Say Hello To Your Team
Elise grew up in Keystone Heights, Florida playing whatever sport was in season at the time, but particularly basketball. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Science. From there, she moved to Gainesville to begin the inaugural year of the entry level Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida in 2003 with a graduating class of three. While walking her dog, she met the man who would become her husband, Steve. They settled in the big city of Gainesville and have two beautiful daughters.
With a special focus on pediatrics and sensory integration, Elise began working in settings such as clinics, multi-disciplinary programs, as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Florida, school settings, and in homes. Seeing the need for a clinic that would fully support the treatment of children and adults affected by sensory processing dysfunction, Elise and Steve decided to open the Lamp Post Therapy Center in 2009. Since then, they have been striving to provide a place of hope, help, and joy for those impacted by sensory processing dysfunction.
Steve was born and raised right here in Gainesville, Florida. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Clemson University and then spent a few years in Portland, Oregon. He returned in 1999 to earn a Master’s degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida where he was the Coordinator of the Fishing for Success Program. After eight years, he began his labor of love of stay-at-home dad to two incredible girls. As the Lamp Post has grown, so has Steve’s role at the Lamp Post. He serves as the Chief Financial Officer and manages insurance needs. Steve is also a talented handy man able to perform most of the work required to keep things at the Lamp Post fun and functional. Steve is also known as Elise’s husband.
Karah, originally from Micanopy, Florida, graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from the University of Florida and continued on there to receive her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2019. After completing her Level II specialty fieldwork at Lamp Post Therapy, she is excited to now be pursuing her interest in pediatrics with a focus on sensory integration. In her free time, Karah enjoys traveling with her fiancé, reading, playing the piano and spending time with family and friends. Karah is delighted to begin her career with Lamp Post Therapy.
Olivia was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia and graduated with her bachelors degree in Exercise and Sports Science from The University of Georgia in 2017. She continued on to earn a Masters degree in Occupational therapy at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia in 2019. In OT school, Olivia completed Level II fieldwork in outpatient pediatrics and hand and upper extremity therapy. After graduating, Olivia relocated to Gainesville, FL and in October 2019 joined the Lamp Post Team. She is excited to serve our families and clients and continue to hone competencies in the area of sensory integration. She is grateful to be a member of the Lamp Post Team and spread its mission of bringing light to families and individuals with sensory processing disorders.
Dimitri, or D, is a fully trained Facility Dog through Canine Companions for Independence. Dimitri and Christine have been working together since 2019 bringing joy and warmth to children. D knows too many commands to count to help kids build skills. He has a big heart and gentle presence for those experiencing stress and anxiety. He loves visiting his grandparents, going on walks, getting notes from his friends, and is especially fond of good food.
Christine is an occupational therapist originally from St. Petersburg, FL. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology while working as a course assistant designing curriculum on child development and behavior. She earned her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida in 2016 where she gained specialized training in pediatric therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and home modifications. Christine has worked as an occupational therapist with both children and adults throughout the Tampa Bay area in clinic, public school, and private school settings. She has unique experience establishing a school-wide sensory program. She is a certified handler of a facility dog and trained to implement canine-assisted therapy. She is excited to have joined the Lamp Post Team so she can specialize in sensory integration treatment that helps others lead happy and fulfilling lives. Christine enjoys being outdoors, running, biking, and reading in her spare time.
Raechel was raised in Weddington, North Carolina and relocated to St. Petersburg, FL in 2013. She earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Florida in 2018 and continued on to earn her Masters in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) in 2019. She has endorsements in English for Speakers of Other Languages and Reading.
With training in University of Florida Literacy Initiative (UFLI) and Orton Gillingham, Raechel is passionate about teaching students to read and is committed to meeting the specific needs of each student. In Gainesville, she worked as an ESE teacher for 2nd through 5th graders and then as a Kindergarten teacher in an inclusive classroom. Desiring an opportunity to impact students and families more directly, Raechel joined the Lamp Post team as the Sensory School Teacher in 2023.
In her free time, Raechel enjoys crafting, spending time with her friends and family, and her favorite thing to do is road trip with her dog, Yoda, while singing Taylor Swift songs along the way.
Melissa is a Speech - Language Pathologist who was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida. She had a passion for the sciences from a young age. Growing up, her mother had a Speech and Language Practice, but she wanted to be anything but a Speech Therapist despite her mother’s suggestion that she would enjoy the career. During her undergraduate years at the University of Florida, she changed her mind when she became fascinated by her interpersonal communication class and switched her major to Communication Sciences and Disorders. She continued her education and received her Master’s degree from the University of Florida in 2017. She loves to say that she received a degree in her two favorite things: eating and talking!
Continuing to follow her love of science and health she began her career working for UF Health Shands providing therapy to adult patients who were homebound. After a few years, she changed settings and dove into the school system where she discovered her joy for the pediatric population, especially for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties and associated disabilities. Here, she became passionate about individual students’ needs and the impact that sensory, emotional, and physical regulation plays on language and learning. She understands the impact of language organization on reading comprehension and the importance of social communication is to student relationships.
She is thrilled to be able to bring these skills and passions to help the clients at Lamp Post achieve success both at home and at school. In her free time, Melissa enjoys a diversity of activities including crafting, jumping into home projects, discovering new hobbies such as archery or football, or simply playing board games with friends.
