Mim Ochsenbein, MSW, OTR/L has been a practicing pediatric occupational therapist for over 25 years. She received her BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1996 and her MSW from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2012. She has received advanced training in sensory integration (SIPT certification, STAR ProCert1, STAR ProCert2), listening therapy (Therapeutic Listening, iLs), feeding therapy (SOS), DIR, mental health (DC:0-5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood), and infant massage (CIMI…

Jayna graduated from Simpson College with a bachelor's degree in biology and Spanish. She then completed a doctorate in occupational therapy at Creighton University. Jayna was the first Occupational Therapy Pediatric Resident (now called Fellowship) with Creighton University following her occupational therapy degree. During this time, she received advanced training in Sensory Integration and Processing, feeding, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and education. Jayna has worked in a variety of pediatric settings prior to coming to STAR Institute and is Board Certified in Pediatrics through…

Kaitlyn graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She then graduated top of her class from Midwestern University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy. During her time as a student, Kaitlyn completed a clinical rotation at Gundersen Health Systems working in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit. There she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to provide education, treatment, plan of care, and discharge recommendations to patients. She then completed a clinical rotation at the STAR Institute furthering her…

Paulina received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She then completed her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Paulina’s training and clinical experience began centered around the DIR/Floortime model in outpatient pediatric settings both in Chicago and Italy. Paulina has completed the STAR Institute Intensive Mentorship Program Level 1 and holds a Profectum Level 1 Certificate in the Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-based Model/Clinician (CL1).

Paulina’s special…

Alexa graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science. She then went on to complete her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. Alexa’s doctoral capstone was on the role of occupational therapy in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and sensory modulation in POTS. She has spoken on POTS at the AOTA Inspire Conference and Dysautonomia International Annual Conferences. 

Alexa has experience practicing in outpatient, early intervention, and home health settings. Alexa is passionate about providing…

Rachel graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from the State University of West Georgia and received her Masters in Education in School Counseling from Georgia State University. Following three years of work as a high school counselor, Rachel served for two years in Burkina Faso as a Peace Corps volunteer, working in the sector of Girls’ Education and Empowerment. Prior to coming to STAR Institute, Rachel worked in community mental health with families of children and teenagers who were in the foster care, adoptive, juvenile or truancy court systems. This multi-faceted work included…

Kayla has more than 10 years experience with children, adolescents and their families. She has supported clients in the private clinic, outpatient pediatric hospital, and school settings. Prior to working at STAR Institute, Kayla worked in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team at a nationally recognized children’s hospital as well as a relationship based school serving individuals with complex sensory-motor, communication, and learning differences.

Kayla’s treatment lens is rooted in relationships, building trust through respectful interactions, and presuming competence with the…

Carrie received her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from The University of Arizona in 2004. Prior to joining STAR Institute, Carrie worked in Southern California and practiced in several different pediatric settings including a multidisciplinary SPD clinic, public schools, a hospital-based mental health treatment program, and private practice clinics.  She served as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) specialist and has experience developing and running social skills programs.   Carrie has taken the University of Southern California Advanced Training…

Dr. Courtney McDonnell is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Colorado. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and went on to earn her Master’s degree and Doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver. She completed her pre-doctoral training at the Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families in Camarillo, CA and her post-doctoral training at Atlanta Psychological Services in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. McDonnell comes to the STAR Institute with extensive experience working with children and their…

Andrea “Dezi” Valdez received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2015 and went on to earn her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2023. While in OT school, Dezi applied for and was accepted into the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy, which was an event where students could meet and network with the leaders in occupational therapy research. She completed fieldwork rotations at Sensory Kids in Portland, OR; Lincoln Regional Center in Lincoln, NE…