Alyssa received her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology from Florida State University.  She then received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.  She is so excited to be back in her hometown and providing skilled occupational therapy services and be apart of the AASL team!

Alyssa has extensive experience working with clients aged from 9 days to 100 years.  In school, she worked in a variety of settings, but her passion has always been working with kids and maximizing their independence.  She completed her first fieldwork experience working with adults with Intellectual Development Disabilities at an adult day facility.  There she was able to help adults learn about important safety and daily living tasks within their own living spaces independently.  Secondly, Alyssa was at an outpatient pediatric clinic where she gained insight into treating kids with varying diagnoses ranging from Attention-Defecit Hyperactive Disorder, Down Syndrome, Autism to prematurity and sensory processing disorders and everything in between.  Alyssa is passionate about sensory integration and processing and cognitive behavioral strategies, and making connections with families and their kiddos to maximize therapeutic benefit.

In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, going to theme parks and watching movies.

More About Alyssa…

What is your favorite food?
My dad makes the very best meatloaf ever, totally my favorite!

What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, we always have a ton of family traditions and family time so it makes the time super special.

What is a cool hobby of yours?
I have been very into banner making and party décor for my family and friends. I love to create
something special full of what they love to celebrate them. At this point, it feels like I am a professional
balloon artist, and its always fun to see their reactions to my over-the-top decorations.

Favorite Halloween costume you wore as a child?
Ariel from the little mermaid- I was her for 5 straight Halloweens.

What did you want to be “when you grow up”?

A vet, a dentist, or a therapist!

Why did you become a therapist?
To help others, my brother was in all the therapies growing up and they left such an impact on me and I
knew I wanted to do the same!

What’s the funniest thing one of your kids has said to you or done during therapy?
While engaging in messy play, I was purposefully getting small amounts of paint on a kid’s hands when
they reached up and put paint all over my face.

Give me one surprising/cool fact about you?
I went to Elementary/Middle school with one of the speech therapists- Ms. Ali, we were best friends
growing up and it is so special to be back and working with her so closely again!

What pets do you have and what are their names?
I have two dogs, one is Bailey and she is a Dashaud, and the other is Martini, she is a Chinese crested
hairless and my BFF! I also have a hairless cat named Franklin.

What is your favorite movie and why?

Peanut Butter Falcon- a true classic that makes me laugh and cry entirely too much!

Favorite song? 
So Will I by Hillsong United!

Favorite book? 
All of the Harry Potter books- Goblet of Fire is my very favorite if I needed to pick one!