Pediatric Therapies
We are a professional organization of licensed therapists who provide services exclusively through the Gracent network of pediatric therapy centers. Our clinicians work alongside the broader Gracent team to deliver thoughtful, coordinated care that supports the whole child.
Whether your child is just beginning to communicate or needs support with the sensory and motor demands of daily life, our therapists work together to build skills that go beyond the clinic walls. By collaborating closely with other specialists across the Gracent network, we help ensure each child’s care is connected, personalized, and focused on meaningful progress for both children and their families.
Sierra Jones received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Carthage College, and Doctoral degree from Rush University in Occupational Therapy. As the Assistant Clinical Director of Occupational and Physical Therapy at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Sierra maintains a partial caseload and supports the OT and PT departments by providing clinical leadership and ensuring quality of care. Sierra is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
For Sierra, building bonds with the clients is the most rewarding part of the job. Sierra's passion for helping people gain and build independence can be traced back to childhood when she watched a loved one struggle with the loss of independence due to an illness, and became inspired by the work of the OT in helping her loved one gain her confidence, spirit, and independence back. Ask her how to juggle, it's her secret talent. When Sierra is not keeping busy with friends and family, you can find her hanging out with her dog and reading in the park.
Betty Lupia is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. Betty attended Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Illinois where she received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2017. She graduated with her master's degree in speech-language pathology from Midwestern University in 2019.
Betty has been working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since August of 2021. Prior to working at NSPT, Betty worked as a contracted SLP for U-46 in Elgin where she worked with students pre-k through 8th grade in general, exceptional needs, and autism population classrooms. Her areas of competence and interest include: programming and developing of low tech and high-tech AAC systems, DTTC for treatment of childhood apraxia of speech, diagnosis and treatment of phonological/articulation disorders, diagnosis and treatment of language disorders ages 18 months-21 years, diagnosis and treatment of childhood fluency disorders.
Alan Sadural is a board-certified occupational therapist with experience working with the pediatric population. He earned his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2021. He also studied at UIC and holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Rehabilitation Sciences and Disability and Human Development. In addition to working in pediatrics, Alan has experience working with adults with developmental disabilities in the home health and outpatient rehabilitation settings.
Alan has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, coordination disorders, developmental delays, and sensory processing differences. In his free time, Alan enjoys traveling, watching movies, tending to plants/pets, and playing guitar.
Alex Pattullo is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. She completed a bachelor's degree in Linguistics, with a Spanish minor, from the University of Kentucky and earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in speech-language pathology. She then earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.
Alex returned to NSPT as a core therapist, after previously working as a BT at the Lincolnwood clinic from 2019-2020. After completing her graduate studies, Alex worked as a contracted SLP for District 60 in Waukegan with students aged kindergarten through 5th grade in monolingual/dual-language English-Spanish general, exceptional needs, and autism population classrooms. She has experience working with children between 3 years to 13 years of age in elementary school and clinical settings. She has worked with clients to address expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her areas of interest include evaluating and treating expressive and receptive language disorders, speech sound disorders, early intervention, childhood fluency disorders, and programming and developing low tech and high-tech AAC systems.
Angela Gonzales, COTA/L received her associate's degree and certification from Wright College. As a certified occupational therapy assistant at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Angela provides interventions for children to develop physical, cognitive, and sensory skills to help them play, improve school performance, and increase independence in daily living activities.
For Angela, creating a positive experience for the child is the most rewarding part of the job, and loves doing crafts with kiddos. Angela's passion for occupational therapy can be traced back to her childhood, when she observed her little brother's occupational and physical therapy sessions. Ask her about painting - it's her secret talent. When Angela is not keeping busy with occupational therapy, you can find her going for hikes.
Anna Zahn is a licensed physical therapist who is excited and passionate about serving the pediatric population, as she has always wanted to work with children since she herself was a child. She earned her Associate of Applied Science degree from Gateway Technical College and began work as a physical therapist assistant in 2018. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Applied Health Science degree at University of Wisconsin–Parkside, and continued her education further by achieving a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 2022.
Anna's previous pediatric experiences include a 12-week clerkship at Little Steps in Highland Park, Illinois where she treated children who presented with torticollis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, hypotonia, seizure disorders, orthopedic injuries, and a variety of rare genetic disorders. She also participated in the Early Intervention program, assisting the treatment of children aged 0 to 3 years old in the child's home or a neutral environment. When she's not working with kids, she enjoys her hobbies of creative writing, reading, crafting, and being active.
Drea received her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Elmhurst College in 2015, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University in 2017. She has been a part of the NSPT team for the past seven years, providing support and building connections with families at our Lake Bluff, Evanston, Des Plaines, and Bucktown locations.
As a speech therapist and certified lactation consultant at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Drea loves helping families with their little one's feeding journey. She specializes in working with newborns develop oral motor skills for breastfeeding and bottle feeding as well as supporting children aged 6 months and older when transitioning to solid foods.
For Drea, seeing parents’ confidence grow as their child reaches their feeding goals is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves making mealtime a fun and positive experience by utilizing a personalized, family-centered approach. When Drea is not keeping busy with helping her families “blossom”, you can find her in a yoga class or at Costco checking out the Christmas trees and trying all the great samples.
Christina received her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Iowa and her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago.
As a Speech-Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Christina provides evaluation and intervention services for kids with a variety of communication disorders. She enjoys supporting not only children, but their whole families in the therapy process. For Christina, the most rewarding part of the job is making meaningful connections with families and supporting their ability to communicate about their shared experiences.
When Christina is not keeping busy finding creative ways to help families meet their communication goals, you will probably find her at the library with her kids. She enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, spending time with her family, baking, and learning how to crochet.
Elisa received her Bachelor of Arts from Calvin University, and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University. As a Physical Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Elisa provides therapy that works on strength, flexibility, gross motor skills (walking, running, jumping, hopping, ball skills, etc), and more!
For Elisa, seeing kids become stronger is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves designing games that work toward clients' goals while having fun. Elisa has done volunteer work with children since the 6th grade and even worked as a Montessori teacher's assistant. Elisa has a pet gecko and likes to draw pictures of him in different hats. Her favorite sport is rock climbing with her friends.
Elizabeth Habisohn is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the State of Illinois. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Marquette University, in Milwaukee and then earned her master's degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Elizabeth has been working at North Shore Pediatric Therapy since August 2021. She has experience working with children from 12 months to 16 years of age in the clinical setting and elementary school setting. She has worked with children and young adults to address expressive and receptive language skills, early language skills, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders and implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and working with children with autism spectrum disorder.
Ellie Gatz is in her Clinical Fellowship Year and has her temporary license in the state of Illinois. Ellie attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Ellie has worked at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since June 2022. Before starting at NSPT, Ellie participated in two full-time internships in her last semester of graduate school. These internships were in a school setting in Rochelle, IL and a skilled nursing facility setting in Manitowoc, Wi. Her greatest area of interest includes implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and expressive and receptive language disorders. Ellie has a history of working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has a large passion to work with this population.
Francesca Orlando received her Master of Occupational Therapy from Elmhurst University, and a bachelor's degree of science from Central Michigan University. As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Francesca provides compassionate, as well as fun and engagement treatments.
For Francesca, being with the kids is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys making new connections people. Francesca's passion for OT can be traced back to undergrad when she volunteered for a summer camp working closely with other OTs. When Francesca is not keeping busy with work, you can find her swimming, painting, and playing with her dog.
Guadalupe Mercado is a board-certified occupational therapist with experience working with the pediatric population. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll University with an emphasis on public health and a minor in Psychology. Also, she earned her master's in occupational therapy from Carroll University.
Guadalupe has practiced with the pediatric population in various settings such as outpatient rehabilitation, hippotherapy, school, daycare, and clinic. Within these sites, she has treated children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, coordination disorders, developmental delay, and sensory processing disorders. Guadalupe has taken continuing education courses including the SOS Approach to Feeding and Interoception-based course.
When not at work, Guadalupe enjoys hanging out with family and friends, going on vacation, concerts, working out, cooking, and reading.
Katy has worked as an occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy since December 2022. She received her Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree from Concordia University-Wisconsin in 2016.
Prior to NSPT, Katy worked in another pediatric outpatient clinic and has also worked in public, private, and therapeutic schools. Professionally, she is interested in promoting functional independence in activities of daily living, visual perception, and executive functioning skills with her clients. Katy is certified in the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding and enjoys working with clients on their feeding therapy goals. Academically, she has mentored OT students in their fieldwork placements and clinical internships. Katy is involved with professional organizations such as the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) and American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She also sometimes volunteers with The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) to provide access to adaptive sports and equipment for individuals with physical and visual impairments.
In her free time, Katy enjoys knitting, cooking, gardening, and riding her bike in the warmer months.
Kelsey received her Bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Services from Northern Illinois University, and her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Elmhurst University.
As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kelsey focuses on providing a creative, play-based, and client-centered approach throughout her sessions. For Kelsey, seeing children grow and gain independence in their daily activities is the most rewarding part of her job!
When not at work, you can find her spending time with family and friends, going for long-distance runs, or taking her dog Howie for a walk
Lindsay Elling became a board-certified occupational therapist in 2021 after earning her master's degree in occupational therapy from Nova Southeastern University and her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Lindsay was inspired to pursue a career in occupational therapy at a very young age after hearing her dad's stories about his time as an occupational therapist. Lindsay has experience treating children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), dyspraxia and other coordination deficits, and executive functioning difficulties.
Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys cooking and hosting, doing yoga, and playing with her cat, Winnie.
Maria received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University, and a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As an occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Maria provides occupational therapy services to help children develop their skills for play, learning, and daily routines in a fun and engaging environment.
For Maria, building connections with the children and families is the most rewarding part of the job. Maria's passion for OT can be traced back to undergrad when she interned at a therapeutic preschool working closely with the OTs. When Maria is not keeping busy with work, you can find her exploring new hiking trails, spending time with loved ones, and discovering new coffee shops.
Marissa received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rush University and a Bachelors of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapies, Marissa provides occupational therapy services to children with a variety of diagnoses and abilities. For Marissa, collaborating with families and empowering clients to participate in everyday activities are the most rewarding parts of the job.
Marissa's passion for OT can be traced back to working for 7 years at a summer camp for children with physical and developmental disabilities. When Marissa is not at work, you can find her reading, walking on the lakefront, or trying new restaurants!
Mary Grace Domagola is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. She attended Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana for both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Mary Grace has been working as a pediatric speech language pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since January 2023. She has experience working with children from birth through 18 in the school and pediatric outpatient clinic setting before joining NSPT. She has a passion for working with autistic individuals, implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation impairments, and social communication impairments.
Melissa Schmitz is a board-certified occupational therapist who earned her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in developmental psychology.
Melissa has experience working in public schools, therapeutic day schools, and outpatient pediatric clinics. During her undergrad she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician and paraprofessional helping students with disabilities reach their maximum potential. She has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), attention-deficit hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD), sensory processing challenges, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and global developmental delay among others. She values building loyal relationships with clients and their families.
When not working, she enjoys spending her time with family and friends and staying active.
Michaela is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. She attended the University of Rochester for her undergraduate degrees and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language (ASL) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Brain & Cognitive Sciences with a focus in language development. Michaela then attended Northwestern University where she graduated with a Master of Science degree in Speech, Language, & Learning. There she did internships in both an elementary school with students of varying needs, and in an audiology clinic where she worked with both children and adults with various degrees of hearing loss, including doing some teleheath sessions.
Upon graduating, she began working in the Chicago Public School system where she has been for the past five years. There she worked at an elementary school where she serviced children from preK to fifth grade in collaboration with other clinicians including occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists. Michaela has experience working with various speech-language needs including speech sound disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, fluency, and implementation of high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
Her primary areas of interest include evaluating and treating speech sound disorders and receptive/expressive language disorders. Her goal is to support a child's communication growth in any way she can while using evidence-based practices.
Michelle earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst University and went on to complete her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Lewis University. As a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Michelle provides comprehensive evaluations and individualized therapy for children with a wide range of communication challenges.
Michelle finds the most fulfillment in witnessing the progress her clients make and the impact it has on their families. She values building strong relationships with each child and their caregivers, taking the time to learn about their unique interests and incorporating them into therapy sessions to make them both effective and engaging. Michelle is a strong advocate for collaborative care and works closely with professionals across disciplines to ensure a holistic and consistent approach that supports each child's overall development.
Her passion for supporting children began during her time working at the YMCA, where she discovered the joy of helping children of all abilities grow and succeed in their communities.
Outside the clinic, Michelle enjoys spending time with her three dogs, creating handmade décor, and photographing nature at local zoos and arboretums.
Paige Huffman is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. Paige attended James Madison University for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then moved to Washington D.C. where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at The George Washington University (GWU). Paige has worked at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since June of 2022.
Prior to working at NSPT, Paige worked at different skilled nursing facilities in the Chicago area, where she completed her clinical fellowship. Paige has experience working with pediatric population from her two externships at GWU. One was working at a college preparatory public school for grades Pre-k to 1st. The second placement was a school specialized for children with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities working with 8-22 years old. She has experience addressing receptive and expressive language disorders, social-pragmatic disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders. Her areas of interest involve evaluating and treating receptive and expressive language disorders, speech sound production and early intervention treatment.
Rachel Porritt is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. Rachel attended The University of Wisconsin-Madison for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Sciences & Disorders. She moved to Chicago to attend Rush University for her graduate studies, where she earned her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Rachel has been working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist for the last 7 years and has been working at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since August 2017. Before working at NSPT, Rachel worked in Early Intervention to service children between the ages of birth - 3 years. Through Rachel's years of experience, she has worked with children up to 19 years of age, addressing a wide range of speech-language and feeding disorders. She currently specializes in the evaluation and treatment of motor speech disorders and oral motor/sensory feeding disorders, and she is trained in PROMPT and SOS therapy.
Rayan received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy and her bachelors degree in Psychology from Governor's State University. As a pediatric occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Rayan helps children develop essential living skills, as well as improve fine/gross motor skills and sensory functions!
For Rayan, witnessing the significant progress and increased independence of children as they overcome challenges is the most rewarding part of the job and she really enjoys crafting fun and creative interventions tailored to each client! Rayan's passion for occupational therapy can be traced back to high school, where she volunteered for an organization called Muhsen that aimed to create a more inclusive environment in the community for children with disabilities.
Ask Rayan how to bake/cook! It is her secret talent! When Rayan is not keeping busy working, you can catch her running or traveling!
Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Marquette University. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist in Illinois and has earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA).
Stephanie has worked at NSPT since July 2019. Through her years of experience, she has worked with individuals from 12 months to 104 years of age, addressing a wide range of speech-language, cognition, and feeding/swallowing disorders. Prior to working at NSPT, Stephanie worked with adults at a skilled nursing facility and at a different outpatient pediatrics clinic.
Stephanie is passionate about servicing clients with highly varying needs. She specializes in evaluating and establishing communication using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for non-speaking, minimally-speaking or apraxic individuals. She is also passionate about working with autism spectrum disorder and language disorders. Stephanie has years of experiences diagnosing and treating articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and mixed language disorders. She also has experience providing speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing therapy to adults following cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries, or other neurogenic diseases/disorders.
Yurie Kim is a board-certified occupational therapist who received her doctorate degree through Rush University in 2020. During her time at Rush, she had many opportunities to pursue her life-long interest in working with children. This includes assisting the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment & Services (AARTS) Center with research on autism spectrum disorder and reciprocal imitation, partnering with UCAN Academy of Chicago to conduct her capstone research project on the effects of trauma on sensory processing and self-regulation, and even completing a clinical rotation with North Shore Pediatric Therapy.
When not at work, Yurie enjoys baking, knitting/crocheting, gardening, and taking walks along the lakeshore.
Whether you're just beginning to explore therapy or looking for a team that does more, we're here to help you take the next step.
Pediatric Therapies clinicians see families inside the same North Shore Pediatric Therapy and Gracent Pediatric Therapy centers that many families already know and trust. Our teams work closely together in these locations, creating a collaborative environment where therapists across specialties support each child’s development. For families, this simply means accessing Pediatric Therapies services in the same welcoming centers where coordinated care is already happening.
One of our client experience specialists will reach out within one business day, usually within a few hours. Look for a call from a 224 or 847 area code.
We accept most major insurance plans and help you understand your benefits before you start. No surprises.
We accept most major insurance plans:
Part of the Gracent network. A sister company to North Shore Pediatric Therapy and Gracent Pediatric Therapy. Together, creating connected, compassionate care for children and families.
