STEPHANIE WATTS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Stephanie is the owner and founder of Capabilities Therapy Services. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a B.S. in psychology in 1990. After graduation, Stephanie became a part-time caregiver for her father, who had recently undergone brain surgery for cancer treatment. During one of his many therapy appointments, Stephanie observed an occupational therapist working with her dad to help him regain strength and fine motor coordination in his dominant hand so that he could write again. It was a life-changing experience for both Stephanie and her father. He regained his ability to write and use his right hand for functional tasks, and Stephanie knew she would do whatever it took to become an occupational therapist. In 1999, she graduated from Brenau University with a combined B.S/M.S. in occupational therapy. She has worked predominantly with children in the school, home, and clinic settings. She has training in Handwriting, Without Tears program, RMTi for reflex integration, SOS Approach to Feeding program, and has certification in Sensory Integration. She has had extensive continuing education in sensory processing, fine motor skill development, NDT approach to motor skill development, and executive functioning skills. Stephanie’s approach to therapy is to include the family/caregivers in the process and help them implement strategies and techniques to carry over and be successful in the home environment. She knows first-hand what an impact OT has on the entire family.
Angela Connell Occupational Therapist
Angela discovered occupational therapy during her junior year of high school in a medical professions class when another classmate presented on the OT profession. Angela did a shadowing rotation with an OT during her senior year of high school and knew from that moment what she wanted to be when she “grew up.” Angela received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alabama in 2004 and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2006. Since graduating from OT school, she has worked with the adult and geriatric population in the inpatient rehabilitation setting and the pediatric population in both the public school system and clinic settings. Angela’s continuing education has included training in Handwriting without Tears, the Size Matters Handwriting Program, Zones of Regulation, Interactive Metronome, and Brain and Sensory Foundations for reflex integration. Angela loves the creative aspect of making therapy fun and engaging for children. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Angela and her husband Andrew have a corgi named Abby. In her free time, Angela enjoys running, stand-up paddleboarding, reading, yoga, and traveling.
Carmel Ast Occupational Therapist
Carmel Ast completed her undergraduate coursework at Kennesaw State University and graduated from Augusta University with her Master’s degree in Health Science in Occupational Therapy in August 2014. She was first introduced to the field of occupational therapy in high school, working as a sensory aide in group therapy designed for picky eaters. Carmel knew right away that OT was the career she wanted to pursue. She has 7 years of pediatric experience working in multiple settings providing treatment with a focus on using sensorimotor play to promote development. Carmel believes that behavior is often a form of communication and seeks to understand the underlying needs that children are unable to express verbally. She has received training in a variety of areas including the Star Institute’s Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding, Attachment, and Trauma by ATTACh, and in Reflex Integration from the MNRI Institute. Carmel enjoys reading, indoor rock climbing, and playing with her nieces and nephew.
Dr. Lindsey Snopek Physical Therapist
Dr. Lindsey Snopek received her Bachelor's in Rehabilitation Science with a dual minor in Psychology and Neuroscience from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA. She graduated in 2017 with her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She specializes in pediatrics and works with children of all ages, including early intervention.
Lindsey became interested in Physical Therapy at the age of 8 when her younger brother, Kyle, began early intervention services. She grew up helping him with his exercises and stretches and always said she wanted to be a PT for kids like him! Throughout her high school and college education, she followed and worked with therapists until fulfilling her dream of becoming one herself.
In her spare time, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her dog GIR, watching horror movies, and playing board/card games with family and friends.
Amari Banks
Occupational Therapist
Amari graduated from Brenau University with a Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2020. Throughout the challenges of the pandemic, Amari began her OT career shadowing and assisting her mentor treat children primarily with visual and sensory processing disorders, developmental delays, autism, and ADHD. After transitioning and treating adult patients for a short while, Amari had desire to return to treating pediatric patients. She enjoys sharing the little victories with her patients and family members. In her free time, Amari enjoys playing board games, going to the pool, and spending time with her friends and family.
Hawii Mekonnen
Occupational Therapist
Hawii completed her undergraduate coursework in Rehabilitation science and her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Concordia University Wisconsin. During the pandemic, she completed her fieldwork rotations in the acute care and school-based settings. Although she enjoys working with the adult population, she has a heart for children and enjoys watching them reach their goals and milestones. She was able to learn and grow in the school-based setting working with children with developmental delays, down syndrome, autism, and ADHD. She is passionate about growing in neuro-based and sensory integration strategies and is currently working on her certification in primitive reflex integration (CPRCS). In her free time, she enjoys researching the best evidence-based treatment strategies, cooking, spending time out in nature, reading her bible, spending time with her cousins and catching up with family and friends.
Joshua Stuger
Physical Therapist
Joshua Stuger graduated from Mercer University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. He obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in December 2021. He specializes in pediatrics and has treated children from birth to twenty years of age with diagnoses ranging from Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Charcot Marie Tooth, Developmental delay, and a variety of others. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, trying new dessert shops, and watching/playing most sports with baseball, basketball, and football being amongst his favorites.
Talitha Rector
Physical Therapist
Talitha’s middle school dream of becoming a PT came true in 2007 when she graduated from Emory University with her physical therapy doctorate. She began her career at Kennedy Krieger’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury but transitioned to pediatrics in 2012. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings, including the school systems, outpatient clinics, and early intervention. Talitha has received continuing education training in functional movements, reflex integration, kinesiotaping, treatment of Bowel and Bladder disorders, Integrated Listening Systems (iLs), social-emotional development, Trauma informed Care, and has worked with children with a variety of diagnoses, including autism, musculoskeletal pain, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, prematurity, torticollis, global developmental delays, ADHD, and genetic disorders. Talitha values the importance of patient/parent education and believes it is her job to assist in integrating therapy into the daily lives of her patients because sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.
In her spare time, Talitha enjoys going on adventures with her husband, Justin. Adventures typically include overseas travel and scuba diving. When not traveling she enjoys camping, hikes, quilting, game nights, and spending quality time with friends and family.