Meet Our Team

Amy Wechsler, MSW, LCSW, DT

Clinical Director & Founder

From an early age, Amy knew she wanted to work with children. She spent many summers as a counselor and teacher’s assistant at the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association and in preschool and daycare settings, where her passion for helping children thrive began to take shape. In 2006, Amy earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, gaining valuable clinical experience interning at the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center and volunteering at the Crisis Nursery. It was during her time at the Crisis Nursery that she became profoundly inspired by their slogan, “Island of Safety.” This concept deeply resonated with Amy, planting a lifelong desire to create spaces where others could feel secure, understood, and valued. She wanted to become an “island of safety” for others, providing support to those navigating life’s challenges.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Amy pursued a Master’s in Social Work at Loyola University Chicago, where she interned in both the neonatal intensive care unit at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and as an outpatient therapist at Niles Family Services. These early experiences helped shape her clinical approach, rooted in empathy, understanding, and family-centered care. Following her studies, Amy became a licensed clinical social worker and a credentialed Early Intervention Specialist and Evaluator. Her expertise spans a wide range including child development, anxiety and related disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on empowering families to support their children.

Founded on a commitment to high-quality therapy services and building relationships that honor lived experience, Amy founded PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. in 2011. Through her personal and professional journey, Amy realized that the very qualities she often faced challenges for—asking too many questions, caring too much, and being “too involved”—were her superpowers. Embracing her relentless curiosity, attention to detail, and passion for meaningful leadership allowed her to build a practice that was not just effective but truly unique.

Driven by a passion for empathic and authentic leadership, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and clinical education, Amy realized that helping others see their differences as their greatest strengths was central to her mission. Amy advocates for inclusivity, acceptance, and understanding in both the professional and therapeutic setting. Amy’s mission is to empower and educate others, cultivating a growth-oriented mindset fueled by curiosity.

Amy lives in the northern suburbs with her three children. In her free time, she enjoys running, exploring new restaurants, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Briana Renteria, MS, DT

Developmental Therapist

Briana is a developmental therapist who is passionate about supporting children and their families to help meet the child’s individual needs. Before becoming a developmental therapist, Briana has been a teacher and supervisor in a child care center for almost five years. While in the toddler classroom, Briana was introduced to Early Intervention, specifically developmental therapy. While she enjoys being in the classroom, she loved the one-on-one aspect with the child and following a play-based, family-centered approach.

Briana attended Illinois State University and earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She then went to receive her Master’s degree at Erikson Institute in Child development with a concentration in infancy. Briana completed an internship with a developmental therapist in Early Intervention and is excited to implement her skills at PlayWorks Therapy! While at Erikson, Briana was also part of the OSEP scholar grant program where she was trained in Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) approach and was taught to use a trauma informed lens when working with children and families. Briana also holds DIR - Floortime credential.

In her spare time, Briana enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her dogs Kobe and Jax, reading, getting her nails done and watching Netflix!

Antonia Speranza, MS, DT

Developmental Therapist

Antonia is a developmental therapist passionate about supporting the growth and development of each unique child and their family. Antonia strives to meet children where they are at, and to create a playful and welcoming environment for every child to grow and thrive!

Antonia earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. While there, she worked as an assistant toddler teacher, nanny, and a therapeutic assistant supporting children with developmental differences in a variety of settings. During her time in classrooms, she saw firsthand how impactful one-on-one support could be for children to meet their developmental goals. This led her to graduate school at the Erikson Institute to learn more about the field of developmental therapy. Antonia earned her Master of Science in Child Development with an Infancy Concentration from Erikson Institute and had the opportunity to complete graduate internships as a postpartum doula intern and developmental therapy intern. While at Erikson, she was also trained in the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) approach to supporting families through a trauma-informed lens. Antonia values collaborating with others and is so excited to be a part of the interdisciplinary Playworks Therapy team!

In her spare time, Antonia enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, walking by the lake, and cuddling with her cat, Minka!

Caroline Stevens, MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapy Team Lead
PlayWorks Prep Co-Director
Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator

Caroline is an occupational therapist who is passionate about working with children and their families to support growth and development in their everyday life. Caroline received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. While volunteering with various community organizations to provide adaptive sports and therapeutic group programming, Caroline realized that she was interested in working with children with disabilities in one-on-one and small group settings. Caroline completed a year-long fellowship focused on interdisciplinary care for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities while earning her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Caroline enjoys working with children of all ages, especially with children who are learning to regulate their sensory habits in order to play, learn, and grow alongside their family and peers. Caroline has experience working with children with medical complexity and neurodevelopmental disabilities through previous work and volunteer experiences. As the Therapy Resource Coordinator at PlayWorks Therapy, Inc., Caroline enjoys making sure that our therapy materials, books, and games are accessible for therapists for use to facilitate the growth of children's skills and provide support for families. When not at work, Caroline enjoys practicing yoga, cooking, and riding bikes along the lake!

Rachel Sitzmann: MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Rachel is an occupational therapist who is passionate about supporting her clients growth and development by addressing the whole child and family experience through collaborative therapeutic intervention. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and Minor in Psychology from the University of Iowa. Rachel’s love for working with children and their families, comes from her own experience as the sister of a child with disabilities. Her passion for supporting children in reaching their highest potential continued to grow throughout her undergraduate studies and in roles providing one-on-one care to children with unique needs. Rachel went on to complete her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Lewis University. She has experience working with children with neurological disorders, ASD, sensory processing disorders, developmental delay, and medical complexity through previous clinical internships and direct care positions. She enjoys working with children of all ages, and has a special interest in treating children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and those who are navigating sensory processing, self-regulation, and motor planning challenges.

Rachel is delighted to be a member of the PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. family! She highly values the collaborative aspect of the organization, particularly the emphasis on building meaningful relationships with children, caregivers, and team members. Rachel feels incredibly grateful to be a part of such a rewarding profession and is eager to work with each child and family in meeting their unique needs and goals!

In her free time, Rachel enjoys running around the lake, reading a good book, exploring local restaurants, and spending time with family and friends. As a new Chicago resident, Rachel is having fun exploring all the city has to offer!

Anna Lansing: OTD, OTR/L

PlayWorks Prep Occupational Therapy Lead

Anna Parker is an occupational therapist who strives to foster fun, meaningful, play-based therapy to increase independence and confidence in her clients. In early elementary school, Anna recognized her passion for assisting individuals with disabilities and has since sought out every opportunity to volunteer and work with this population. Anna is passionate about working with children with varying abilities to enable them to reach their goals. She values collaborating with other therapists and families to ensure the greatest success for her clients.

Anna is from Naperville, IL and graduated with her BA in Psychology from Wheaton College. She then attended Rush University in Chicago to receive her doctorate in occupational therapy. Through both her volunteer experiences and clinical rotations, Anna gained experience working with children with Down syndrome, neurological disorders, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, ASD, and developmental delays. She could not be more excited to be working at PlayWorks Therapy!

When not in the clinic, Anna enjoys going for long walks and runs on the lake, cooking and baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Ariana Michel: OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Ariana is an occupational therapist who strives to create a safe, inclusive, empowering, and fun environment where clients can thrive and reach their full potential. She is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care for children and their families and is committed to supporting children from a strengths-based, relationship-based, and collaborative lens.

A graduate of Tufts University with a degree in Child Study and Human Development, with a concentration in Atypical Development, Ariana has worked as an Early Childhood Educator in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. She enjoyed working with young children to promote positive developmental outcomes and was so inspired by her experiences in the classroom and passion for supporting children and families, that she went on to earn her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. She has experience in various settings including schools, inpatient rehabilitation, mental health and outpatient pediatric settings. Ariana also has experience working with neurodivergent children, children with developmental delays, sensory and motor challenges as well as with children with a variety of musculoskeletal, orthopedic, and neurological impairments. She completed her doctoral capstone at a pediatric clinic utilizing the DIR Floortime approach. Additionally, she completed projects focused on neurodiversity-affirming practice and on nature-based occupational therapy. Ariana values collaborating with other disciplines to provide holistic treatment and is thrilled to be a part of the dedicated team at PlayWorks Therapy!

When not in the clinic, Ariana enjoys being outside, exploring new places, completing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with family, friends, and her cats.

Amy Sauers, PT, DPT, c/nDT

Director of Physical Therapy Services

Amy is a physical therapist who is passionate about using fun and creative ways to help children get stronger and improve their motor skills to better play and move in the world. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Wheaton College and then her doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Central Florida. After graduating, Amy began her career working with children with a variety of diagnoses and adults with neurological impairments. In just a few years, she realized her passion was working solely with children. Over the past several years, Amy has worked with children of all ages and skill levels with a wide variety of diagnoses including: hypotonia, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, torticollis, Down syndrome, developmental coordination disorder, toe walking, autism spectrum disorder, seizure disorders and a wide array of genetic conditions, medical complexities, and neurological impairments. Amy loves using her creativity and knowledge to cater each session to the individual child, while collaborating with the other disciplines to help each child reach their own goals and achieve milestones.

Amy is also certified in neurodevelopmental treatment which has enhanced her ability to provide therapeutic handling in treating children with neurological impairments. She also has extensive experience in adaptive equipment evaluation, orthotics recommendations, and kinesiotaping. Amy enjoys collaborating with the amazing team at PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. and integrating physical therapy support to better help address the needs of the children that walk through our doors.

After moving back to the Midwest following several years spent in both Florida and Colorado, Amy is enjoying exploring the city, spending time with family, running, biking, and playing with her husband and toddler.

Bridgett Hunziker, PT, DPT

Physical Therapy Team Lead

Bridgett is a Physical Therapist who is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children while building relationships with patients, families, caregivers, and colleagues. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Bridgett grew up on a farm outside of Chicago with lots of cows and free range ducks and chickens, but found her way to the city to join the PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. team!

During her time in physical therapy school, Bridgett was lucky enough to have clinical experiences working with children in the schools, therapeutic riding, outpatient clinics, and home health settings. She discovered her passion and commitment to providing care to children and is honored to be surrounded by the supportive team at PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. Bridgett loves collaborating with other disciplines in order to promote optimal opportunities for growth and development for her patients. Bridgett is passionate in providing physical therapy care that is fun and creative that encompasses gross motor skills that are appropriate for each individual child.

Eleni Kioussis, PT, DPT, ATC

Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator,
Assistive Technology Coordinator

With a passion for providing a creative and engaging approach to improve children’s gross motor skills as well as foster relationships with their families, Eleni is thrilled to be part of the PlayWorks Therapy team as a physical therapist. Eleni received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Michigan and went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University. Eleni grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and has loved living in the city since moving for graduate school.

While at Northwestern, Eleni first learned about her passion for pediatrics working on a three year long research project to create a tool to help with the early detection of Cerebral Palsy in children under the age of two. When choosing her clinical opportunities, Eleni knew that she wanted to gain experience with pediatrics and opted to work in the Niles Township District of Special Education (NTDSE). While at NTDSE, Eleni worked with children of all ages and diagnoses, including but not limited to: Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Rett’s syndrome, and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Eleni enjoyed every moment of working in the school system that she returned to become the full time physical therapist for the summer school program. Additionally, she has worked in outpatient orthopedics and is excited to be back in pediatrics.

Eleni enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, doing jigsaw puzzles, and trying different restaurants around the city.

Colette "coco" Moog, MSW, LSW

PlayWorks Prep Social Work Lead

Colette, "Coco" is a social worker driven to work with children so that they can thrive in their environment. She is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice, and has loved to work with young children for as long as she can remember. Coco recognizes the value of understanding each person in their environment, and understands that every child’s environment is complex and unique. She is committed to taking a strengths-based approach to social work practice, and aims to empower each and every child and family that she works with.

Coco grew up in St. Paul Minnesota, and attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison for college, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) and her Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW). During graduate school, Coco was a part of the Wisconsin LEND Program, an interdisciplinary program created to shape leaders in the field of disability services. Through the LEND Program, she interned at the Waisman Center, working as a family navigator in the Autism and Developmental Disability clinic, where she guided children and their families through the process of an Autism diagnosis. Coco also worked as the Director of Inclusion Services for Madison School and Community Recreation, where she facilitated the integration of children with disabilities into summer programs. Through these experiences, her interest in working with children with disabilities flourished. Coco is so excited to be a part of PlayWorks Therapy because of the multidisciplinary approach, supportive team, and the dedication to not only children, but their families as well.

Outside of work, Coco loves to read, go to the movie theater, try new coffee shops and restaurants, explore the city with her friends, visit her family, and spend as much time outside as possible!

Mira Fradkin, MSW, LSW

Social Worker

Mira is a social worker passionate about social-emotional learning, parent education, Early Intervention, and has loved working with young children ever since she was a kid herself (she is the oldest of four siblings!). Mira grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended Washington University in St. Louis where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Studio Art, as well as her Master of Social Work with concentrations in Mental Health and Child Behavioral Health.

Mira has experience working with children of all ages in preschool, tutoring, after-school, non-profit, and traditional school settings. She strives to meet children and families where they are at to foster growth and strong relationships. During her graduate program internships, Mira gained experience with trauma-informed care, cultural competency, program planning, and working on multiple interdisciplinary teams. She is excited to be a part of the PlayWorks Therapy team and is especially driven by their strengths-based and collaborative approach, as well as their emphasis on the family as an extension of a child’s wellbeing. Mira believes in the potential and creativity of every child and feels lucky each day to be able to do the work that she does.

In her free time, Mira enjoys moving and being creative! She loves cooking, photography, hiking, planning future travels, and spending lots of time outside. Mira is excited to be living in Chicago and looks forward to discovering her favorite parts of the city.

Ella Sadowski, LSW

Social Worker

Ella is a dedicated social worker with a deep passion for supporting children of all ages. She specializes in neurodiverse practices, social-emotional learning, and family collaboration. Ella believes that fostering a welcoming and safe environment is essential in helping children reach their fullest potential. She integrates a mindfulness-based approach with strength-based and narrative therapeutic techniques to support the well-being of every child she works with.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ella earned both her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) from Loyola University Chicago. During her undergraduate internship, she contributed to workforce development and counseling at a nonprofit organization serving individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. In her graduate program, she worked on curriculum development and psychoeducation, focusing on sexual exploitation prevention and anti-harassment education for older children. She utilized a trauma-informed approach to create an inclusive and supportive space where children could explore their beliefs and understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Ella has gained extensive experience working with children of all ages and specialized needs through a social-emotional lens. She is committed to collaborating with families to understand and support each child’s unique needs, ensuring a trauma-informed and affirming approach. Ella is excited to be part of the PlayWorks Therapy team, drawn to its strong commitment to neurodiverse-affirming practices and its emphasis on family collaboration.

Outside of work, Ella enjoys playing the piano, singing, and taking long walks on sunny days. She also loves spending time with her three-year-old cat, Apple, and exploring Chicago’s many attractions.

Andrea Schaefer, MS, CCC-SLP

PlayWorks Prep Co-Director
Speech-Language Therapy Team Lead

Andrea is a speech-language pathologist whose therapeutic philosophy is about fostering meaningful relationships with her clients and families in order to promote the greatest success. Andrea is originally from Springfield, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018. In May 2020, Andrea received her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst College. Andrea spent her clinical fellowship year at an outpatient pediatric clinic in Indiana where she continued to expand upon her pediatric therapy skills. She was thrilled to begin working at PlayWorks in 2022, where she could continue her passion of working with children.

Through Andrea’s clinical rotations and previous outpatient clinic setting, she has gained extensive experience working with children of all ages with a wide variety of abilities and disorders. Specifically, she has experience working with fluency, aural habilitation, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, speech sound disorders, expressive/receptive language disorders, feeding, and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). Andrea is also a credentialed Early Interventionist and through this program has gained experience working with children/families that are bilingual as well as worked alongside interpreters during sessions.

Andrea values collaborating with both families and other team members in order to facilitate functional and meaningful communication. She strives to incorporate daily routines and play-based activities with therapy strategies in order to promote success.

In her free time, Andrea enjoys watching Illini sports, cooking new recipes, participating in any outdoor activity, and spending time with family and friends!

Casey Werman, MS, CCC-SLP

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Coordinator

Casey is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about building strong relationships with her clients and their families and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to support her clients' growth. Casey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She completed her Master of Science in Speech, Language, and Learning at Northwestern University. Upon graduation, she completed her clinical fellowship year with PlayWorks Therapy, Inc., and is thrilled to have continued working with the team ever since. Her clinical interests include neurodiversity affirming pragmatic skills, early childhood language development, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and autism spectrum disorders. As the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Coordinator, Casey enjoys working with clinicians and caregivers to support clients in obtaining AAC devices. She is passionate about educating families, care providers, and interdisciplinary clinicians on best practices in AAC evaluations, treatment, modeling, and device personalization.

Casey is Meaningful Speech GLP + AAC trained, where she gained specialized skills in using the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) Framework for supporting gestalt language processors (GLPs) who are, or could be, AAC users. Meaningful Speech GLP + AAC is a comprehensive training on identifying, evaluating, and supporting GLPs who currently or may in the future communicate using AAC. It additionally provides specialized training in customizing AAC software and modeling approaches to support the language acquisition style of GLPs.

In her free time, Casey enjoys walking along the lakefront path, baking, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines!

Kayla Jordan, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Kayla is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming care. She grew up in the Chicagoland area before attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Following graduation, Kayla completed her clinical fellowship year at the Westerhold Early Learning Center in Des Plaines, IL. Kayla has worked in school districts across the Pacific Northwest to serve students from a wide variety of backgrounds. She is thrilled to return to Chicago and join the PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. team.

While Kayla enjoys supporting all areas of speech, language, and communication, she especially loves collaborating with families and other professionals to support inclusivity and engagement. Her clinical interests include developmental language disorders, speech sound production, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

In her spare time, Kayla loves reading, listening to new music, and riding her bike around the city.

Camryn Evans, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech and Language Prep Lead

Camryn is a speech-language pathologist who strives to create an exciting, play-based learning environment for her clients. She is excited to be a part of the PlayWorks multidisciplinary team! She is passionate about the pediatric population and has experience in early intervention, outpatient clinics, and school settings. Camryn values working closely with children and families to capitalize on the child’s strengths and work towards functional speech, language, and communication goals to support the child in reaching their greatest potential!

Camryn’s extensive clinical experiences have equipped her with the skills to work with children across various ages, disorders, and diagnoses. Her areas of expertise include early language development, speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), Autism spectrum disorder, and Down syndrome.

Camryn is originally from Kansas City and moved to Chicago in July 2022! She enjoys exploring the city, trying new restaurants, walking on the lakefront, and cheering on her favorite teams back home—Rock Chalk and Go Chiefs! Camryn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language and Hearing and her Masters in Speech Pathology from the University of Kansas. She spent her clinical fellowship year at an outpatient pediatric clinic, seeing clinic clients and early intervention clients at home and in daycares.

Hayley Bazarek, MS-SLP CF

Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow

Hayley is very excited to be part of PlayWorks Therapy, Inc., during her clinical fellowship year!

Hayley earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders as well as her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). During her graduate studies, she gained valuable clinical experiences in a variety of pediatric settings, including the UW-Madison Speech and Hearing Clinic, UW-Madison Waisman Center, UW-Madison Central Auditory Processing Disorders Clinic, and the Stoughton Area School District. Hayley is dedicated to providing strength-based care, embracing neurodiversity, and honoring the lived experiences of clients and their families.

During graduate school, Hayley was a part of the Wisconsin LEND Program, an interdisciplinary training program aimed at increasing awareness of disability services and cultivating future leaders in the field. As part of the LEND program, she completed practicums in the Autism & Developmental Disabilities, Communication Aids & Systems, and Down Syndrome Clinics at the Waisman Center. In this role, she worked collaboratively with various disciplines, administered speech and language assessments, completed initial AAC evaluations, and provided caregiver education and training in partnership with families.

Outside of work, Hayley loves to try new coffee shops and restaurants, go on outdoor walks, and spend time with her friends and family!

Kyle Gibson

Director of Operations

Born and raised in Chicago, Kyle could not be prouder to be part of the PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. family. As the Administrative Director and Intake Coordinator, Kyle enjoys introducing new families to our services and welcoming them onboard. Getting to learn about the progress a child is making along the way, from the family’s first phone call to their graduation of therapy, he is always thrilled to know that the PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. team has made a difference in a child’s life.

Aimee Slaughter

Director of Billing

Aimee has always been passionate about all things pediatric! She attended Medical Billing school in 2010 and has been in pediatric medical and therapy billing ever since. She even took some time getting certified as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and working with kids with autism doing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

Aimee lived in Phoenix, Arizona most of her life, but has always loved the snow and changing seasons. With that being said, she decided to make the move to Chicago in 2018 with her little chihuahua mix, Maxene, to start a new adventure. She loves photography, and always has her camera in her hand.

Aimee loves to take on new challenges and help clients with whatever they may need, making their lives as easy as possible. She is excited to grow with PlayWorks Therapy, Inc. and is glad to be a part of the family!

Amanda Gutierrez

Clinic Coordinator

Amanda is the Clinic Coordinator at PlayWorks Therapy and is super excited to be a part of this team! Born and raised in the Southside of Chicago, Amanda moved to Los Angeles for college and stayed there for seven years. With a BA in Business Administration, Amanda worked at a substance rehabilitation center before diving into pediatric therapy.
Amanda has always had a passion for helping others, volunteering during college and assisting with fundraisers for AbilityFirst while living in L.A., joining the team at PlayWorks Therapy seemed like a no-brainer. While she is a relatively new face here, she already loves the work environment and seeing every new face that walks through the door.

In her free time, Amanda likes to challenge herself to make her own props for cosplay. She also enjoys cooking, reading, and playing with her dog, Bailey.

Sam Radinsky

Clinic Aide

Sam Radinsky is the new Clinic Aide at PlayWorks Therapy, Inc.. He started in April, 2023, and he really loves his new job. Sam graduated from Jackie Vaughn High School in 2019, and he graduated from Harper Community College in 2021. He has been an intern at GiGi’s Playhouse, where he completed his yoga teacher training and has been teaching a yoga group to young children. Sam loves theater, and he has been a member of ABLE Ensemble since 2010. Sam is responsible for helping support the therapy team by doing office work, organizing the materials in the toy closets, restocking supplies, and helping to set up and join the children in Lunch Bunch. Sam is especially excited to be teaching yoga with our PlayWorks Prep students on Fridays.

Susan Wechsler

Billing Specialist
Insurance Officer

Susan earned her bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Michigan and her Master of Arts in Teaching from Loyola University Chicago. After teaching kindergarten and gifted children, the devoted mom took time off to raise her own three children.

Susan's focused, dedicated and thoughtful personality leads her to take on many roles. She gained business and administrative experience as the secretary and treasurer of RDR Productions, a 30-year-old corporate video production company based in Northbrook, Illinois, owned by her husband David. In addition to maintaining her duties at RDR Productions, she has been an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer and has run her own business, To Life Fitness, for the past 10 years. Susan, or as her husband has nicknamed her ‘Buff,' uses her sweet and encouraging ways, along with intense workouts such as interval training, to whip her clients into shape.

Her prior experience working in small business settings is critical to the success of PlayWorks Therapy, Inc., where Susan is responsible for administration and client billing. She finds joy in working closely with her daughter, Amy, and is thrilled to play an essential role in the continued growth of PlayWorks Therapy Inc.

Susan does not see herself slowing down anytime soon and plans to continue supporting all of the family businesses, and of course spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. One thing is for sure though – her morning coffee is a must!

When the Detroit native finally takes a break from being the busy bee she is, you can find Susan cooking, gardening, reading, watching movies, or trying out the latest new gourmet restaurants in town.

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About Us

Our Mission

Our Clinic

Meet Our Team

Amy Wechsler, MSW, LCSW, DT

Clinical Director & Founder

Briana Renteria, MS, DT

Developmental Therapist

Antonia Speranza, MS, DT

Developmental Therapist

Caroline Stevens, MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapy Team LeadPlayWorks Prep Co-DirectorClinical Fieldwork Coordinator

Rachel Sitzmann: MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Anna Lansing: OTD, OTR/L

PlayWorks Prep Occupational Therapy Lead

Ariana Michel: OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Amy Sauers, PT, DPT, c/nDT

Director of Physical Therapy Services

Bridgett Hunziker, PT, DPT

Physical Therapy Team Lead

Eleni Kioussis, PT, DPT, ATC

Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator, Assistive Technology Coordinator

Colette "coco" Moog, MSW, LSW

PlayWorks Prep Social Work Lead

Mira Fradkin, MSW, LSW

Social Worker

Ella Sadowski, LSW

Social Worker

Andrea Schaefer, MS, CCC-SLP

PlayWorks Prep Co-DirectorSpeech-Language Therapy Team Lead

Casey Werman, MS, CCC-SLP

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Coordinator

Kayla Jordan, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Camryn Evans, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech and Language Prep Lead

Hayley Bazarek, MS-SLP CF

Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow

Kyle Gibson

Director of Operations

Aimee Slaughter

Director of Billing

Amanda Gutierrez

Clinic Coordinator

Sam Radinsky

Clinic Aide

Susan Wechsler

Billing SpecialistInsurance Officer

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Occupational Therapy Team Lead
PlayWorks Prep Co-Director
Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator

Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator,
Assistive Technology Coordinator

PlayWorks Prep Co-Director
Speech-Language Therapy Team Lead

Billing Specialist
Insurance Officer