Debra Nipp OTR/L
Owner/ Co- Director
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Debra has been practicing pediatric occupational therapy since 2000. She has been the co-owner/director of a private practice since 2014 and founded PlaySpace Therapy in 2018. Debra has post-graduate training in Sensory Integration Theory and specializes in treating children with sensory processing disorder. She is certified in the administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and the Perceptual Enrichment Program. She is also certified in the Zones of Regulation, Integrated Listening Systems, Therapeutic Listening, Handwriting Without Tears, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding, Bal-a-Vis X, and Matsugova Nuerosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI) Method. She received her Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound. Debra has a passion for working with children with sensory processing disorder, visual perceptual challenges, motor skill delays, handwriting, and learning disorders. When not at work, you can find Debra spending time with her three kids.
Karin Loar, MS, OTR/L
Clinic Co-Director
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Feeding Specialist
Karin received her Bachelors in OT from USC in 1999 and her Masters in OT from Tufts in 2001. She has been co-director at PlaySpace Therapy since 2021.
Karin has certification in advanced practice for swallowing and intervention through the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT) and certification as a Level 1 handwriting specialist through Handwriting Without Tears (HWT). Her most recent post graduate work (June 2023) includes certification in Ayers Sensory integration, including advanced training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the comprehensive measures of sensory integration, including the EASI and SPM.
Karin has a strong interest in working with children who have participation challenges with feeding, using the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, and sensory integration, praxis, and motor related challenges, using the Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) intervention.
When not in the clinic, Karin enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons at the lake or on the slopes.
Marianna Sordille OTD, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Marianna received her doctorate from Samuel Merritt University and has worked with various diagnoses in pediatric outpatient therapy and private practice. Her published doctoral research identified concepts that guide the occupational therapy practice of a community-based program serving youth with trauma and mental health challenges. She attributes her therapeutic use of self to understanding the relationship between sensory systems, trauma, and function.
Marianna is passionate about developing strategies children can use in their daily activities to promote engagement in occupations. She organizes regular meetings for a mentorship group and has training in the sound-activated vestibular-visual protocol (Astronaut Training) and Therapeutic Listening. Marianna enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, daughter, and dogs
Natalie Powell, ET
Educational Therapist
Natalie Powell, ET is an educational therapist specializing in dyslexia assessment, dyslexia therapy, and school placements. Natalie consults with local therapists, teachers, and school administrators on dyslexia identification and treatment and hosts virtual trainings on dyslexia-related topics. She also offers joint assessments with her PlaySpace colleagues and local psychologists to provide a full picture of each client's development. Natalie received her Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Therapy from UC Riverside in 2015 and her BA with honors from UC Davis. Natalie is trained in IMSE Orton Gillingham, Lively Letters, Handwriting Without Tears, Structured Literacy, and Making Math Real and is an Associate member of the Association of Educational Therapists.
Jessica Shafer, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jessica Shafer is an American Speech, Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and California licensed Speech Language Pathologist. She received her undergraduate degree from Tufts University in Medford, MA and holds a Masters of Science in Communication Disorders from San Francisco State University.
She has been a practicing speech language pathologist since 2007 in a variety of settings including private practices, hospitals, early intervention programs, schools and in the home. Her areas of expertise include apraxia, articulation, phonology, language and social thinking. Jessica brings a unique perspective, being a parent of a child who has benefitted from early intervention and has learning challenges. She lives in Moraga with her husband and three sons.
Nina Kazemi, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Nina Kazemi is a licensed speech-language pathologist who has been practicing speech therapy since 2006. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida with a Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.
Nina has extensive experience in various areas of the speech and language disorders as well as on going training in oral motor therapy. Nina has had experience in both the adult and pediatric population, but her special interests include treating children that have expressive and receptive language delays, articulation concerns, phonological disorders and oral motor delays. Nina’s proven clinical experience is a result from working in early intervention, home settings, hospitals and private practices.
In addition, Nina is a trained Myofunctional therapist working closely with speciaists in the community and treating clients who demonstrate tongue thrusts and oral phase dysphagia.
Nina is a dedicated and highly qualified speech-language pathologist who enjoys building relationships with the families and children she treats as well as teaching and collaborating with other professionals along with learning from them.
Emily Rodino M.S. OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Emily Rodino M.S. OTR/L received her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. She brings her experience from a variety of settings, including private practice, outpatient care, skilled nursing, and school-based practice, which helps her to incorporate multiple perspectives into her practice. Emily has provided comprehensive therapy to children with mild to severe developmental delays due to a wide variety of diagnoses. She has received post-professional and training in Sensory Integration, Social Thinking, Astronaut Training (a sound-activated vestibular-visual protocol), Therapeutic Listening, Handwriting Without Tears, and The Perceptual Enrichment Program. Additionally, she utilizes a variety of other therapy approaches focusing on self-regulation using the Alert Program and the Zones of Regulation. She also has experience with the development of gross and fine motor skills, visual motor and perceptual skill development, and facilitating self-care skills in young children. Lastly, she is very familiar with the IEP process in the school system and works as a part-time school-based therapist for San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Kristine Young, MSOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Kris Young, MSOT, OTR/L is a registered and licensed occupational therapist who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Design from UCLA and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. Kris loves working with children and her personal experience of parenting a neurodivergent child was the impetus for her return to school to pursue a career in occupational therapy. Kris believes in the importance of relationships and a strengths-based approach to therapy. She strives to be a neurodiversity affirming therapist honoring her clients’ unique traits and authentic selves. In addition to her clinical experience, Kris has completed continuing education and training in the areas of Sensory Integration, DIR-Floortime, Handwriting Without Tears, Visual Perception, Primitive Reflexes, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also has experience implementing the social emotional and self-regulation curriculums for the Alert Program, Zones of Regulation, and Autism Level Up. When not having fun with her clients, Kris enjoys reading, traveling, watching sporting events (especially UCLA football and basketball), and spending time with her husband and three teenage sons.
Erin Williams
Licensed School Psychologist
Erin Williams is a licensed School Psychologist with experience offering executive skills training for students in brick & mortar as well as remote K-12 settings. She received her bachelors degree from UC Davis in Psychology in 2010 and her Education Specialist Degree from Brigham Young University in 2014. Erin is entering her 7th year as a School Psychologist; She is looking forward to expanding her student support services via executive functioning coaching offered in-person @ Play Space Therapy as well online. Erin has experience supporting neurodiverse students, including those with ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Dyslexia as well as other learning disabilities, & Intellectual Impairments. Image attached.