I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2009, and since then I have worked exclusively in pediatric physical therapy. For more than 17 years, I have focused on supporting infants and toddlers as they learn to move, explore, and interact with the world around them.

Throughout my career, I have worked with over 1,000 families through Early Intervention and home-based pediatric therapy. I hold my Early Intervention credential and have completed more than 180 hours of specialized continuing education focused on infant and toddler development.

Most of the children I work with are babies and toddlers receiving therapy in their natural home environments, with many continuing services through the toddler and preschool years. I believe that children learn best in the places where they live, play, and interact with their families every day.

My Approach to Development
One of the most important things parents should know about motor development is that early intervention truly matters. During the first three years of life, the brain is incredibly plastic, meaning it has an extraordinary ability to learn, adapt, and build new connections. When we support development early, we can make a meaningful and lasting impact.

I also spend a lot of time reassuring parents about normal variations in development. For example, many parents worry when their baby is not walking by their first birthday. In reality, there is a wide range of normal, and every child’s developmental path looks a little different.

If there is one thing I wish every parent knew, it is this: The best place for babies to learn to move is the floor. Time on the floor allows babies to build strength, experiment with movement, and discover what their bodies can do.

My Favorite Milestone
One of my favorite milestones to help babies achieve is crawling. Crawling is a remarkable moment because it changes everything for a baby. Suddenly, their world expands from a small bubble of space to entire rooms waiting to be explored. Crawling also changes how others interact with them — they begin to feel less like tiny observers and more like active little humans discovering the world.

My Personal Perspective as a Parent
I am also a mom to three boys, ages 7, 10, and 12. My youngest received both physical therapy and occupational therapy through Early Intervention for delayed and atypical motor development, bottom scooting, and sensory concerns.

Experiencing Early Intervention as a parent gave me a deeper understanding of how overwhelming this journey can feel. It strengthened my empathy for families and deepened my commitment to supporting parents not only as a therapist, but also as someone who has walked that path.

Why I Created Starting Point
I founded Starting Point in 2020 to create a pediatric therapy practice that allowed me to support families in a more flexible and meaningful way. Home-based therapy allows children to learn where they feel most comfortable and gives parents the opportunity to be actively involved in their child’s development.

Why I Created This Website
Over the years, I noticed many parents searching for answers late at night while worrying about their child’s development. I created this site to help parents who are waiting for therapy services, answer common developmental questions, and share practical guidance parents can use at home.

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I created this site to:

• help parents who are waiting for therapy services

• answer common developmental questions

• reassure parents who may be feeling worried

• share practical guidance parents can use at home

• make pediatric physical therapy knowledge accessible to more families

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My goal is simple: to help parents feel confident, informed, and supported as they guide their child’s development. And sometimes, the most rewarding moments in my work are when parents cry happy tears as they watch their child achieve a milestone they once feared might never happen.​