Laura Driessen Walls
Executive Director - M.S., CCC-SLP
Executive Director and owner of Innovative Therapy 4 Kids, Inc., Laura is a California native who
graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders and Hearing Sciences
from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and obtained her graduate degree in Speech
Pathology and audiology from California State University of Hayward (CSUH). She is an ASHA member
and holds a California State License in Speech and Language Pathology. She has spent the past 15 years
working in pediatric centers including the South San Francisco School District, Tri City Medical Center
Pediatrics, and private practices. An interesting component of her skills was developed when working on
a developmental assessment team for high risk infants and children.

Specialties:
Children from infancy through school aged.
Neurodevelopment Training (NDT)
Sensory Integration
Dysphasia (swallowing disorders)
Oral Motor Specialties
Brain Gym
Floor-Time
Kinesiology
LiFT
Advanced Child Development
Diagnosis and treatment of Autism, Apraxia, oral motor and feeding disorders, phonology,
child language disorders, articulation, social pragmatics and play based disorders.

Sylvia Mende
Clinical Psychologist - Psy. D
Sylvia Mende, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been working with children and their families for over fifteen years.  Dr. Mende received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Child and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, California in 1996.  Dr. Mende continued her training with a post doctoral internship at Children's Outpatient Psychiatry of Children's Hospital in San Diego.  Her past training and experience include designing, supervising, and monitoring ABA home and school programs as well as neuropsychological testing for a private research company.  Dr. Mende’s practice focuses on Developmental Disorders and she is a recognized specialist in Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD.  In addition to her private practice, Dr. Mende provides consultation, supervision, and training to school district programs and is a behavioral consultant for the San Diego Regional Center, providing behavioral assessments and in-home behavioral services.  Dr. Mende provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy, parent support and education, behavior intervention training, behavioral assessments, social skills training, and educational consultation.

Tom Milroy
Clinical Specialist - M.A., CCC-SLP
A native of Long Island, New York, Tom spent the majority of his university experience in upstate
Plattsburgh, NY. There he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders. He
later went on to receive his Masters of Arts Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from
Plattsburgh State University. He is Both ASHA certified and California State Licensed to provide
speech and language services. He is well versed in pediatric speech and language pathology, working
with a broad range of disorders and syndromes.

Specialties:
Diagnosis and treatment of language, speech, fluency, voice, pragmatic, and oral motor disorders
Child facilitation of social integration
Oral motor specialties
Peer integration and social groups
Traditional based therapy with a multidisciplinary approach
Floor-Time
Pivotal response training
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Brain Gym
Sensory integration to tailor to individual needs

Colleen Nolan
Clinical Specialist - M.S., CCC-SLP
Colleen is a native of Rhode Island who attained an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Boston
College in 1998. She spent two years at the New England Center for Children in Southboro, MA where
she received extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and case management for children
on the Autism spectrum. She received her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders at Emerson
College in Boston, MA. While at Emerson, she received extensive training in Augmentative and Alter-
native Communication (AAC). After receiving her master’s degree in 2004, Colleen returned to San
Diego where she completed her Clinical Fellowship at Innovative Therapy 4-Kids, Inc. Colleen is an
ASHA member and holds a California State license in Speech and Language Pathology.

Specialties:
Diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders
Apraxia
Feeding and oral motor/motor planning disorders
Articulation disorders
Expressive/receptive language disorders
Children with AAC needs

Amy Duffner Johnson
Assistant Clinic Director / Clinical Specialist - PT
Amy is the co-founder of Innovative Therapy 4-Kids, Inc. multidisciplinary, outpatient, pediatric
therapy clinic. She is a native New Yorker who attained her Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac
University (formerly Quinnipiac College…Go Braves!!) in Hamden, Connecticut. In 1996 Amy
relocated to San Diego, CA where she worked for California Children’s Services and continued her
pediatric physical therapy experience in both school and clinic settings. She often collaborated with
the APE teachers and designed an aquatic therapy program for wheelchair-bound children. Amy
united with Laura Walls to found Innovative Therapy 4-Kids, Inc. in 2003 and has been enjoying the
pediatric private practice setting ever since!

Specialties:
Evaluations, consultations, and treatments for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children.
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Prematurity and developmental delays
Downs Syndrome
Plagiocephaly and Troticollis
Spinabifida
Muscular Dystrophy
JRA and scoliosis
Neurodevelopmental Treatment
Motor-control and motor-learning
Craniosacral therapy techniques
Baby handling
Components of movement
Sensory integration
Kinesiotaping
Postural analysis
Yoga
Gait analysis
Orthotics
Women’s health
Prenatal and postpartum fitness

Kim Rendler
Clinical Specialist – P.T.A.
Kim has been living in San Diego for 18 years. In 1998, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in
Kinesiology from San Diego State University. She later passed the Physical Therapy Board of California
Exam and became a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in 2004.

Specialties:
Pediatric physical therapy
Promoting continued gross motor development for special children with varied orthopedic,
neuromuscular, neurological and sensory diagnoses.
Sensory integration
Play activities to encourage children to move in ways which help to develop better movement
patterns and improve overall core strength, coordination and balance.

Shellie Reeder
Clinical Specialist – M.A. OTR/L
Shellie is a pediatric occupational therapist who recently moved to the San Diego area. She received
her Masters degree from the University of Southern California in 2000 and has a Bachelors degree
in Kinesiology from Cal State University of Long Beach. Shellie has two young boys who keep her
busy and active in a sensory rich life! She believes in respecting each child as an individual and the
healing power of play!

Specialties:
School based practice
NDT
Sensory integration
Visual impairments

Christiane F. Colhado
Clinical Specialist – M.A. OTR/L
Christiane is a native of Brazil and has been living in the United States for the past 10 years. She holds
a Master degree in Public Health from the University of Sao Paulo and a Bachelors degree in
Occupational Therapy from Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil. Her professional experience has
allowed her to provide care for a diverse population in a variety of settings that include rehabilitation,
home health, private practice, and schools. Chris looks forward to going to work each day and feels
honored to be part of the staff.

Specialties:
Sensory integration
NDT
Interactive Metronome
Handwriting
Praxis

Shannon Helgesen
ClinicalSpecialist - COTA
Shannon is a California native who was born and raised in Los Angeles but has lived in Oceanside for the last 20 years.  Shannon graduated from Grossmont College in June 2009 with a degree as an occupational therapy assistant.  After completing an internship while in school at IT4K which consisted of training in Interactive Metronome, LIFT, sensory motor groups, Pen Pals (a Handwriting Without Tears program) and sensory integration, Shannon decided that she had to join the spectacular team of therapists working at IT4K.  She has spent the last 10 years volunteering at her children’s schools and participating in Girl Scouts with her daughter as a leader of a troop of 22 girls.  Shannon has always been very athletic, competing in volleyball and softball during high school and since has participated in recreational sports consisting of softball, volleyball and snow skiing.  Shannon has always known that working with children has been her calling. Since discovering IT4K she is sure that she has found her place.

Erin Jones
Clinical Specialist – B.S. OTR/L
Erin is a native of Henderson, Kentucky and attended the University of Southern Indiana (USI) in
Evansville, Indiana. She received her undergraduate degree from USI in May of 2006 and later
earned a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in May of 2007. After graduating, Erin
relocated to the San Diego area and began her career as an occupational therapist. Erin is registered
with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed with the Cali-
fornia Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT). She has also been a member of the American
Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) since 2003. At IT4K, Erin enjoys being a member of the interdisciplinary team and providing individualized care to every unique child. She looks forward to
going to work each day and is honored to be able to play a part in helping children achieve a greater
sense of independence through work, play, and functional activity.

Specialties:
NDT
ADL
Retraining
CVA
TBI
Dementia
Orthopedic injuries/joint replacements
Neurological, cardiac and musculoskeletal conditions