Chris has always been interested in working with and assisting others, spending most of his career in service-oriented roles of one form or another. He received both his Bachelors (Psychology) and a Masters (Occupational Therapy) degrees from the University of Washington. After receiving his Bachelors, he was immediately drawn into the booming local technology sector, and spent 15 subsequent years doing IT service management for local and national clients. While leading a team through a transition at a local hospital, Chris was surrounded by direct patient care examples and became determined to return to his initial interests in a person-based healthcare support role, rather than an enterprise-oriented focus.

He received extensive exposure to pediatric therapy while doing volunteer work at BPHT before the start of his graduate program at UW. Fieldwork and internships during his master’s program included outpatient pediatrics, early intervention, and school-based OT support. Each of these experiences provided affirmation that he had chosen the correct next steps in his career.

Chris lives in Bothell with his wife and 2 daughters. He coaches youth softball and soccer teams, and is a Board member for the local softball league. He enjoys playing golf and hosting barbecues with friends and family.

Before moving to the Northwest in the summer that Mt. St. Helens erupted, Carolyn lived in Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas. She always knew she wanted to work with children, and still remembers the names of children she worked with more than 50 years ago in public school, Head Start, and Montessori.

Carolyn earned a BFA in Art/Education at Colorado State University, where she taught at Harmony School, an alternative high school for children who had struck out in public school. After CSU, she realized she wanted to work with children, but in smaller than classroom-size numbers, and with a focus on movement. From early childhood, Carolyn danced and participated in sports, and has always considered movement an important element of her life.

She then enrolled in graduate school at the University of Oregon, where her anatomy teacher, Gary, was a physical therapist. It was a conversation with Gary that steered Carolyn to OT, because he thought it would meld her love of children and movement nicely. She completed the Masters of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Puget Sound, and discovered that Gary was right.

In her leisure time, Carolyn enjoys spending time with family, traveling, gardening, kayaking, cooking, running and participating in choirs. This will be her 20th year in her Seattle church’s bell choir, 3rd in the Seattle Women’s Chorus, and 2nd in her Bellevue church’s choir. She also volunteers in a friend’s kindergarten class in Seattle.

Chris was raised in New York and New Jersey. He comes from a large Italian-American family, who he is very close with. He developed his passion for OT from his mother, who is also a pediatric OT.

He completed his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science at the Univ. of Delaware, and his Master’s in OT at American International College in Springfield, MA. Chris has experience working in early intervention with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, using the Floortime model. As a recent graduate, he is excited to begin a rewarding lifelong career as an occupational therapist, and to help children to achieve their maximum potential, become independent, and improve their quality of life.

Chris recently relocated to Seattle, and has enjoyed spending time exploring the city and hiking in the surrounding areas. He likes to spend his time outside as much as possible, especially at the beach. He enjoys cooking and traveling and is passionate about swimming (he is also a certified swim team coach).

Michelle was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She earned a Bachelor’s of Kinesiology from Western Washington University, and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Chicago State University. She is a first-generation American and is fluent in Russian and English.

As a child, Michelle received occupational therapy to help her with academic success. The OT helped her overcome her challenges, and she fondly remembers the bond they established.

After seeing the progress and improvement a child can make with one-on-one guidance, she knew that OT was definitely the right field for her. During her undergrad studies, she explored the idea of becoming an OT by volunteering at a hippotherapy clinic, and really enjoyed it.

After graduating, Michelle served as a paraeducator for 2 years at an elementary school in Bellevue. Additionally, she served in outpatient pediatrics after grad school and is passionate about working with children to help them become more independent.

In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, hiking, yoga, and cooking. Michelle is currently writing a cookbook that includes her family’s traditional recipes.

Alyssa grew up in southern California and Washington State, where she graduated from WSU with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She earned her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Loma Linda University. As an OT student, she volunteered with the Special Olympics: Young Athletes, and in hippotherapy.

She decided to become an OT because of its holistic nature that combines science, art, and creativity. OT stood out because it emphasizes individualized treatment using what is most meaningful to the patient.

Alyssa loves being an OT because she gets to provide children with the building blocks to live a functional and meaningful life. She aspires to turn any child’s “can’t” into a “CAN” and is honored to stand by her patients through the challenging times and the successes.

Alyssa aspires to bring positivity, curiosity, and passion to the BPHT team. She wants to make every person who enters our clinic feel seen, heard, and valued. In her free time, she enjoys Zumba, being by the water, going to coffee shops, playing ukulele, discovering new music, and hiking.

Rachel was born and raised in Portland, OR. She’s always enjoyed working with children and has a special interest in sensory development and health promotion. Working as a Pediatric OT is truly the perfect blend of Rachel’s interests. She is bilingual and can evaluate and treat patients in English and Spanish.

She graduated with a dual Bachelor’s in Human Physiology and Psychology from The University of Oregon, and received her Master’s in OT from Boston University. Rachel has experience working with children in an acute hospital setting, in schools, and in an outpatient clinic. She is motivated to work closely with children and their families for the greatest therapeutic impact. She has demonstrated her passion for OT during international volunteer trips to Ecuador and India where she helped to promote academic and play skills of children with developmental disorders. Rachel is certified in Handwriting without Tears and has completed Astronaut Training coursework.

Rachel enjoys exploring the greater Seattle area during her free time, particularly going on hikes. She loves cooking for others and trying new restaurants. Lastly, she loves to travel and is proud to say she’s been to 18 different countries.

Adrienne was lucky enough to discover occupational therapy in 1972, thanks to a summer job in the life enrichment/activities department of a nursing home. She graduated from UW with a Bachelor’s Degree in OT and has been working in the pediatric field since 1979, including early intervention and clinical settings, school based and private practice, in addition to having a sensory motor therapy space in her home.

In 2007 she and her husband sold their home and began a nomadic lifestyle, spending summers in the Pacific NW and winters in Arizona. Adrienne works at BPHT during the summer, and as an OT in Arizona in winter. In Arizona, she works with rural school districts, charter schools, clinics and home-based pediatric clients. At Bothell Pediatric, her role has shifted away from direct patient care to mentoring young therapists, conducting evaluations and developing treatment plans.

She has always juggled various side jobs (to keep her own attention deficits in check) including teaching childbirth classes and being a birth doula, teaching skiing and currently, she and her husband are tennis officials, working at the junior, collegiate and professional level.

Shelly grew up in Kirkland, attended Western where she earned a BA in business, and originally owned a flower shop for 17 years before selling it to stay home with her two boys.

She began working at BPHT before going back to school at Lake Washington Institute of Technology to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Outside of work Shelly enjoys walking, camping, cooking, baking, and spending time with friends and family.

Retta has always had a passion for children. She has 7 children of her own, and has taught in a small home school co-op, helped in a friend’s daycare, and served as a nanny to several families. Retta graduated from Lake Washington Institute of Technology in 2018 with her Occupational Therapy Assistant degree. She enjoys motivating children to learn and grow in their development in fun, engaging ways and to assist families in navigating the goals they have to enrich their family system.

Outside of work, she spends as much time as possible doing her#1 favorite thing: dancing the West Coast Swing. She also enjoy playing piano, crafting, home decorating, and tennis. Additionally, Retta volunteers at a local women’s shelter teaching a cardio dance class. She loves seeing the enrichment, greater quality of life, and joy that this fitness avenue gives to women experiencing homelessness.