Jodi Negrin, Owner, Speech/Language Pathologist

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

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.

Jordan Mallard, Administrative Assistant

Jordan is our part-time administrative assistant. He has been with us since 2016 and has a background in insurance billing, retail, and customer service.

In his spare time, Jordan enjoys going on backpacking trips & hikes with his dog, Kenai. When not out exploring nature, Jordan enjoys hanging out with friends or family, staying active, going to concerts, visiting Portland, and enjoying the many gluten-free snacks and foods that are available.

Ruhama Bestavros, MOT, OTR/L

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.

Karen Cherry, AAS, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

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
Occupational Therapist

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

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!

Elizabeth Malshuk, MOT, OTR/L

Elizabeth is an occupational therapist. She graduated with her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Washington in 2012. She has always enjoyed working with children, as a swim lesson instructor, nanny and preschool teacher. Elizabeth has gone on to present at the National Occupational Therapy Conference, guest lecture at the University of Washington, and publish her findings in OT Practice Magazine for the October 2015 issue.

Additional training includes Integrated Listening Therapy (ILS) and Home Supervision Training; sensory and vision therapy; and vestibular and reflex integration training.

Elizabeth’s professional interests include sensory processing, feeding, and NDT. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys traveling the world with her husband, playing with her two sons, cooking new foods, and cheering on the Huskies and Sounders.

Danielle Carragher, PT, MPT

Danielle is a pediatric Physical Therapist who started her career in 1996 and has worked in a variety of settings. She earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton, Scranton, PA. Danielle has worked in early intervention, providing home-based services to the birth-to-three population, as well as in schools and outpatient clinics. She has significant knowledge in selecting and ordering orthotics and medical equipment, and is also experienced with prematurity, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and developmental delays, and has a professional interest in aquatic therapy.

Danielle and her family relocated from the East Coast and when not busy with work and school activities she can be found walking or hiking with friends, exploring all the Northwest has to offer. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, travel, and playing board games with her family.

Rebecca Bishop, SLP

Becca is a Speech Language Pathologist. A Seattle native, she attended the University of Puget Sound and University of Washington during her undergraduate career. She earned her with Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington in 1999. Becca has spent the last 20 years of her career in a variety of settings including early intervention, hospital settings, and private practice clinics.

Becca has worked with pediatric clients of all ages and with a variety of communication disorders including articulation and phonology, expressive and receptive language, motor speech disorders and hearing loss. She has a special interest in, and extensive post graduate training related to work with children with hearing loss and their families. Becca spent over a decade working with children with hearing loss as part of the Audiology & Cochlear Implant teams at Virginia Mason & Seattle Children’s Hospital. She continues to enjoy supporting families as they explore communication options, including working toward developing their listening and spoken language skills for their children.

Becca lives in Issaquah with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities with her family & cuddling up on the couch with a good book.

Grace Kershaw, SLP

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.

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