Meet the Playworks Team

Our director, Patti Wilson, earned a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Arizona State University with a focus on early intervention. Before that, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University in 1994. She is also trained in PROMPT therapy (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic targets), Beckman Oral Motor Therapy, the Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson Approach, and the Floortime model.  Before Playworks, Patti practiced Early Intervention for 6 years in the private sector and 2 years in the Virginia public school system.

Liz Souza is an occupational therapist originally from Toano, Virginia, a small wooded area outside of Williamsburg, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of science degree in Psychology from James Madison University and her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University. Liz is a firm believer in learning through the exploration of novel hobbies and finding a flow state. Growing up with three older siblings, Liz understands the importance of social learning and enjoys integrating shared social problem solving into therapy goals. Liz completed training in DIR/floortime, sensory processing, self-regulation, sensory based toilet training, torticollis, reflex integration, and pediatric yoga. She has experience working with children and teens with a variety of diagnoses and needs including autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, executive functioning disorder, cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome and more. Outside of work Liz enjoys an active lifestyle with hobbies such as competitive paintball, rock climbing, weight lifting, and working with her Belgian Malinios. 

Katie is a DC area native and has over 30 years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist. She received a Masters of Science in PT from Sargent College of Allied Health Professions at Boston University. Katie has worked in acute care, outpatient therapy and early intervention. Katie has been certified in Neuro-Developmental Treatment and has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. She has taken many continuing education courses in the management of cerebral palsy, kinesiotaping, casting/splinting, orthotics and the importance of play in development. She continues to have very close relationships with doctors and orthotists from her many years practicing at Children’s National Hospital in DC. She has experience treating children with torticollis, plagiocephaly, developmental delay, genetic syndromes, cerebral palsy, orthopedic injuries/conditions and NICU graduates. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the Virginia shores of the Chesapeake Bay and sailing, boating and eating crabs!

Emily grew up in Weston, Connecticut. She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-
Language Pathology from George Washington University, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland. Emily started graduate school virtually due to the pandemic, so she is experienced in providing therapy through virtual platforms as well as in-person! Emily is passionate about working with children of all ages, and her enthusiasm makes sessions fun and exciting for her clients. She believes that it’s important to capitalize on a child’s strengths, and that every child deserves to learn the foundational tools to
communicate! Her love for working with kids was enhanced when she worked as a
Teacher’s Aide at a preschool while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree. She gained clinical experience through her graduate externships, where she worked in a public school as well as at a school for individuals with developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down’s syndrome. She especially loves providing therapy for clients with expressive / receptive language disorders, social communication disorders, and articulation disorders. In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing with her dogs.

Kendis has been practicing speech language pathology since 1995 when she earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has extensive experience with articulation and language therapy with the preschool and school aged populations. Kendis has additional training in PROMPT (Propts for Restructuring Oral Motor Targets), Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program, and Therapeutic Strategies to, Help Children with Asperger Syndrome. Prior to returning to the States this summer, Kendis had been working in international schools where she gained experience working with diverse populations and teaming with physical and occupational therapists to provide maximum support to severely impaired clients. Kendis returned to Playworks after a 5 year tour overseas.  Her last three years were spent in New Zealand working for an innovative program that addressed the needs of high-risk preschoolers with speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy and early intervention teaching all under one roof.  This experience of co-treating across disciplines was an amazing learning opportunity and a valuable contribution to her twenty five years of experience in pediatric speech therapy.

Gabrielle (Gabby) is a graduate of the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also received her bachelor’s degree. She is originally from Long Island, New York but lived in Charlotte North Carolina for a long time. She has experience working with autistic children. Gabby is skilled at addressing speech / language needs, social and emotional development, and improved executive functioning. She has clinical experience working on articulation, pragmatics, receptive and expressive language, and fluency. She has worked in early intervention, schools, home health, as well as rehabilitation settings. She is experienced with both in-person therapy and telehealth. She also has experience with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) which she incorporates into functional contexts within play and other forms of therapy. She believes therapy is not “one size fits all” and that each child is an individual with their own strengths, interests, and needs and highly values family integration in therapy.

Riah is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who loves helping individual clients find their own voices by looking at the whole picture for evaluation and treatment. She received her Bachelor of Arts in both Linguistics and Foreign Languages at Scripps College for Women in Claremont, CA, and her Masters of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. Riah loves working with children and their families to tailor evidence-based treatment strategies to a child’s preferences and family needs to provide functional communication goals. She has more than six years of experience with Autism spectrum disorder, executive function disorders, motor speech disorders, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), early intervention, and feeding and swallowing. Riah loves using play to connect with client’s and to build relationships for collaborative success. When she’s not in the clinic, Riah is usually found outside enjoying nature with her own family or reading books. She loves camping, hiking, and investigating new playgrounds, National Parks, and trails.

Alyssa “Aly” moved from Northern California to join our team. She received her clinical doctorate from Samuel Merritt University following her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from CSU Monterey Bay. Aly’s first exposure to occupational therapy was from a camp designed to help kids with varying disorders discover newfound independence and expand their abilities as they learn to adapt to the wilderness. She gained clinical experience during her fieldwork in an outpatient clinic, most commonly treating feeding difficulties, sensory integration, and self-regulation. She believes interventions should be challenging, playful, and achievable to increase self-esteem and integration into the family’s routine. Aly is excited to live in the DC area and spend her spare time traveling, hiking, and eating crab.  

Ms. Kris is originally from Las Vegas, NV but moved to DC to earn her Master of Speech Language Pathology from Gallaudet University.  Kris has experience working with pediatric and adult populations in school, clinical, and hospital settings. She primarily has worked with children with a variety of disorders and needs (e.g., Down’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism) while utilizing an interdisciplinary support. She also has worked with the deaf and hard of hearing and children with feeding disorders. She most recently has developed a speciality in working with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to support children with moderate to severe language-based learning disorders. Kris is certified in the SOS feeding approach.  She enjoys spending time with friends and family while playing games, hiking, and reading.

Tiffany is a native of New Jersey. She received a bachelor's degree from New York University in Speech Language Pathology and graduated with honors with a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Kean University.  She is trained in the PROMPT treatment method for those with motor speech disorders like apraxia or dysarthria, as well as certified in Hanen More Than Words which focuses on helping caregivers build functional communication skills with children diagnosed with Autism. Throughout her career, she has gained experience in a variety of settings with populations spanning from infant to adult. Most recently, she has provided services to children severely impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder and utilized an interdisciplinary approach to best serve this population. She has presented on Engagement Through Play at the SHAV (Speech and Hearing Association of Virginia) Convention.  Her areas of interest include language-based learning disabilities, speech sound disorders, and facilitating social-pragmatic development, most specifically with pediatric populations. She practices based on the quote by Lev Vygotsky, " A child's greatest achievements are possible in play." 

Nicole is originally from Rockaway Beach, New York. She received her Bachelor of Health Sciences and her Master of Occupational Therapy both from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Nicole previously was working in New York City as a pediatric occupational therapist both in person and virtually with children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays as well as many other disorders. Nicole adapts her interventions to challenge and best support children’s daily lives and families while also creating a fun and playful environment. In her free time, Nicole enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with family at the beach.

Katherine (Kat for short) is a Speech-Language Pathologist who was born and raised in Central Arkansas. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Arkansas. Since graduating in 2021 she has worked solely with the pediatric population, and has practiced in Arkansas, Texas, and Virginia. She has experience working with children with a range of abilities and disorders, including pediatric feeding disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and individuals utilizing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach to literacy, an approach designed to teach reading, writing, and spelling to individuals who struggle in these areas, including those with dyslexia. With a passion for literacy, she also loves to incorporate literary themes and early literacy skills into all of her treatment sessions. New to the state, Katherine is looking forward to exploring the area with her husband and building new relationships with clients and their families.

Olivia Maloney is an occupational therapist originally from Ohio. She obtained her bachelor’s of Liberal Arts with a focus on Human Occupational Studies and her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2019, she moved to Virginia, gaining experience in various occupational therapy settings, including outpatient, virtual, and school-based environments. She completed the SOS Approach to Feeding training and is passionate about creating positive experiences around eating and mealtimes. She prioritizes several key elements in her practice, including child-led play, crafting appropriately challenging tasks, adjusting activities to suit individual needs, providing guidance to parents, and integrating sensory-based approaches. She has experience working with a variety of diagnoses and needs including but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and executive functioning disorder. When Olivia is not at work, she enjoys completing puzzles, spending time with friends and family, walking her dog, and traveling. 

Abigail is originally from Hanover, PA. She earned her Master’s of science in Occupational Therapy and her Bachelor’s degree in Health science from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Her passion for pediatric OT was deepened during her time working as teacher’s aide at a special education school while pursuing her undergraduate degree. During her fieldwork, she gained clinical experience in both the home and school based settings most commonly addressing emotional regulation, dressing, sensory integration and handwriting. She particularly enjoys providing therapy for clients with low vision/visual impairments, sensory processing disorders and reflex integration deficits. She is passionate about building genuine connections and providing client/family centered interventions that celebrate the child’s strengths. Being the youngest of six children she enjoys spending time with her family, as well as attending concerts, hiking, and baking.

Lindsey graduated from James Madison University with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, where she received her Bachelor’s degree as well. She is from the Northern Virginia area, growing up in Fairfax, Virginia! Lindsey enjoys providing therapy to children of all ages and is passionate about building a strong relationship with the children and families she works with. Lindsey has always had a love for working with children, and was first exposed to speech therapy while volunteering at a camp for children with speech and language disorders. She gained clinical experience through two externships in the private practice setting, where she provided therapy for a wide variety of ages and diagnoses. Lindsey especially enjoys providing services to clients with expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation and phonology, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. During her sessions, Lindsey strives for a play-based approach where she utilizes the child’s interests and follows their lead in play while incorporating their goals for meaningful progress. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys learning new card games, reading, cooking, and watching the sunset!

Laurie joined the staff at Playworks as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in November, 2024. Laurie initially received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Relations in Business from the College of William and Mary, where she was a proud member of the women’s soccer team. She first became interested in occupational therapy while searching for a client-centered health profession combining creative problem-solving skills with evidence-based practice. During Laurie’s break from schooling to raise three children, she worked as a manager/teacher for Gymboree Play and Music, a developmentally-based play program for children ages 3 months to 5 years. She then returned to school to pursue her dream of becoming an OT practitioner and graduated in 2018 from NVCC’s OTA program. Before joining the Playworks team, Laurie worked in outpatient pediatrics in the Northern VA area for 5 years.  Laurie has worked treating children with a range of diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, Down's Syndrome, developmental delays, and sensory processing disorder.  She has experience working in the Fairfax County Public School system as a Fieldwork Level 2 student with children from preschool through high school. In her spare time, Laurie and her Goldendoodle, Ellie, volunteer with People, Animals, Love, an organization which provides pet visits to bring happiness and comfort to numerous individuals throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area. Laurie also has an African Grey parrot named Cali, so her home is always filled with “musical” sounds! When not playing with her  pets, Laurie also enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with family, which has recently expanded to include an adorable grandson!