Occupational Therapists

Kelsey Chacho received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University, East Longmeadow, MA and her Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion Studies from Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT. She has clinical experience in an outpatient pediatric setting, as well as, a community-based adult mental health setting. During her fieldwork placements, she worked with various diagnoses, including but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delay, sensory processing disorder, Down syndrome, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective. 

Kelsey has worked with the pediatric population for 9 years while attending school. She has experience with children of all ages. She is extremely passionate about building relationships with children and their families. She takes great pride in providing client-centered and innovative interventions to her clients. Kelsey understands the importance of evidence-based practice and being a lifelong learner. She wishes to hold specialty certifications in sensory integration, therapeutic listening, and feeding in the near future. As an occupational therapist, Kelsey works closely with her clients and their families to maximize functional independence in activities of daily living.

​

Additional trainings and certifications include:

• Complex Feeding & Swallowing Problems in Children: Discover the Underlying Causes of Food Refusal for a More Targeted Treatment Plan

• Therapeutic Listening: Listening with the Whole Body

• Oppositional, Uncooperative, and Aggressive Behavior

• Sensory Integration and Telehealth: How do we facilitate from a distance?

• Integration of Persistent Reflexes

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing soccer, watching movies, and going to the beach. 

Danielle Matos received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and her Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Sciences from University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. She has clinical experience in school-based and outpatient pediatric settings. She has worked with children with a variety of diagnoses and abilities, including but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, developmental delay, Down Syndrome, and sensory processing disorder.

Danielle has experience targeting sensory processing, handwriting, fine motor coordination, visual motor integration, visual perception, motor planning, and self-care/daily routine independence. She has received certification in Learning Without Tears (Handwriting Without Tears K-5) and Interactive Metronome. She is passionate about facilitating independence and helping children thrive in their natural environments. Danielle works closely with families to determine collaborative and dynamic treatment plans for each child. 

​

Additional trainings and certifications include:​​​

• Developing and Implementing Effective Sensory Diets for Children and Adolescents

• Interactive Metronome

• Learning Without Tears (Handwriting Without Tears K-5)

• Primitive Reflex, Sensory, and Motor Integration​

• Therapeutic Listening

• Treating Torticollis

​

In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking, being outside, and listening to podcasts. 

Lindsey Bousquet received both her bachelor’s degree in Health Science Studies and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Lindsey’s clinical experience includes outpatient pediatrics, school-based settings, outpatient orthopedics, and inpatient adult care. She has been working with children of all ages and abilities for over 4 years. Her experience includes supporting individuals with the diagnoses of sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, anxiety disorders, Down syndrome, and ADHD. Lindsey is passionate about providing client-centered and evidence-based occupational therapy services to children and their families. She hopes to allow children the opportunity to engage in play, school, social participation, and leisure tasks with improved independence within their least restrictive environment. Lindsey is determined to help every child she works with live their life to their fullest. Lindsey is eager to achieve specialty certifications in sensory integration and feeding, in addition to becoming a Certified Autism Specialist.

Additional trainings and certifications include:

• Knowledge of Ayres’ SI framework

In her free time, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being on the water, and swimming.

Rebecca Hale received her Master of Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University and during her schooling she fell in love with working in the pediatric setting.  She has clinical experience working within a school system for children aged 3-5 years old who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, developmental/intellectual disabilities, and sensory processing disorders. She believes children should learn and experience the world in a naturalistic environment which encourages self-motivation before jumping in and making the activity functional. This helps children learn cause and effect, as well as how to master their environments on their own. With children, it is important to incorporate family/caregivers into each session so they can allow for the transfer of learning within their homes. She believes that having the caregivers involved in the process can allow them to understand what occupational therapists aim to succeed in each session. 

Colleen Rinaldi received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Worcester State University in Worcester, MA and her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Stonehill College with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Fine Arts. Prior to graduate school, Colleen worked at the Hole in the Wall Gang camp in Ashford, CT for 4 years bringing camp activities to hospitals in Boston, MA and throughout the state of Connecticut. Colleen has experience in an outpatient pediatric clinic setting as well as the school setting. Colleen has worked with various populations as an Occupational Therapist including Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Down Syndrome, and Sensory processing difficulties.

​

Colleen has experience in treating students with challenges in the following areas: fine motor skills, handwriting, sensory processing, visual perception skills, self care, and executive functioning. Colleen has participated in additional training for children with Autism creating sensory diets and treating the whole child to help them function in their daily life. Colleen enjoys utilizing her creative skills to come up with occupational based interventions that meet each child’s unique needs. One of her favorite parts of working in pediatrics is incorporating and working with the whole family. Colleen hopes to continue pursuing advanced certifications in sensory processing as well as low vision rehabilitation.

Additional Trainings and Certifications include:

• Emotional Regulation Supports for Autistic Learners

• Coping Skills for Children

• Building Better Sensory Diets

In her spare time, Colleen enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and her dog. Additionally, she enjoys going for hikes, running, and practicing yoga.

MacKenzie Walat received her Master of Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University in the accelerated program, where she received her Bachelor’s in Pre-Occupational Therapy studies. She has clinical experience working across the lifespan from school-based and outpatient pediatric settings to adult vocational day-programs, community mental health programs, skilled nursing facilities, and geriatric assisted living facilities. MacKenzie has experience working with children with a variety of diagnoses and abilities including but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders, developmental/intellectual differences and mental health conditions. 

MacKenzie’s passionate about providing children with the opportunity and tools to navigate their natural environment from their own unique perspective; facilitating engagement in play, school, social participation, and daily living activities. While valuing the role of caregivers and family, she utilizes a collaborative, evidence-based, research approach to find holistic solutions. She has experience targeting handwriting, visual-motor integration, sensory processing, visual perception, fine motor coordination and strength, motor planning and coordination, primitive reflexes, and engagement in activities of daily living. In addition, MacKenzie is certified in Mental Health first aid and is interested in future certifications in sensory integration, feeding, and Astronaut training (sound activated vestibular-visual protocol). 

In her free time, MacKenzie is outdoors as much as possible and enjoys hiking, running, yoga and photography.