BRIGID BAKER, OTR/L
We hope you’re enjoying the start to a wonderful fall season! TLC is a unique and large nonprofit organization, providing a wide range of services to our community. Our Outpatient Department includes Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling services—all offered under one roof. Since many of you may benefit from one or more of these services, this special edition newsletter is dedicated to putting the spotlight on the Outpatient Directors. The heart of our Outpatient Services: our INCREDIBLE staff, will be highlighted on our social media pages shortly. We are so proud of our dedicated clinicians who bring their expertise and commitment to serve the community. and we invite you to get to know them better. We invite you to connect and get to know us!
STAFF
TheHEART ofTLC
TTESTING, TUTORING, AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Christen Fanelli, Ph.D.
Kristin Olsen, Ph.D.
Sarah Towne, Psy D
Ji-Young Yoon, Ph D
Jairo Diaz, LCPC
Genevieve DeWitt, LGPC
Robyn Davy, BC-DMT, LCPC-S
Keara Iglesia, LGPC
Lauren Deal, MSW, LCSW
Ginny McDonald
Mindy Hicks
OOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT
Nicole Hernandez, M S , OTR/L
Sheena Davis, M S , OTR/L
Rachael Kobe, M S , OTR/L
Catherine Davey, M S , OTR/L
Lisa Ellis, M S , OTR/L
Andrea Ferro, M S , OTR/L
Erin Hanscom, M.S., OTR/L
SSPEECHLANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
Tiana Dixon, M A , CCC-SLP
Joseph Nicol, M A , CCC-SLP
Denise Bryant, M A , CCC-SLP
Safisha Seifullah, M S , CCC-SLP
Rebecca Mals, M S , CCC-SLP
Suzy Mabiala, M S , CCC-SLP
Ariel La, M S , CCC-SLP
Alison Connell, M S , CCC-SLP
Abier Hijazi
Jennifer Joseph
Robin Mesnard
Jeanie Motsinger
David Peal
Charlotte Rest
Edythe Runett
Judy Taylor
Chanel Tolmachov
Danielle Hollenbach
Kristina Probst
Kathryn McGinnis, M S , OTR/L
Shirley Wietlisbach-Anderson, M S , OTR/L
Kelly Strub M S , OTR/L
Melissa Schwarzbard, COTA/L
Ashley Lon, M S , OTR/L
Brigid Baker, OTR/L
Maura Bizzozero, M A , CCC-SLP
Meika Billings Dopwell, M S , CCC-SLP
Mariah Kanakia, MS, CCC-SLP
Allison Sorto, M S , CCC-SLP
Jalisha Legette, MS, CCC-SLP
Laurier Ferraioli, MS, CCC-SLP
Brandlynn Nelson, MS, CCC-SLP
Chloe Yates, MS, CCC-SLP
BRIGID BAKER,
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMS
Tell us about yourself.
I have been an Occupational Therapist for over 30 years and have worked in almost every possible setting. I started my career as a traveling therapist and have since worked in acute care and home health services with adults, outpatient clinics, and schools with children. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling, cooking, reading, and cycling.
How long have you worked at TLC?
I started working at TLC in 2009. 15 years ago!
Who/What inspired you to become an OT?
I always knew I wanted to go into the medical field. In high school, my father was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and I tagged along with my parents to some of his therapy appointments. At the time, I didn’t know what OT was, and I was intrigued by the OT who worked with him; focusing on helping him participate in all the activities that were important to him while educating him on energy conservation techniques and strategies to reduce his pain. I applied to OT school thinking I would work with adults in a hospital or outpatient settings because that is the only part of OT I had seen, but during fieldwork experiences, I was introduced to the world of pediatric OT!
Describe what has been your experience at TLC.
I have worked in many different settings for many different companies, and in my experience, TLC is the best! The focus on the quality of services we provide within all departments is at the forefront of what we do. I think our longevity in the community is proof of our quality we provide. Also the collaboration between the staff in the outpatient departments is stellar and not only adds to what we can offer to our families, but also leads to professional growth.
What have you learned from being in your profession?
It is hard work, but incredibly rewarding. What I like best about being a pediatric occupational therapist is being able to make a difference in the lives of children and families to promote their success and independence.
a k e r
r i g i d
MARIAH KANAKIA, DIRECTOR OF
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS
Tell us about yourself.
I am a somewhat recent transplant to Maryland (Aug. 2024) by way of Seattle and the Midwest. I love being an SLP and am passionate about providing the support needed to maximize children’s learning and development and make a functional impact. I especially love feeding therapy and early intervention. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, hosting friends, swimming, hiking, camping, reading, and baking.
How long have you worked at TLC?
A little over one month! I started here in August 2024.
Who/What inspired you to become an SLP?
I did not know that this profession existed until I was almost finished with my undergraduate degree I switched majors from Molecular and Cellular Biology (premed) to Anthropology to English as an undergraduate. When I found out about the field of speech-language pathology, I knew it was the perfect combination: a helping profession that combined my interests in healthcare, physiology, people, and language!
Describe what has been your experience at TLC.
Everyone at TLC has been very welcoming and it is clear that all the clinicians have a passion for what they do. We are fortunate to have such a talented, creative, and dedicated team! I am impressed by all the subspecialties represented in our team as well: AAC, Voice, Feeding, Early Intervention, Gestalt Language Processing, Gender-Affirming Voice Care, and Fluency, to name a few!
What have you learned from being in your profession?
Being able to communicate and be understood, no matter the modality, is life changing Seeing children go from having frustration due to communication breakdowns to being able to express themselves is incredibly rewarding.
What would you tell others about being a part of the TLC community?
The TLC community is so warm and supportive. Everyone here truly cares about their clients and sees each child as an individual.
Anything else you would like to share?
I look forward to learning from all the clinicians and families at TLC and supporting the SLP team in my new role as Director of SLP and Summer Programs!
a n a k i a
DEPARTMENT
a r i a h
CHRISTEN FANELLI, DIRECTOR OF TESTING, TUTORING, AND COUNSELING
Tell us about yourself.
I started my career as a high school teacher in New York City and always knew there that was more I could be doing to help my students I went back to school to earn my degrees in school counseling and then later school psychology so that I could learn as much as I could to support students and families. I have worked in schools and outpatient clinics providing counseling and testing services to individuals of all ages. I strive to learn as much as I can about the individuals with whom I work to help students and families achieve their own definitions of success.
How long have you worked at TLC?
Less than a month! I started on October 23, 2024, and am very excited to be joining such a talented and dedicated outpatient team.
Who/What inspired you to become a Psychologist?
I became a psychologist out of a desire to understand and help students navigate their emotions and challenges, especially as those challenges related to learning. As a teacher, I saw students in my classroom struggling to keep up with schoolwork due to issues outside of school impacting their learning I wanted to be able to create a positive impact in the lives of others, providing support and guidance when students and families were struggling in school. I enjoy helping others to understand how they learn and think so that we can build upon strengths and identify areas of growth needed to promote their learning and development.
Describe what has been your experience at TLC.
Since my first day, I have been welcomed by everyone here at TLC who have helped me settle into this new role TLC has a very supportive culture, and the camaraderie makes me feel valued and accepted I have enjoyed working with the TLC families and children to ensure their growth and future successes. Overall, it has been a fulfilling environment where I feel engaged and part of something bigger. It makes coming to work enjoyable every day.
What have you learned from being in your profession?
I have learned how to look for and find the bright spots in life. There can be a lot of pain and sadness in the world, but there are often moments of joy shining brighter against the backdrop of struggle. Experiencing pain can increase our experience of happiness and foster resilience I try to take advice from Mr Rogers and "Look for the helpers You will always find people who are helping "
What would you tell others about being a part of the TLC community?
TLC is a supportive and collaborative environment for families, with a dedicated staff who work together to provide personalized care, ensuring that every individual is heard. TLC offers programs and resources that foster community connections, making it easy for families to access the care they need while feeling understood and supported. Being a part of the TLC community means having the support you need to succeed and feel valued.
Anything else you would like to share?
I am so thrilled to be a part of the TLC team. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my two dogs and trying new restaurants.
r i s t e n
