Our Team

Diana earned her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and is a registered and licensed occupational therapist. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Houston. Prior to graduate school, Diana was a full-time nanny and also a caregiver for a child with autism. She then progressed to working with children with special needs in their homes, carrying out home exercise programs related to occupational therapy goals. Through these opportunities, she knew she found her niche in working with children and their families. As a Houston native, she knew she had to give back to a community that has given so much to her, which led to the opening of Foundations Pediatric Therapy.

Diana’s passion stems from building meaningful and lasting relationships that challenge and nurture growth and development across the entire lifespan. She has worked with children with sensory processing disorders, ADHD/ADD, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, genetic disorders, anxiety, feeding difficulties, and developmental delay. She has taken continuing education courses in DIR/Floortime, infant development, infant massage, feeding, myofascial release, torticollis, toe walking, Brain Gym, and NDT treatment of the baby and young child. She is certified as an Integrated Listening Systems (iLs) associate, a iLs Safe and Sound Protocol practitioner, in SOS Approach to Feeding, and in TummyTime! Method.

When not practicing, Diana enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two sons. She also enjoys traveling and exercising.

Emma graduated with her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Art History at Austin College in Sherman, TX. She is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the state of Texas. Emma believes working as a collaborative team member and building strong foundational relationships are integral to the therapeutic process.

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Prior to and since graduate school, she has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder, developmental delay, cancer, ADHD/ADD, learning disabilities, and anxiety disorders. Emma has taken continuing education courses in DIR/Floortime, Sensory Integration, the Astronaut Training Protocol (a vestibular-visual-auditory therapeutic protocol), Core Connections, Brain Gym, Bal-a-vis-x, Reiki, and NDT treatment of the baby and young child. She is an Advanced Integrated Listening Systems (iLs) and Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner and has completed the Level I Mentorship Program through the STAR Institute. Emma is an avid learner and has attended many conferences, reads constantly, and strives to understand how it's all connected and turn it in to practice.

Emma wasn't born in Houston but grew up here, moved away a few times, and kept coming back. She wanted to bring something special to the pediatric therapy community and is eagerly building Foundations Pediatric Therapy into an integrative practice supporting holistic care for children and their families. Emma enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, exercise, and scuba diving. She and her husband have a son and dog.

Gladys is a first generation Houstonian who graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish. After graduating, she moved to Nicaragua and spent four years working in education there in a wide variety of roles from teaching English and Psychology to counseling children in school.

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Upon returning to Houston she worked as a research assistant for four years at the Children’s Learning Institute helping to test educational programs for elementary school aged children within HISD and the homes. Through her work there, she was exposed to Occupational Therapy and was blown away by the endless possibilities to improve the daily lives of others. Convinced this was the path for her, she decided to pursue an Associates degree in Occupational Therapy at Houston Community College. She completed her fieldwork in Ben Taub's inpatient psychiatric unit and at Special Cheers Pediatric Therapy. Gladys has been practicing as an Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2016 and regularly seeks new learning opportunities in this amazing field. 

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Since being hired on at Foundations when the clinic opened in 2018, she has earned certification in the SOS Approach to Feeding, DIR/Floortime approach and the implementation of Safe and Sound and Integrated Listening systems.  

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Gladys is honored to be part of the amazing team and unique work environment at Foundations Pediatric Therapy and provide this invaluable service to kids and their families. She is currently the clinic’s Clinical Supervisor. When not at work Gladys enjoys spending time with her family and doing freelance writing work for The Houston Press and Houstonia Magazine about Houston’s bustling music scene.

Rose earned her BS and Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. She also worked as a Research Data Coordinator at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. During her years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Rose has had the pleasure of working with both adults and children in a variety of settings. She has provided adult patient care in a hospital and skilled nursing facility. She has worked with children in educational, outpatient, and private practice settings. Rose served as Lead-Speech Language Pathologist at a pediatric outpatient clinic in 2017.

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Rose has evaluated and treated children with a wide range of disorders and delays. She is certified inDIR®/Floortime™Basic and Beckman Oral Motor assessment and intervention. She has completed continuing education courses in Social Thinking®, SOS Approach to Feeding, and Integrated Listening Systems. Rose also has training and experience in alternative and augmentative communication, literacy, fluency, articulation and phonological disorders, voice disorders, expressive and receptive language deficits, cognition, apraxia of speech, social language, and feeding and swallowing disorders. She was awarded the ASHA Award for Continuing Education for her commitment to learning in 2015. She is dedicated to developing her skills to maximize the cognitive, communicative, and functional abilities of the individuals she serves.

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Rose is passionate about providing the highest quality services using a developmental and evidenced-based approach. She understands that every child is unique and integrates different intervention modalities based on the child’s individual profile. Rose meets children at their developmental level and incorporates positive interactions, naturalistic treatment, and play. She works closely with parents and caregivers to improve the quality of life of their children and families.

In her spare time, Rose likes to travel and try new foods. She grew up in a close-knit family with her eight siblings which has fueled her love of working with children at an early age. One of her favorite past times is spending time with her seven nieces and nephews. Rose proudly wears the title of “favorite auntie”.

Melissa earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UT Health Science Center in San Antonio and her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in Motor Behavior from Texas A&M University. She has 9 years of clinical experience in delivering outpatient pediatric care addressing diagnoses including but not limited to torticollis, developmental delay, toe-walking, genetic syndromes, neurological disorders, autism, coordination disorders, and sports & orthopedic injuries.

Melissa strongly believes that movement should be motivating in order to achieve motor learning and strives to embody this in her treatment approach. With a dance and gymnastics background, she has a love for movement and ultimately aims for each of her patients to find joy in movement as well. She prioritizes goal collaboration with families and building strong, positive relationships with her patients to promote a pleasant experience and successful functional outcomes.

She is certified in neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and has advanced NDT training in the assessment and treatment of infants and young children which allows her to accurately evaluate motor patterns, identify problem areas across development, and provide an effective hands-on approach that maximizes a child’s functional potential. Melissa is experienced in orthotic management, having specialized training in the OSKAR approach (Optimal Segment Kinematics and Alignment Approach to Rehabilitation). She has further training in pelvic floor physical therapy through the pelvic rehabilitation institute of Herman & Wallace, has a special interest in various manual therapy techniques, and recognizes that a well regulated sensory system is essential to a child’s growth and success and embraces this in her practice.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, and son, Levi; staying active through running, yoga, and dance; exploring local coffee shops; baking sweet treats; and volunteering as a coach for a girls’ running team geared towards building self-confidence.

Rachel earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch. Prior to this, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a Minor in Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she was deeply involved in community service. She demonstrated her leadership as a coordinator for the SFA Dance Marathon, organizing events for members and families at the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Her dedication to academics and community service led to her being named Miss SFA 2020, an honor recognizing her academic achievements, community involvement, and loyalty to the university.

Before pursuing graduate school, Rachel worked as a Registered Behavior Technician, gaining valuable hands-on experience with children diagnosed with Autism. During graduate school, Rachel held leadership roles as the Treasurer for Pi Theta Epsilon, the OT honor society, and as the Community Service Chair for the Student Occupational Therapy Association. She also volunteered as a camp buddy for the Christina Sullivan Foundation, which hosted adaptive sports camps for children of varying abilities. She found joy in building connections with the athletes and developing creative ways to facilitate their participation in sports.

Rachel completed her Level II Fieldwork Rotation at an outpatient pediatric facility, where she worked with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, ADD/ADHD, developmental coordination disorder, learning disabilities, sensory processing disorders, feeding difficulties, and various genetic disorders. Her research contributions include two published articles, one of which explored maternal perceptions of COVID-19’s impact on child development.

Committed to advancing her knowledge, Rachel has pursued continuing education in DIR/Floortime and SOS Feeding. Her professional interests include sensory integration and processing, early childhood development, feeding, animal-assisted therapy, neurological disorders, and learning disabilities. Above all, she strives to create therapy sessions that are both engaging and impactful, always going the extra mile to support her patients and their families.

Outside of her professional life, Rachel enjoys spending time with her dog (Pippa and June Bug), dancing, volunteering at the animal shelter, trying new restaurants, and participating in her favorite ADL of napping.

Eden graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Columbia University and is currently working toward her doctorate degree. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the state of Texas. Eden believes in the importance of emotional regulation and play when working with any child, no matter their diagnosis to ensure treatment is motivating and effective.

Prior to and since graduate school, Eden has worked with children in schools and in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has a strong interest in how Sensory Processing Disorders impacts executive functioning skills and is currently completing  her research at Columbia University on this topic. She has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, genetic disorders, and motor coordination disorders. Eden has taken continuing education courses in DIR/Floortime and has a special interest in sensory integration techniques, feeding therapy, and emotional regulations impact on fine motor skills. Eden is an avid learner and always strives to provide highly individualized services to children and families she works with.

Eden is a Dallas native who now loves living in Houston. Eden enjoys spending time with her husband and exploring new restaurants or hanging out at home with their two cats (pepper & biscuit)!

Brass Burapa is a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) with a passion for supporting children’s development through engaging, individualized care. He holds an Associate in Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine University and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of North Texas. With a background in both education and therapy, Brass integrates creativity, movement, and play to foster growth in children of all abilities.

Originally from Santa Fe, NM, Brass moved to Texas to pursue his education degree. He began his career as a public and private music teacher, developing a strong passion for working with neurodiverse children. His move to Houston provided the perfect opportunity to shift his focus to occupational therapy, allowing him to work with children full-time in a more individualized and impactful way. As a former OT patient himself, he understands firsthand the power of therapy in transforming lives and is committed to providing children with the personalized support they need to thrive.

With his musical background, Brass incorporates rhythm and music into therapy sessions to enhance engagement, motor skills, and cognitive development. His approach emphasizes movement-based learning, adaptive play, functional communication, and sensory exploration, helping children build confidence and independence. He particularly enjoys working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorders, supporting them in overcoming challenges and embracing their unique strengths.

Brass is dedicated to building strong therapeutic relationships and tailoring interventions to each child’s interests. He is often unabashedly silly—both in and out of treatment—believing that fully embracing a child’s world of play and imagination encourages them to fully invest in their therapy. Brass believes that by stepping out of his own comfort zone, he can encourage children to do the same, fostering growth in a fun and supportive environment.

Outside of work, Brass enjoys playing and teaching music, designing and playing board games, creating visual art, and exploring the great outdoors.

Nikki was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from the University of the South: Sewanee, and went on to receive a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. She also holds a certification in Classroom Storytelling from Rice University, where she studied evidence-based strategies for supporting oral language development in English Language Learners through literacy.

Before becoming a speech-language pathologist, Nikki taught first grade for three years in an ESL classroom. This experience deepened her passion for working with young learners and reinforced her commitment to creating inclusive, language-rich environments that support every child’s growth and confidence.

Nikki has worked with both children and adults across a variety of settings, including schools, community clinics, and hospitals. She has been an active member of the bilingual assessment team in community clinics and school settings and completed externships at Texas Children’s Hospital and The Mosaic School, where she provided individualized care to medically complex patients and students.

She is especially passionate about play-based learning and strives to create a supportive environment where each child feels safe to take risks and explore new skills. Nikki is committed to evidence-based practice and designs therapy sessions that align with each child’s interests and needs. Her clinical interests include expressive and receptive language, cognitive-communication skills, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Lee earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in Houston and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Baylor University. With over a decade of experience working with neurodivergent children, she brings creativity, compassion, and a whole-child approach to every session. 

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Lee has a special interest in pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction, including constipation, bedwetting, and potty-training difficulties. She’s passionate about helping families understand what’s going on, feel less overwhelmed, and find solutions that empower their child. She also loves working on developmental milestones and torticollis, and with children with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy—always keeping therapy fun, functional, and personalized. She’s conversational in Spanish and values connecting with bilingual families to help bridge communication gaps. 

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Outside the clinic, Lee enjoys hosting dinners with her husband, playing pickleball with friends, doing yoga, and raising money for Make-A-Wish, where she serves on the Young Leaders Board. She feels deeply called to this work and is honored to walk alongside families in their child’s journey.

Carolina (Caro) was born and raised in Houston, Tx. She earned her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, in Kingsville Texas, and a Bachelor's of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. She currently holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. 

Carolina has experience working with picky eaters, dysphagia, language disorders, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, social pragmatics, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is SOS certified, and has completed training with the CAN-EAT Approach. She has special interests in feeding therapy, apraxia of speech, receptive/expressive language, and the use of AAC. She is passionate about helping families decrease the stress that is accompanied with picky eaters and advocating for clients. 

In her free time, Carolina enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. 

Jennifer was born in California and moved to Texas as a kid after living all around the world with her family. Prior to joining the team at Foundations Pediatric Therapy she was an assistant montessori teacher. After working in the classroom for nearly a decade, she knew she wanted to make a change but remain in proximity to children. I love working at Foundations because of the amazing team of empathetic and caring women who help children of all ages work toward and achieve their goals. When not at work, Jennifer is a student at University of St. Thomas, and enjoys spending time with her cats, Sage and Basil. She also enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Houston is the place to be for food, drinks, art and museums!

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Jennifer earned her Associate of Science from Lone Star College and later graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise Science. She is currently working toward applying to doctoral graduate programs to achieve her goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist. Passionate about learning, she enjoys joining therapy sessions across all disciplines to continue expanding her knowledge and gain hands-on experience. She takes pride in helping maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming space for all clients and is always happy to lend a helping hand to therapists during sessions. Being part of the Foundations team, surrounded by amazing and caring mentors, has been a meaningful part of her journey. Outside of work, she enjoys journaling, reading, playing video games, shopping, exploring new places, trying new foods, and spending quality time with family and friends.