Meet our Occupational and Speech Therapists
Kristen Davis, LOTR
Kristen is the driving force behind our pediatric OT clinic. Holding a Master of Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University, Kristen's educational foundation is complemented by a wealth of practical experience. After spending the initial years of her career in Atlanta, GA, she made the decision to return to her roots, driven by a desire to be closer to family and a vision to establish her own clinic.
Kristen has amassed extensive experience in both clinical and home health settings, as she is an active provider for Early Steps. Her expertise spans the developmental spectrum, encompassing children aged 0 to 18 with a specialized focus that includes sensory integration, reflex integration, handwriting, and feeding therapy.
Her unique ability lies in identifying individual motivators for children and innovatively supporting their engagement in meaningful play, fostering peer relationships, and enhancing participation in functional activities. Kristen firmly believes in creating a fun, interprofessional, and family-centered environment as the optimal catalyst for promoting volition and growth in each child's development.
Outside the clinic, Kristen cherishes quality time with her family and embraces her love for travel, rounding out a holistic approach to life that mirrors her dedication to comprehensive pediatric occupational therapy.
Tammi Lavin, LOTR
Tammi, a native of Wisconsin, is a seasoned and compassionate occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience. As a special needs mom herself, Tammi brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal understanding to her role. Tammi has collaborated with various professionals, parents, and children facing diverse challenges, including Autism Spectrum, feeding disorders, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, genetic disorders, and physical disabilities. Tammi's focus extends to the intricate interplay of the sensory system on a child's performance in play, school, family dynamics, social skills, and essential life activities. Her extensive career spans various settings, from hospital-based services, early intervention, and private practice. Committed to staying at the forefront of her field, Tammi holds certifications in Myofascial Release, administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), Therapeutic Listening, Integrated Listening Program (iLs), and the Interactive Metronome.
Meghan Macheca, M.S., CCC-SLP
Meet Meghan Macheca, a seasoned speech-language pathologist with full licensing and national certification. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's of Science from Southeastern Louisiana University. With nearly 5 years of professional experience focused on pediatric care, Meghan is dedicated to providing naturalistic, play-based, and neurodiverse affirming therapy. Her approach centers on meeting each child where they are, leveraging their strengths to foster growth. Meghan's diverse background includes roles in early intervention, private practice, and school settings, and she's excited to return to her roots in private practice. Her expertise spans speech sound disorders, language delays and disorders, social language differences, stuttering, feeding difficulties, and supporting complex communicators.
Beyond work, Meghan enjoys spending quality time with her husband Jonathan, new baby Levi, and their golden retriever Maisie. She also enjoys thrifting, drinking lattes, traveling, watching documentaries, and playing with her little cousins.
Kimberly Murphy, LCOTA
Kimberly, an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Theraplay Pediatrics, brings a decade of therapeutic expertise to our dynamic team. With a background in international business, she transitioned to pediatric occupational therapy, earning her associate degree from Delgado Community College in 2014. Currently pursuing a master's at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Kimberly is dedicated to integrating her evolving education into her practice. Passionate about fostering imagination, creativity, and compassion, Kimberly collaborates with parents, schools, and caregivers to create a unified support system for each child. Her diverse experience encompasses sensory processing disorders, developmental delays, emotional regulation, ADD, torticollis, traumatic brain injuries, and other client-centered care needs. A Northshore native for over 20 years, Kimberly enjoys family time, music festivals, Southern comfort cooking, and the simple joy of a good book.
Sarah Nasto, LCOTA
Sarah brings a wealth of experience and passion to our pediatric occupational therapy clinic. Hailing from the Northeast, she embarked on her journey of working with children as a dance teacher before relocating to New Orleans. Sarah transitioned to early childhood education and eventually found her calling as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Holding dual degrees in science and fine arts, Sarah is equipped with a diverse skill set. Her commitment to professional growth is evident through numerous certifications she has acquired over the years. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sarah finds joy in spending quality time with her family and her cherished goldendoodle, Clancy. Her enthusiasm for the field is reflected in her specialization in Pediatrics and Sensory Integration, a testament to her dedication to improving the lives of the children she works with. Sarah is excited to contribute her expertise to our clinic, creating a positive impact on the development and well-being of the young minds she serves.
Taylor DeCorte, SLP CF
Taylor Decorte holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Currently, she is completing her Clinical Fellowship Year, driven by a passion for helping children grow and thrive using a play-based, child-led approach.
Throughout her clinical journey, Taylor has built a strong foundation in speech-language pathology, gaining extensive hands-on experience in supporting children with diverse speech and communication needs. Her expertise includes working with children who have speech-sound disorders, language delays, social communication differences, and supporting complex communicators. Furthermore, she has worked with sensory processing for the neurodiverse population, which has broadened her expertise in managing a diverse array of pediatric challenges.
Outside of her professional life, Taylor enjoys spending quality time with her son, Kohen, and her dog, Milly. She also prioritizes her health by working out, listening to podcasts, and enjoying dinners with friends.
Victoria Manale, Office AdministRATOR
Victoria is a dynamic professional with over 12 years of experience as a Gymnastics Team Coordinator and Coach at North Shore Gymnastics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Southeastern Louisiana University, and has a strong background in Human Resources, with more than 4 years of experience in both the Home Health and Landscaping industries. Victoria’s expertise spans customer service, office management, organization, recruitment, and social media & marketing.
When she's not helping businesses thrive, Victoria enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her two boys, Kohen and Greyden. Outside of work, she has a passion for interior design and loves indulging in her hobby of shopping for unique home décor.