CO-FOUNDER

CO-FOUNDER

After rigorous training and work experience at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for Children, Elsa was a Clinical Director at a nation-wide outpatient pediatric clinic. After a few years, she opened her own practice, when she realized the complications of the business model were dictating too much of what therapy should provide. It was from there her practice grew and she was able to provide the DC area with outstanding clinicians, for many years. She has always ventured on a path to offer children and families high-quality and most up-to-date evidence-based research that's often normalized in the DC area. She is pleased to open a new office in the Northern Virginia region, to help children reach their greatest potential!

Lindsey is a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow, who is passionate about helping children access language and become effective communicators. She graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Sciences and Disorders and received her Master of Science from Howard University. She has had experience in various clinical settings including university clinics, private practices (virtually and in person) and the school setting. Originally from Connecticut, Lindsey has recently moved to Washington, DC, and enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and exploring the DMV. 

Maurisa has been a pediatric OT for over 25 years. She graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Psychology and Special Education and after working for a few years teaching at Head Start and then in Neuro-rehab at INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital, went on to get her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

She has worked with a wide variety of ages and in various settings including public schools, private schools, pediatric therapy clinics, and doing in-home therapy visits. 

She loves kids of all ages and uses a warm, welcoming, strengths-based, playful approach to working with them. She enjoys finding creative ways to motivate each child to engage in activities that will support them in reaching their fullest potential.

Jane’s career as a pediatric OT has spanned over 40 years, and includes diverse settings such as inpatient pediatric hospitals, schools, rehab centers and in-home therapy both in the US and the UK. She has always been drawn to opportunities to help parents better understand their children, especially in the presence of sensory issues affecting behavior such as picky eating or emotional regulation. Jane is committed to a playful approach to treatment and ongoing parent coaching and training. Jane lives in Herndon where she enjoys gardening, reading, collecting old books, and hanging out with friends whether it be around a firepit, at outdoor events, playing team trivia, or swing dancing.

Amara is a hard-working and enthusiastic Speech Language Pathologist Assistant who graduated top of her class from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minors in Psychology and Italian. She is currently learning Spanish and American Sign Language, and is fluent in Italian. Amara’s background as a military child has endowed her with an appreciation for all cultures and backgrounds. She has been working at Step Stone Therapy since October 2022. She loves working with kids and has always had a passion for languages and communication.

Amara brings a sense of humor, empathy, kindness, and expertise to each case and is committed to giving her all to each and every patient.

Deja is a Speech-Language Pathologist, passionate about helping people communicate effectively. She received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh. She has worked in various clinical settings, including hospitals, university clinics, and private practice—her favorite clinical experiences specialized in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and concussion management. She enjoys spending time with friends and cats, traveling, and reading during leisure time. She is also a big linguistics fan! Ask her about DC’s Planet Word language museum.

During my undergraduate studies at the University of the Philippines, where I earned a Bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management, I was also a student-athlete and swimming coach. In this role, I taught and trained children of all levels from learning to swim to competitive swimmers.

After working in the hospitality industry for seven years, I decided to pursue my passion for helping people improve their skills and regain their strength by obtaining an Associate's degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. I then worked as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in a geriatric setting for three years. It was during a transition to pediatrics that I truly discovered my love for occupational therapy.

Mays Awadallah, is a passionate occupational therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. What she loves most about her work is helping children—working with kids is truly her passion. She enjoys building strong, supportive relationships with both the children she works with and their families, and she always strives to create a positive, engaging, and inclusive environment.

She has experience working with a variety of patient situations and she is always eager to learn new skills. She believes in clear communication and using effective strategies to support each child’s unique needs and strengths. In addition to speaking Arabic fluently, she enjoys swimming, cooking, and trying out new experiences.

Olivia is a Speech Language Pathology Assistant with a bachelors degree from Old Dominion University where she studied Speech Pathology and Audiology, double minoring in Psychology and Special Education. In her time in college she was also a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority where she was Membership Vice President. Following college, Olivia has worked in school based settings for the past year and is excited to begin a new path in a clinic! Olivia enjoys reading, watching movies, and hanging out with her cat Milo in her free time. 

Abby is a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant at Step Stone Therapy with a B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from The George Washington University, where she was on the Dean’s List every semester. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Abby spent years working in preschools and has a deep love for working with children.

This fall, she will begin her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology at The Ohio State University, with the goal of becoming a pediatric speech therapist. Abby currently lives in Washington, D.C., where she enjoys reading, watching baseball, and feeding squirrels at the National Mall.

Meredith recently graduated with a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from The George Washington University and is excited to begin her clinical fellowship as an SLP. During her time at GWU, she gained experience working with children and adults across a variety of settings, which helped shape her clinical interests and values. At the heart of Meredith's work is a deep belief that everyone deserves a voice and a way to express themselves. Whether through speech, AAC, sign, or gestures, she is passionate about supporting individuals in finding the communication methods that work best for them. She is especially committed to empowering clients with complex communication needs and advocating for inclusive, person-centered care. Meredith is excited to continue learning and growing as a clinician while building strong, trusting relationships with the families and individuals she serves.

Innovative and enthusiastic Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) with licensure in both Virginia and Florida. Before joining Step Stone Therapy, provided OT outpatient rehabilitation services to pediatric clients in Naples, FL. Also, had fieldwork experience in outpatient rehabilitation within pediatrics and assisted living, serving children and adult clients in Fort Myers, Florida.

Currently is also a Teacher Assistant (Special Education, Cross Category) for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). Within LCPS, provides instructional support to teachers for students with IEPs in grades K-1 in the general education classrooms as well as delivers specialized pull-out skills sessions related to IEP goals. Passionate about early intervention and development of foundational skills for progression towards a client’s greatest potential and independence. Utilizes creativity, flexibility, and patience to provide client-centered interventions. Builds empathetic, trustful, and collaborative relationships with clients, staff, and caregivers while planning and adapting interventions to support the client’s current state and goals. Prior business and recruiting experience, with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Business from Virginia Tech.

Christy is a passionate and highly skilled trilingual Certified Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (C-SLPA) who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her current role at the clinic. After graduating from the George Washington University with a quadruple major in (1) Speech, language, and hearing sciences, (2) Psychology, (3) Cognitive Science of Language, and (4) Cognitive Neuroscience, Christy has developed a deep understanding of communication disorders and how to best support individuals in overcoming them. Additionally, Christy is currently working on obtaining her masters in Speech from Ithaca College, NY.

In addition to her extensive academic background, Christy has worked for Prince William County elementary schools and pediatric speech clinics. Additionally, she is currently working in Fairfax County schools.The blend of experience and knowledge make her a valuable asset to the clinic, where she is dedicated to helping children of all backgrounds to reach their full potential. With a great passion for working with children, Christy approaches each case with empathy, compassion, and a commitment to finding the most effective solutions. Her enthusiasm, expertise, and dedication make her an exceptional SLPA, and her clients are sure to benefit greatly from her care. 

Alyzza Porrata-Doria is a compassionate speech therapist with a person-centered approach, dedicated to helping children and families achieve their communication goals. She holds a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and has experience with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), allowing her to tailor therapy to each child’s needs.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Alyzza connects with diverse families and provides culturally responsive care. With experience in both public and private education systems, she has worked with children of various ages and abilities, offering a well-rounded perspective on supporting children in different settings.

 As a mother of two young children, Alyzza deeply understands early childhood development and the importance of communication skills. Her approach is grounded in empathy, patience, and a commitment to helping every child find their voice in a supportive, fun, and nurturing environment.