective as an administrator at Metro Therapy Center. In her most recent role prior to joining Metro Speech, Julie was employed at a large women’s healthcare practice in Cincinnati, OH. She brings over 10 years’ experience in medical administration to Metro.
In Julie’s spare time, she enjoys cooking for her family, spending time outside with her two Boxer mixes, Roxie and Maia, and watching her beloved New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. She resides in Montgomery Village with her husband and son and is excited to be a part of the Metro Speech family.
Kathie Branitsky
Kathie, Lead Medical Receptionist and Credentialing Specialist, is a key member of our front desk team and plays a crucial role in assisting our clients. She hails from Hershey, PA and appreciates a fine chocolate as much as the next girl. A mother of four and friend to all, she has an extensive background serving individuals in a variety of settings with compassion, poise, and respect. Her effortless confidence in caring for others comes from years managing Ritz-Carlton hotels and working in the fashion industry, among other service-oriented positions, including yoga instruction.
Always happy to assist (or discuss the latest Burberry), Kathie is our team’s go-to for scheduling needs and she can often be found on the phone or supplying much-needed communication opportunities for clients young and old. When not tirelessly providing top-notch coordination and care, Kathie enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and very small dog, as well as winning rounds of golf.
Paula Andoniah
Paula Andoniah, Onboarding, Operations & Reconciliation Specialist, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. She brings a warm and welcoming presence to our practice with over 15 years of experience in finance, education, and administration. Having worked as a private tutor, a teacher’s assistant, a substitute teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools, and volunteered at Mary of Nazareth Catholic School, Paula has a knack for understanding the needs of children. With a background in administrative roles at the National Institutes of Health and various other organizations, she is adept at managing appointments, answering questions, and making everyone feel comfortable. When not at the office, Paula enjoys spending time outdoors and with her husband and three children.
Lavette “Nikki” Howard
Lavette “Nikki” Howard Medical Receptionist, Nikki has more than 30 years of experience serving students with disabilities in Montgomery County Public Schools. Throughout her career, Nikki has worked with students ranging from the Comprehensive Autism Preschool Program (CAPP) through high school, including specialized programs such as Autism, Extensions, and Head Start.
Nikki currently serves as a Paraeducator, supporting high school students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She works closely with students and families to develop communication,
vocational, life, academic, and behavioral skills that promote independence and success both in school and in the community.
Nikki is certified in Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) and Ukeru and is dedicated to creating a
safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Nikki also has clinical experience providing medical billing and administrative support. In this role, she assisted with patient scheduling, maintained and managed patient confidential records, supported front-office operations, and provided excellent customer service to patients and families in a healthcare setting. Nikki is CPR and First-Aid certified and has Epilepsy Awareness and Management. Through this training, she has developed the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and respond to medical emergencies, provide basic life-saving care, and support individuals with seizure disorders. Nikki is committed to maintaining a safe environment and is prepared to respond
effectively to the health and safety needs of those in her care. In her free time, Nikki loves to bake, spend time with family, reading, watching movies, listening to music, and learning about new cultures.
Community Partners
Brittany Shapiro (Registered Dietician)
Brittany Shapiro, RD, LD, CSP is a pediatric registered dietitian in the D.C. metro area. She completed her dietetic internship at the National Institutes of Health and worked at Children’s National Medical Center for over 8 years. She is the owner of Capital Pediatric Nutrition and specializes in infant feeding, picky eating, food allergies, growth challenges, gastrointestinal problems, and family nutrition. She loves helping parents navigate how to feed children with varying nutrition needs!
Dr. Laura Austin (Pediatric Psychologist)
Dr. Laura Austin, PhD has been working with children and their families since 1993. After training to work with kids in both mental health and medical settings, Dr. Austin transitioned to an intensive Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) program in 2003. Dr. Austin spent 20 years helping children and families navigate the complicated world of PFD alongside speech, occupational and physical therapists, dietitians, physicians and many other medical professionals. To further expand the services she can provide, Dr. Austin obtained certification in PC-CARE, an innovative therapy program providing hands-on training to allow parents to better connect with their kids, while also learning effective strategies to manage problem behaviors. Dr. Austin has published research in the area of feeding disorders and has collaborated with other PFD specialists to provide training courses to parents and professionals. She has been featured on newscasts and in print media as she shares her passion for effective diagnosis and treatment of PFD.
After working for area children’s hospitals since 2001, Dr. Austin moved into private practice in early 2024. Dr. Austin works both in person and over telehealth. Feeding and parenting services can be provided individually or in a group setting. Dr. Austin has spent her career partnering with other professionals, particularly feeding therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and gastroenterologists. Dr. Austin can help differentiate picky eating from problem feeding, and Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) from Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). She can then guide families on to the best next steps. To learn more visit www.austinpetriepsychology.com or email DrLauraAustin@gmail.com.