Our Team
As a therapist owned clinic, we provide the highest quality of services to our
children and their families. It is our dream to build and maintain a team of professionals to support and carry
out our mission each and every day.
Loretta Gimse, OTR
Occupational Therapist
With 28 years experience, Loretta is an expert in sensory integration/processing and motor planning impairments. Over the years she has implemented a trans-disciplinary approach incorporating speech goals and some physical therapy into her sessions. With a family-focused approach, she works with children and teaches caregivers how to implement these therapies at home. She helps them work together to maximize their child's independence and improve functions during daily activities such as self-care, play, leisure and work. Loretta helps with fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, body awareness, visual motor skills, self-care (e.g. grooming), balance and mid-line body development. "My goal is to build on a child's individual strengths and to develop skills to make them function as confidently as possible."
Deedra Weill
Occupational Therapist
Deedra’s background combines experience in the clinic and hospital settings. She currently works in the neonatal intensive care unit at Oregon Health Sciences University as well as at Therapy Solutions for Kids. Her work with children of all ages has lead to a greater of appreciation of the parental role in a child’s development. She focuses on a family approach to treatment and home programs whenever possible. Deedra is trained in infant feeding and development, sensory integration, fine motor skill building, self-care activities, visual-motor skills, body awareness and coordination. "My love for children and desire to help them be more independent and functional in their daily lives has led me to the fulfilling profession of occupational therapy. At Therapy Solutions for Kids, I have found an environment where collaboration and learning are fostered and a family approach to care is valued-plus we have fun!!"
Stephanie Wagers, OTR
Occupational Therapist, Eugene Clinic Manager
Stephanie now provides occupational therapy services from our Eugene/Springfield location. "Parents are the number one teachers, therefore my approach is to coach them through therapy with their child so that they are not sidelined," says Stephanie. "This, coupled with the environment at Therapy Solutions for Kids, makes the experience for the child very positive. The free-flowing communication between therapists enables us to build on the therapy that children are getting from all of therapists in the clinic. It is really different here." As an occupational therapist with eight years experience, Stephanie is trained in visual/vestibular issues, kinesiotaping and sensory integration (e.g. sensitivity to touch or noise). She also helps children with handwriting, feeding issues, dyspraxia, visual and perceptual skills, fine motor skills and behavior issues. Her hands-on approach enables her to connect with the kids she treats and to meet their individual needs.
Renee Currier, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Renee also provides occupational therapy services from our Eugene/Springfield location. She has six years experience as an occupational therapist. Prior to her work in Eugene, she worked at Children's Village in Yakima, WA. She takes a family centered approach allowing families to guide her in the individual needs of each child. Renee is skilled in the areas of feeding, sensory integration, self-care, fine motor skill development, and behavior management. She is also trained in Brain Gym. Her interactive style allows her to relate well with children and their families to provide them with the skills/education to meet their goals.
Camille Castaneda, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Camille studied exercise physiology as an undergrad at Northern Arizona University. Afterwards I joined the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa working in the area of Natural Resource Management as well as collaborating on several health-related projects with the local women’s group. I continued to travel to Guatemala, Ireland, and France before working for the Nature Conservancy doing prescribed burns on the east coast. I graduated from University of Washington in 2004 with my MOT. I tried to schedule my internships according to my interests (the outdoors, travel, working with children) so I spent time in Fairbanks, Alaska in a hospital setting; in Moldova, Eastern Europe as part of a newly formed rehab team establishing connections and providing therapeutic equipment and techniques in several facilities in that country; and finally in Eugene, Oregon working with children across many community and school-based settings. I worked in Anchorage, Alaska for three school years as a school-based therapist so I understand the relationship between school and clinic-based therapists and how important it is for everyone on a child’s support team to work together. My goal is to help each child and his or her family to work together to understand and support each other so that the child can be successful in what he or she would like to do. When a child feels confident and in control of his/her body and its actions, he/ she is at a place to learn and grow. Therapy Solutions is a safe and inviting place for this transformation to occur!
Veda Reddy, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Veda studied occupational therapy (OT) at the University of Toronto, Canada and graduated in 2002. Veda knew going into OT school that she wanted to work with kids. Veda began her career as an Infant Development Consultant in a home-based early intervention program where she loved the family-centered focus. Parents were involved 100%, which made it easier for carry-over. In 2004, “good life changes” took her south of the border to Brooklyn, New York where she worked in a special-education preschool with 2-5 year olds. Veda enjoyed working in a school setting but soon felt very boxed in with all the limitations: short treatment sessions, very educationally focused IEP goals, and minimal to no family contact. Veda has also received extra training in assessing and treating sensory-integration/processing disorders and the Handwriting Without Tears (preschool and school aged) program. She is excited to join the Therapy Solutions for Kids team in the Eugene office. Veda looks forward to collaborating with families to identify meaningful goals for their child in order to enable maximum independence and optimal functioning in all activities of daily living.
Jennifer G. Rappaport MOTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Jennifer received her master’s in occupational therapy at Pacific University, here in Oregon. She is a Portland native, but given the opportunity will travel just about anywhere. Jennifer’s passion for working with children began during her clinical rotations at school when she was amazed by their growing abilities every day. She is trained in sensory integration, feeding issues, fine and gross motor development, and self care activities. Jennifer enjoys a variety of outdoor pursuits that include rafting, rock climbing, skiing, backpacking, camping & fishing. She is excited about her work at Therapy Solutions for Kids and the interdisciplinary environment that supports children, families and colleagues. Jennifer also has a second vocational pursuit working in adult preventative care.
Jamie Smith
Occupational Therapist
Jamie has worked with children as a pediatric occupational therapist for over 13 years. Among her work experiences, she spent 5 years working for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and 2 years working in Germany with the U.S. military’s early intervention program. Prior to relocating to Portland in 2007, Jamie started a private practice in Atlanta, where she enjoyed working with children in the home, school and clinic settings.
Jamie has done extensive continuing education coursework on many topics, including sensory processing disorders, fine motor dysfunction and handwriting. She is certified in Therapeutic Listening. Jamie enjoys working with children of all ages with a variety of exceptionalities. She believes in educating parents and giving children the tools they need to be successful in their everyday lives.
Lesley E. Freeling, PT, PCS
Physical Therapist
Pediatric Certified Specialist
(American Physical Therapy Association)
Lesley has been involved with children's physical therapy for over 30 years. She is familiar with a broad range of acute and chronic conditions across the growth spectrum from infancy to the teenage years. Lesley's philosophy is to focus on the whole child, to make therapy fun and to empower the family to provide follow through at home. Lesley has been privileged to follow some young patients from tiny babies to college students.
Annette Sabater, P.T.
Physical Therapist
Annette is a physical therapist with 17 of her 20 years experience working with children. Eight of those 17 years were at OHSU where she gained experience working with children with chronic disease, prematurity, torticollis, orthopedic injury, neurological dysfunction and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Following her hospital experience, she worked seven years with the school district in early intervention and early child development. She has been at Therapy Solutions for Kids for two years now as a part-time therapist. She enjoys returning to the clinical approach in therapy and strives to implement a team approach with her therapy. She integrates each individual child's therapy goals with their dya to day routine and family style. She blends this approach to achieve steady and consistent progress.
Michele Smith-Sullivan, LPTA, LMT
Physical Therapist
Michelle has been a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant working with kids since 1986. She has worked with children from preschool to high school in a variety of settings. Michelle works closely with the Physical Therapist and enjoys helping children reach their potential. She is also a Licensed Massage Therapist with knowledge and experience in both adult and pediatric massage.
Beth Lough, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist
Beth is a speech pathologist with eight years experience working exclusively with children. She comes to Therapy Solutions for Kids after working five years at Providence Hospital. She has also worked in private practice and in the early intervention program in Clackamas County. She was drawn to Therapy Solutions for Kids mostly because of the management. "There are no surprises here making it easy for families to transition. We put families and children first." Beth's approach to therapy is family and child centered. "I try to make therapy as enjoyable and productive as possible and to train parents so they are able to implement therapy at home." A specialist in oral motor skills, feeding and dyspraxia, she has the ability to recognize even subtle issues that makes her more efficient in treating the whole child.
Beth Nesser, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Beth is a speech language pathologist with expertise in stuttering and dyspraxia (a motor planning problem that is evident through speech and articulation errors). Beth has been in practice for four years and previously was a practitioner serving both adults and children at Providence Portland Medical Center. Beth's approach to therapy is family-centered in that she believes it is important for the family to be comfortable implementing therapy in the home. "This environment enables me to assist parents in forming a fun and real-time remediation of their child's speech and language difficulties, which is essential for success."
Allison Matthews
Office Manager
Allie came to Therapy Solutions for Kids after working for five years in Multnomah County's early intervention program. She brings with her the experience of working as educational assistant in various Special Education programs as well as her vast knowledge in computer and organizational office skills. She handles the insurance billing, patient billing, new referrals, scheduling and multiple other office tasks. If you have any questions regarding your statement she can help. Please call her at 503-224-1998 or email her at amatthews@therapysolutionsforkids.com with any questions.
Kyle Ulinger
Receptionist / Scheduling
Originally from Florida, Kyle is a fine arts major with emphases in sculpture and printmaking. She is looking to pursue a master’s degree in art therapy at Marylhurst University. She has worked with children both as an arts and a recreation teacher for her hometown, Mount Dora, Florida. She has worked as a member of the arts literacy team of Waluga Elementary in Lake Oswego, as well as being involved with an at-risk youth home for adolescent males in Portland. She is quite excited to join the team at Therapy Solutions for Kids as scheduler and receptionist.
Loretta Gimse
Deedra Weill
Stephanie Wagers
Renee Currier
Camille Castaneda
Veda Reddy
Jennifer G. Rappaport
Jamie Smith
Lesley E. Freeling
Annette Sabater
Michele Smith-Sullivan
Beth Lough
Beth Nesser
Allison Matthews
Kyle Ulinger