About Us
Erin Lynch, MS, OTR/L
Erin is the owner and founder of Kinetic Kids Occupational Therapy, PLLC. She graduated Russell Sage College with her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2002. She has been working on the Upper East Side since 2004.
Erin has completed an Advanced Level 2 Intensive Mentorship in the diagnosis and Treatment of SPD with Star Institute. STAR Institute is the premier treatment, research and education center for children and adults with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). She is also trained in the Learn Play Thrive Strength based approach to treating kids with ASD. Erin also has extensive coursework in treating kids with ASD using an NDT approach. The core and postural control and how it relates to sensory processing and regulation is a passion of Erin's and she has worked extensively treating kids with postural dysfunction as a result of poor sensory processing. Erin has worked in various settings throughout her career including the NICU, PICU, sensory gyms, home based, early intervention, and school-based. It was her work in various sensory gyms that made her want to found Kinetic Kids Occupational Therapy, PLLC. Providing children with the best possible self-driven, motivating sensory and movement experiences has been a passion of hers. Erin lives on the Upper East Side and is also a mother of 2 kids who attend school in the neighborhood. Having her own child with challenges gives her a unique perspective. Erin has been through a 6 month course of PCIT, has extensive knowledge in co-regulation, and has experience with dealing with kids with the most challenging behaviors. Erin believes strongly that behavior is a form of communication and language and is passionate about the underlying issues for kids who have behavioral challenges. Erin is also a level C trained DMI practitioner and has extensive experience working with infants.
Sophie Gusler, OTR/L
Sophie provides Occupational Therapy services at Kinetic Kids Occupational Therapy, PLLC. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from New York University.
Sophie specializes in Sensory Integration treatments and handwriting remediation. She has completed the University of Southern California’s Sensory Integration continuing education certificate program, which focused on advanced topics relevant to the evaluation and treatment of individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder. Additionally, Sophie is certified in the following integration techniques: Rhythmic Movement Training, Astronaut Training®, Therapeutic Listening®, Quickshifts®, reflex integration and visual assessments. Sophie is also a certified Handwriting Without Tears® specialist and is trained in the Size Matters handwriting program and the Neurokinesthetic Approach to Hand Function and Handwriting. Sophie utilizes these programs to ensure the development of strong handwriting habits, foster an enjoyment of tabletop activities, and create an overall positive, self-esteem boosting learning experience. Sophie has completed her Floortime Certification.
Sophie has experience in elementary schools, preschools, sensory gyms and home settings, where she has provided Occupational Therapy services to babies, toddlers, children and adolescents.
Sophie is passionate about improving sensory processing skills that will enable children to enjoy their childhood and prime their brains and bodies for academic, social, emotional and motor development! Sophie’s own struggles with learning disabilities led her to become an Occupational Therapist, and these experiences provide her with a unique and in-depth understanding of the difficulties that children and their family members may face. Sophie’s experiences and passion for helping children reach their fullest potential are the ideal combination to empower you and your child!
Sophie lives on the upper east side and enjoys spending time with her baby boy who was born in late 2022 and trying out all her techniques on him!
Carly Futterman OTR/L
Carly received her Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy from Ithaca College. Following graduation, Carly moved to New York City and has been practicing OT in schools, sensory gyms and through teletherapy, working with children as young as 2 through the age of 21. Carly has experience treating children with various developmental disabilities and delays, including sensory processing, pervasive developmental disorders, executive functioning problems, learning disabilities, and other neurological and physical impairments.
Carly is certified in Learning Without Tears. She also has advanced training in Holistic Approach Neuro-Development Learning and Efficiency, Primitive Reflexes, Yoga to Improve Sensory, Self-Regulation and Motor Skills in Kids. Carly is also trained in Therapeutic Listening.
Carly’s passion for occupational therapy is evident when she is able to observe improvements in a child’s behavior or their physical or emotional well-being. She firmly believes that work and play are so seamlessly intertwined and works hard to enhance every child's outcome by targeting their individual likes and needs during each session to keep them motivated and engaged. When Carly is not treating children, she enjoys baking and hopes one day to incorporate her two passions.
Emily Luong MS, OTR/L
Emily graduated summa cum laude from New York University and received her Masters of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University. She has worked with children in various school-based settings and sensory gyms in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She has experience with children ages 2-13 years old working towards a variety of skills including sensory processing skills, handwriting, fine motor coordination, executive functioning, visual perceptual skills, and daily living skills. Emily is trained in Learning Without Tears, Astronaut Training, Therapeutic Listening, Reflex Integration, Interoception and has completed her training in the Learn, Play, Thrive strengths-based approach to ASD. Emily’s insatiable curiosity drives her to continually learn more about children's development.
Emily strongly believes that children are able to make sense of the world around them through play. They learn and develop physically, socially, and emotionally. She is passionate about using play-based and strengths-based approaches to help children gain independence, develop self-confidence, and feel empowered. In her free time, Emily enjoys trying new foods and restaurants, taking long walks and hikes with her two dogs, and snowboarding.
Peter Chalkitis MS, OTR/L
Peter graduated from NYIT with a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy in 2004. He has extensive experience working sensory gyms, schools, and providing therapy within the home. Peter specializes in working with children ages 2-12. He has worked closely with children on the autism spectrum, sensory processing disorders, as well as physically impaired children with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spina bifida. He holds certifications in Yoga Therapy for the Child with Developmental Challenges, Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, Rhythmic Movement Training, Handwriting Without Tears, S’cool Moves, Managing Visual Deficits, Visual/Vestibular Assessment & Treatment, treatment of ASD, and Creating Sensory Diets for school aged children. Peter has also competed L1 and L2 reflex integration training with Sonia Story. Peter was one of the first OT's to participate in a launch of the SEED program (sensory education exploration discovery) in the NYC DOE. Peter believes that fun is the key when working with children. Peter is also the father of two young children. He enjoys basketball and baseball in his free time.
Jenna Varnauskas, OTR/L
Jenna has been a practicing occupational therapist in New York City since 2018 with experience in schools, early intervention, and sensory based clinics. She has experience working with clientele ages 0-18 and with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, executive functioning delays, global delays, and more. She graduated magna cum laude from Bay Path University in Massachusetts where she also received her Masters in Occupational Therapy. Jenna specializes in treatments related to sensory processing and handwriting support. She is certified in and utilizes Handwriting Without Tears K-5. Recently, she has begun to explore passions in reflex integration, executive functioning skills, and coaching. Jenna is certified in the following therapeutic approaches and techniques: MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration Course, Therapeutic Listening, Trauma Informed Approach to Sensory Processing, and Zones of Regulation. She also has taken courses such as Learn Play Thrive by Megan Proctor, a child centered, strength based approach to treating children on the autism spectrum. Jenna is a trained SSP provider. Jenna is passionate about working with children with a variety of needs to support them as they continue to grow. She believes in a child-centered approach to ensure the child is engaged and motivated. When she is not treating clients, Jenna enjoys reading, baking, and spending time exploring the city.
Alyssa Gold, OTR/L
Alyssa is a pediatric occupational therapist that has been working in the field since 2013. She has experience working in a variety of different settings such as sensory gyms, preschools, private schools and in home therapy. She has worked with some of the most challenging kids at her previous job at Manhattan Star Academy. Her specialties include diagnoses such as ADD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delays, Sensory Processing Disorders, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. She is trained in the Therapeutic Listening Program, Sensory Integration, Handwriting Without Tears, and Keyboarding Without Tears. She uses a wide variety of treatment modalities within sessions. Her approach to occupational therapy is looking at the child as a whole and determining their underlying difficulties. Using a multi- sensory approach, she individualizes therapy to meet each child’s needs. Alyssa empowers kids to reach their full potential and loves to make therapy fun and engaging!
Gabrielle Freesman, MOTR/L
Gabby has been a practicing occupational therapist in NYC since 2019. She received her Masters of Occupational Therapy and Bachelors of Science degrees from Quinnipiac University. She has experience various settings, including schools and outpatient sensory gyms, with children ages 3-12. She has experience working with children on sensory processing, motor skills, executive functioning, and daily living skills. Gabby is trained in the Integrated Listening Systems' Focus System and Safe and Sound Protocol, and has taken and continues to learn from courses in primitive reflex integration, sensory processing, praxis and motor planning, interoception, and the visual system. She also has experience as a parent coach. Gabby is passionate about the power that occupational therapy has to help facilitate growth and development in a fun and engaging way. She enjoys seeing how sensory-rich play can support a child’s success in daily life. Gabby values collaboration with caregivers and other clinical specialties to support the whole child and family. In her free time, Gabby enjoys baking, exploring the city, and spending time in Central Park.
Katherine Karabon MS, OTR/L
Katherine graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Stony Brook University. She has experience in schools, sensory gyms and teletherapy working with children between the ages of 6 months and 13 years old. She has treated children with a variety of developmental delays and disabilities such as ASD, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders and Cerebral Palsy. Katherine is trained in sensory-based therapy and proficient in working to improve a child's fine motor, visual perceptual and handwriting skills. Katherine has training in Therapeutic Listening, Quickshifts, Postural Control, Reflex Integration, and helping kids with challenging behaviors.
Katherine strongly believes in a client-centered approach to therapy and works to ensure each child's session is tailored to their individual needs. She understands that participation in learning and play is critical to a child's growth. She takes a holistic approach to her practice which includes considering all aspects and skills of the child and the participation and collaboration of the child's family. When Katherine is not working, she enjoys reading, cooking and taking walks all around the city.
Elyse Jenkins MSOT, OTR/L
Elyse received both her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science in occupational therapy from Towson University. Upon graduation, Elyse moved to Brooklyn, where she began and continues her career in geriatric and pediatric outpatient home care. She has experience treating clients of all ages in a variety of settings, including teletherapy, group therapy, sensory gyms, home care, community mental health, and hippotherapy (occupational therapy on horseback), and desires to bring a holistic and client-centered approach to every session. Elyse has experience treating children between the ages of 4 and 17 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, behavioral challenges, and other disorders of social and emotional development.
Elyse treats using a sensory integration approach and is passionate about using child-specific motivators and play as a central part of therapy sessions. Her desire is to provide each child with challenging interventions that promote independence and success in daily life. In her free time, Elyse loves climbing indoors and outdoors, camping, acrobatics, reading, cooking, and playing the guitar.
Tialla Stallings-Alailima, OTR/L, C/NDT
Tialla has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist since 2012 in a variety of settings including a hospital affiliated outpatient pediatric clinic, private and public school settings, and sensory gyms. Through her work, she has gained extensive experience with children of all ages with a range of developmental and learning disabilities including autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, executive functioning delays, genetic syndromes, neurobehavioral disorders, cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Tialla received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington in Seattle. She is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) in Pediatrics and has completed training and continued education in various areas including reflex integration, sensory processing and integration, neural plasticity as a foundation for neurorehabilitation, and therapeutic yoga for kids. She is seasoned in the use of Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, Alert Program, and Learning without Tears curriculums.
Over the course of her career, Tialla has loved working with children and their families to help identify and build the foundational sensory and motor skills needed for them to access higher levels of learning. She finds her purpose in helping children become more confident within their bodies and environments, and in helping them use their sensory and motor systems in new and more successful ways. She finds great gratification in helping parents better understand how their children experience the world. Tialla is steadfast in her view that children learn best when they are met where they are, inspired to grow through “just-right” challenges, and most importantly, when they are experiencing joy and having fun.
Tialla was inspired by her mother’s disability to become an occupational therapist. She began her career on the west coast and has been practicing in New York City since she moved here with her husband in 2017. Tialla is often traveling, including visiting her home state of Hawaii, enjoying the many museums and parks of NYC, and cuddling with her cat, Otis.