Meet Our Team – Creative Development, LLC

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Deanne Anderson, MS, OT/L, SIPT – Owner
Lauren Coughlin, MS, OTR/L, SIPT – Clinical Director
Sarah Bengtson, MOT, OTR/L – Lead Clinician
Jessica Tuthill, BS, OTR/L
Laurie Ekwall, COTA/L
Chris Bachand, OTA/L – Life Skills Program Coordinator
Beatriz Lopez, COTA/L
Leah Cheshire, COTA/L

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Debbie Kleinrock, MA, SLP

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Sarah Zahner, RPT

ADMINISTRATIVE

Laurie Dupree – Billing Coordinator
Taylor Anderson, Front Office Administrator

SKILLED COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS

Get Set Go, LLC (Sue Carey, MS, OTR/L, SIPT)

Occupational Therapy Staff Bios

Deanne Anderson, MS, OT/L holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac (College) University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University. Deanne is currently an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac University and a consultant at Goodwin University supporting development of the THINK College initiative for students with intellectual disabilities. Her areas of specialty include neurological dysfunction, visual and cognitive impairment, executive dysfunction and educational advocacy. She has worked extensively with clients with neurological deficits. This includes feeding strategies, cognitive dysfunction, and visual, perceptual and motor dysfunction. She enjoys collaborating with families and school districts to support students in transition and advocating for students’ needs in public and private school settings.

Deanne is a registered Advanced Therapeutic Listening practitioner. In addition, she is certified in Sensory Integration Treatment and Evaluation. She has worked in a variety of practice areas which include home health care, acute care, and rehabilitation across the age span. She brings over thirty years of clinical and practice management experience to Creative Development.

Deanne has authored a chapter for a book on multidisciplinary rehabilitation and she has written several articles for OT Advance, the national magazine for the American Occupational Therapy Association. She has presented on a variety of topics including: Pediatric Concussion Management, Visual assessment and Intervention, and Coping with Covid for Caregivers. She also co-authored a study and presented her findings of the use of Universal Design for Post Secondary Learning.

Kumar, and Kumar, Shrawan. Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation. Boston ; Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000. Print.

LaRocco, Diana J.; Anderson, Deanne; and Archambault, MaryJo, “Universal Design for Learning in Postsecondary Settings: One Faculty Member’s Journey Toward Making Learning Accessible for all Students” (2013). NERA Conference Proceedings 2013. 3

Lauren Coughlin, MS, OTR/L earned her Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from University of Hartford and she earned her post-professional Masters of Science degree in occupational therapy from Boston University. Lauren specializes her occupational therapy practice in pediatrics using a holistic, child-centered approach, utilizing the child’s inner motivation as a guide for therapy. Lauren believes in a family centered approach where parent/family carryover and participation is key to helping the child become more independent. She has experience working with children of all ages from infancy through age 21 and has worked in various private pediatric clinics, Connecticut Birth to Three, pediatric home care, various school districts and acute care settings. In addition to practicing for almost 20 years, Lauren brings over 10 years of practice management and clinical supervision experience to Creative Development.

Areas of research interest are autism and social participation; sensory integration; the promotion of normal development in infants and how development affects the child’s ability to effectively play and learn; and prevention of becoming a picky eater and feeding development. Lauren has provided both community consultations and several community presentations in these areas. She is also currently an adjunct faculty member for Goodwin University’s OTA program and teaches their pediatrics course.In addition, Lauren is an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac University. She takes pride in acting as the liaison for various colleges. Lauren supervises multiple Level II occupational therapy fieldwork students yearly. Teaching and collaboration with the community are extremely important to Lauren. She has assisted with developing many different collaborative community partners during the time Creative Development has been opened and feels that collaboration is vital to a child’s success in becoming independent.

She has co-authored a chapter on Therapeutic Listening in the Schools as well as written pediatric practice exam questions for the OT assistant national exam.Lauren is a registered Advanced Therapeutic Listening provider and is certified in sensory integration treatment and administering/interpreting the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT).

Lauren is a registered Advanced Therapeutic Listening provider and is certified in sensory integration treatment and administering/interpreting the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT).

Sarah Bengtson, MOT, OTR/L earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Southern Connecticut State University. Sarah enjoys working with the pediatric population using a holistic approach to best provide for her clients and families. She collaborates as part of a transdisciplinary team to ensure carryover and generalization of skills for her clients. Sarah also represents Creative Development, LLC within a variety of community settings by working with clients in their homes, school, or other community programs. She has experience completing evaluations for durable medical equipment and assessing the home for modification. She has experience with children of all ages and with a variety of diagnoses such as sensory processing disorder, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delay, various genetic syndromes, and Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as children who have difficulties with feeding, social skills, and self-regulation. She has experience working with a variety of programs or protocols within her sessions and is certified in Therapeutic Listening. She has become a mentor to OTR and OTA students, providing supervision and guidance during their clinical fieldworks. In her free time, she enjoys playing hockey, cooking, and taking her dog on hikes.

Jessica Tuthill, BS, OTR/L earned her Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from the University of New Hampshire and comes with over 15 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings including; acute care, subacute care, school systems, and private clinic. She has a passion for treating the pediatric population with experiencing in treating children ages birth to 21. She has worked in school systems and in the private clinic settings with a motivation to help all children attain their highest level of independence across all contexts. Jessica has experience in collaborating with a variety of professionals within the community in order to provide her clients with a multi-disciplinary approach. In addition to treating part time in the clinic, Jessica has helped to educate school professionals and local physicians on the importance and role occupational therapy and its impact on the development for children with varying abilities.

Jessica is interested in the promotion of development with infants which goes back to her experience in treating pre-term infants in the NICU. She has experience in treating picky eaters and helping children to expand their food repertoire through a multi-sensory approach to feeding therapy. Jessica is a registered Therapeutic Listening practioner and has taken extensive courses to assist children with sensory processing disorders.

Jessica has a passion for the development of future occupational therapy practitioners and has taken various level one and level two therapy students from nearby accredited occupational therapy programs.

Laurie Ekwall, COTA/L holds an associates degree in occupational therapy from Becker Junior College in 1985. She has 20 years experience in the field working with a variety of clients including traumatic brain injury, geriatrics, acute care, and working with the pediatric population with extensive health issues in the hospital setting. She took time away from her profession to stay home with her two daughters. During this time she took a position in the primary classroom of their Montessori school working with 3-5 year olds and eventually took a position working in the toddler room. She joined Creative Development 10 years ago and is happy to be back practicing occupational therapy in the clinical setting.

In 2015 Laurie completed a year long study with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and received her Health Coaching Certification. She decided to become a Health Coach to fulfill her passion for working with children and their parents to adopt a healthier lifestyle by providing guidance and inspiration to help shift their behavior to healthier habits by making step by step changes to their diet and lifestyle. She embeds her health coach certification into her every day practice at Creative Development.

Chris Bachand, OTA/L earned his associates degree in occupational therapy from Goodwin University. He comes from six years of experience working with adolescents with exceptionalities in a variety of settings including school systems, inclusive athletics, and local parks and recreation departments. Chris’s passion is helping young adults increase their level of independence while also becoming functional members of their communities. As a result of his background in town parks and recreation departments and program development, Chris is driven to provide clients with opportunities to enhance both social & daily living skills. He promotes inclusion & acceptance through a multi-sensory approach.

Beatriz Lopez, COTA/L earned her associates degree in health sciences from Goodwin College in 2013 and graduated from Goodwin College as a certified occupational therapy assistant in 2015 with Deanne and Lauren being her teachers and mentors. Beatriz is a bilingual Spanish speaking professional who has 10 years of professional experience working in women’s health, as a Medical Assistant, prior to going into occupational therapy. Beatriz’s fieldwork experience consisted of school system in a non traditional setting at a preschool working with children within the ages of 3-5 years old, and at a Hospital in Mental health acute setting, patients age ranging from adolescence to geriatric. Beatriz has worked with children with Autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, and various impairments that affect daily participation, with Creative Development being her first official employment since August 2015. Also Beatriz has worked per diem at Natchaug hospital serving the mental health community. Beatriz believes mental health is a part of the holistic medicine, and loves to serve the pediatric population, in collaboration with other therapists and the caregivers of the clients.

Speech and Language Pathology Staff Bios

Debbie Kleinrock, MA, SLP earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at The University of Connecticut. Debbie has experience working in the public schools, pediatric clinics, and private practice. Debbie has experience with clients from birth to early adulthood and has worked with individuals experiencing Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delay, motor speech disorders, visual, and hearing impairments. Her specialized skills include experience with sign language as a means of AAC and training in LAMP Words for Life. Debbie prefers working in a transdisciplinary clinic like Creative Development because she feels direct contact with parents as well as working alongside and sharing goals with other disciplines helps clients make the most progress.

Physical Therapy Staff Bios

Sarah Zahner, RPT — Bio Coming Soon

Administrative Staff Bio

Laurie Dupree, Billing Coordinator is responsible for claim management for clients, billing, preparing invoices, and processing payments. In addition, Laurie continuously works with the insurance company to ensure proper payment and reimbursement for Creative Development’s clients. She has been working at Creative Development since 2011.

Taylor Anderson, Office Manager — Bio Coming Soon

Skilled Collaborators Bio

Get Set Go-OT, LLC – Sue Carey graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Rehabilitation Services from Springfield College, in Springfield, MA, and a Masters of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University, in San Jose, California. Sue has had the privilege of working as an occupational therapist with both adults and children in a variety of settings since 1992. Sue spent her early years as a therapist working on a Rehabilitation Team primarily supporting adults and teens recovering from traumatic brain injury. It was at this time she developed an in interest in how the brain learns and is able compensates for injury and differences. Following this time, Sue had the opportunity to work as a seating and positioning specialist, supporting professionals in Northern California, Northern Nevada, Idaho and Montana. It was here that her interest working with younger children was fostered, so in 2000, Sue went to work for Marin County office of Education where she worked with children birth to teens, including those with complex medical issues, children with Autism, children with Speech and Language disorders, children with learning disorders and children with sensory processing differences.

Sue believes that it is essential to work with clients and their families to understand their challenges at home, in the community and school environments. She also takes time to have the family be a part of creating solutions and to include the child is a part of daily goal setting when appropriate. She believes that the clinic experience should be a safe place to practice skills that can foster greater independence outside of the clinical setting. Sue feels that supporting a child’s goals with a home practice program or ‘homework’ is the best way to bring the skill into life outside the clinic. Sue has enjoyed continuing her education taking classes in visual perceptual rehabilitation, Neurodevelopmental Treatment, self regulation, sensory integration and handwriting to name a few. Sue is Sensory Integration and Praxis certified, a Therapeutic Listening Provider and has worked with the Handwriting Without Tears Program since 2000. Working with families as a whole to empower children to use their strengths, embrace their challenges and use both to become their best selves is what she hopes to achieve each day.