Jodi Negrin, Owner, Speech/Language Pathologist
jodi@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Jodi graduated from the University of Washington in 1996 with her Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing sciences, and then with her Master’s of Science in Speech/Language Pathology in 1998. Jodi is licensed as a speech/language pathologist in the State of Washington and has been a longstanding member of the American Speech/Language/Hearing Association. Throughout her career, Jodi has worked as a pediatric speech/language pathologist (SLP) serving children in a variety of settings including private clinics, home-based, and public schools. She has experience working with children who present with a broad range of speech and language disorders.

Most recently, Jodi was executive director of MOSAIC Children’s Therapy Issaquah since 2014. In 2019, Jodi purchased that location and is now the owner of Sound Children’s Therapy Clinic.

Jodi is excited to be able to have her team continue to serve pediatric clients in the Issaquah and surrounding areas. Jodi and her team are dedicated to serving children and their families in a caring, professional, and relaxed environment.

Vera Girard, Client Relations Manager
vgirard@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Vera is our Client Relations Manager and she is often the first friendly face or voice our clients see or hear!

Vera has worked in the legal field for many years, but made the switch to the medical field in 2014. She is an integral part of our team and particularly enjoys working at Sound, getting to know and meet all the families that come through our doors.

In her spare time, Vera enjoys spending as much time as possible in the sun, when it decides to shine in the Pacific Northwest. She usually takes 3 or 4 camping trips a year with her family. She also likes to read and go to the movies with her daughter.

Ruhama Bestavros, MOT, OTR/L
rbestavros@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Ruhama is an Occupational Therapist. She received a BS in Biology with a minor in Psychology (2008) from the University of Texas Pan-American, a BS in Healthcare Services (2013) and an MS in Occupational Therapy (2013) from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. Her additional training includes Certification in Pediatric Kinesio Taping, continuing education in neurological deficits, and feeding. Her professional interests include birth to three, feeding across the lifespan, and neuro-developmental treatment.

Ruhama is an experienced bilingual therapist who is fluent in English and Spanish. She has been treating pediatric clients in both home health and outpatient settings. She specializes in treating children with Autism, developmental delays, feeding difficulties, and sensory processing disorders. In her personal time, Ruhama enjoys hiking, skiing, running, playing sports, traveling, spending time with her family, and attending music concerts.

Chelsea Bradley, OT
cbradley@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Chelsea graduated with her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington in 2019. Prior to school she worked in the integrated preschool/Kindergarten at the University of Washington working with children with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, Cerebral palsy, and Developmental Delay. Chelsea completed a Fieldwork in a Pediatric Occupational Therapy clinic gaining experience with Handwriting Without Tears, the Alert program, Sensory Integration, and has previous experience using the DIR floortime model. Chelsea also completed her Master’s capstone project on feeding using the SOS approach. She currently works part time as a School Occupational Therapist at the EEU/Haring Center.

In her free time, Chelsea enjoys spending time outdoors in this beautiful state, especially with her dog, Daisy. She likes running, hiking, and playing soccer. She also enjoys gardening and reading! Chelsea is very excited to be a member of the Sound Children’s Therapy team!

Karen Cherry, AAS, COTA/L
kcherry@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Karen has experience working with children who have Cerebral Palsy, Autism, PDD-NOS, visual perceptual impairments, TBI, seizure disorders, developmental delays, craniosacral therapy, and sensory integration dysfunction. Her primary interest is pediatrics after multiple internships in pediatric outpatient settings. Karen graduated from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lake Washington Technical College in 2011.

Karen has two grown children. She enjoys hiking, working out, reading, continuing education, and spending time with her family.

Tara Goodson, OTR/L
tgoodson@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Tara received a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington. Her post-graduate training includes receiving a certification in Neurodevelopmental Treatment in pediatrics, completing a 4-day Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding course, and continuing education in Sensory Processing Disorders, Sensory Defensiveness and Sensory Diets, the Handwriting Without Tears Program, and in the Alert Program or “How Does Your Engine Run.”

Her professional interests include sensory processing disorders, fine motor and handwriting issues, and Developmental Coordination Disorder and dyspraxia.

Beyond work, Tara enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing. She has a passion for gardening and creating colorful flower containers in the summer, and enjoys eating out with friends and spending time with family.

Tara Jesson, OTR/L
tjesson@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Tara is our lead occupational therapist. She received her BS in Occupational Therapy from Texas Women’s University. Her additional training includes the areas of: sequential oral sensory therapy; visual and perceptual deficits; sensory defensiveness and diet; and anxiety disorders. Her interests and expertise include feeding therapy, muscle strengthening and tone normalization, and functional activities as a tool to achieving therapy outcomes.

In her time outside of work, Tara enjoys hiking in the Summer and skiing in the Winter. Golf is another outdoor activity that she has found a passion for and is trying to improve her golf swing. She loves reading, musicals, and concerts. Tara relishes trying out new restaurants with her husband and friends and balances that with Orange Theory Fitness classes!

Melanie Boehler, PT
mboehler@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Melanie graduated with her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Southern California in 2015. She is a native of the Pacific Northwest, and moved back to the Seattle area immediately after graduation.

She is a licensed physical therapist in the state of Washington, and an ongoing member of the American Physical Therapy Association. While the majority of her career has been spent treating a wide age-range of patients in the hospital setting, Melanie has always had a passion for working with children.

Melanie is a proud mother of two young boys, and lives with her family in Issaquah. She is a former professional dancer of a local dance company, and remains dedicated to an active lifestyle.

Melanie believes that each child deserves the best care available, and is honored to get to be a part of your children’s lives.

Jagruti Hambir PT, MHS
jhambir@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Jagruti is a pediatric Physical Therapist who has been practicing for about 12 years. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in PT in 2006 from India and a Master’s in Health Sciences from University of Indianapolis in 2012. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of settings like Early Intervention, Pre-school, Outpatient Ortho, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Cardiac Rehab, and Pediatric Outpatient. She always had a passion to work with kids and help them lead a quality life. Her motto as a Physical Therapist is “Adding quality to life and not just years to life.” She feels blessed to be able to touch her patient’s lives and make a difference. Jagruti has immense knowledge and skills in treating preemies and babies with developmental delays, torticollis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, toe walking, and spina bifida.

Outside of the clinic, Jagruti enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking and exploring different cuisines.

Grace Kershaw, SLP
gkershaw@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Grace is a Speech Language Pathologist. Originally from North Carolina, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences. After moving out west, Grace earned her Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences in 2017 from Washington State University. Grace completed her Clinical Fellowship Year at MOSAIC Children’s Therapy Issaquah and is excited to continue on as an SLP at Sound Children’s Therapy.

Grace has worked with clients of all ages and with a variety of communication disorders including articulation and phonology, expressive and receptive language, motor speech disorders, fluency, aphasia, and auditory processing disorder. She has always had a special interest in working with children and their families, with particular clinical interests including Autism Spectrum Disorder, social/pragmatic communication, early language intervention, and articulation/phonology. Grace also has experience in working with children who use augmentative communication devices.

In her spare time, Grace enjoys hiking, watching sports, and traveling with friends and family.

Kristen Leucuta, SLP-CF
kleucuta@soundchildrenstherapy.com

Kristen is a Speech Language Pathologist (Clinical Fellow), originally from Illinois. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. Kristen then moved to Idaho where she completed her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2020. She is very excited to begin her Clinical Fellowship at Sound Children’s Therapy.

Kristen has worked with clients of varying ages with a variety of communication disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, voice disorders, swallowing/feeding disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, and fluency disorders. Her additional interests and expertise consist of swallowing/feeding therapy, voice disorders, and fluency disorders including stuttering and cluttering.

Outside of clinic, Kristen enjoys exploring local coffee shops, cooking, traveling, and playing board games.