Laura is a licensed and American Speech Language and Hearing Association certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a master’s degree from the University of Maine at Orono. Laura is also the proud owner and Executive Director of Growing Minds Therapy. With a deep passion for helping individuals of all ages communicate and thrive, Laura brings 10+ years of experience and expertise to the clinic. Specializing in working with pediatric and adult populations, Laura has developed a reputation for delivering compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Laura was born and raised in Androscoggin County and began working with children when she was in high school at a local daycare. She continued to work at the University of Maine’s Children’s Center throughout her undergraduate career. She spent two summers at the Yale Child Study Center for Autism in New Haven, Connecticut as an undergraduate research assistant. While working on her master’s degree, she was a graduate student research assistant studying Parkinson’s Disease, Apraxia of Speech, fluency disorders, and bilingualism utilizing Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FNIRS). Following these research experiences, Laura presented at the American Speech and Language Hearing Association Conventions in Orlando and Chicago and was published as a co-author in the International Journal of Speech and Language Pathology in 2015.
Laura was awarded the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Undergraduate Research Award, the Undergraduate Student of the Year, and the ASHA Ace Award in 2020 for going above and beyond in Continuing Education. Laura has completed numerous advanced continuing education courses to enhance her skills, particularly in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, pediatric and adult swallowing disorders, and voice disorders. Laura is certified in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and Ampcare’s Effective Swallowing Protocol. Laura has honed her skills across various settings, including public schools, private clinics, home health, and hospitals, catering to both adult and pediatric populations. Laura’s expertise is broad and encompasses treating children with articulation and language disorders, fluency, motor speech difficulties, feeding issues, and oral motor development, as well as adults with swallowing disorders, Aphasia, Apraxia, Dysarthria, voice disorders, and cognitive communication disorders.
When Laura is not working or furthering her clinical knowledge, she enjoys spending time with her three children, husband, and pets! She enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and art.
Alicia is the Director of Occupational Therapy at Growing Minds Therapy, where she brings her passion for helping children thrive. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2017. Alicia spent several years in various outpatient clinics before landing at Growing Minds Therapy.
As a dedicated mom to two young children, Alicia understands the importance of balancing play, learning, and growth. Her experience as a mother enriches her work as a pediatric therapist, allowing her to connect with kids and families on a personal level. Alicia is deeply committed to supporting children in becoming the happiest, most confident versions of themselves.
Outside of her professional life, Alicia loves exploring new learning opportunities, enjoying Disney magic, and singing along to Taylor Swift songs with her kids. She is passionate about creating a positive, fun, and enriching environment for children to grow and develop, and she’s thrilled to be a part of the Growing Minds community.
Kylee is a pediatric occupational therapist originally from Western Massachusetts, now based in Portland, Maine with her fiancé. Kylee has been with Growing Minds since September 2023. She specializes in helping young clients develop motor skills, sensory processing abilities, and daily living skills. Kylee has recently developed a love for the specialty of feeding therapy for picky eaters, helping children develop healthy, positive relationships with food through individualized therapy strategies that address sensory, motor, and behavioral challenges related to eating. Outside of work, she enjoys capturing families’ special moments through her camera lens and expressing her creativity in various artistic forms. Her diverse interests and background bring a unique, well-rounded perspective to her work.
Morgan is a pediatric occupational therapist, certified by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), committed to supporting childhood development and participation in meaningful roles, routines, and activities. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Ithaca College in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy with a minor in Health Policy and Management. Morgan maintains licensure in the states of Maine and New Hampshire. She has professional development experience in SOS feeding, hippotherapy, and aquatic therapy, with other related animal assisted therapy experience. Morgan has experience working in a variety of settings including pediatric home health, early intervention, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient/private clinics. Morgan enjoys working with clients and their families across the lifespan, with special interests working with infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities and medical complexities. She strives to ensure that all families, regardless of background, feel empowered and equipped to thrive during these formative years and focuses on providing accessible resources and support to families from diverse backgrounds. When not working, Morgan loves spending time at camp with her family and dogs. She loves being outdoors year-round and you can often find her waterskiing, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, or at a local CrossFit gym
Ann is a speech and language pathologist assistant (SLP-A) who graduated from the University of Maine in Augusta with a BS degree. She has training and experience in early childhood and special education and has held a variety of positions, including substitute teaching, teaching assistant, professional tutor, literacy volunteer and speech and language assistant. She discovered early in her career that teaching involves observing well, listening more and speaking less, responding rather than reacting, and encouraging students’ successes as they continue to grow and learn. To teach, one must really love children, and her love of children is very much the core of who she is why she loves what she does. Ann is the mother of four and grandmother of twelve, one newly born. In her pastime she enjoys spending time with friends and family, writing, crafts, baking and walking along the many trails nearby taking photos. Ann is a Maine author and involved in Maine’s recovery community and grief support.
Alayna is a new occupational therapist who recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine's Master of Occupational Therapy program, where she developed a deep passion for supporting children in reaching their fullest potential. During her time at the University of Southern Maine, Alayna gained valuable experience working with both the pediatric mental health population and in pediatric outpatient clinics through her Level II fieldwork placements.
Alayna is drawn to pediatric occupational therapy because it offers the incredible opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families. She is committed to helping her young clients build the skills they need to navigate everyday challenges and improve their quality of life.
Outside of work, Alayna enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, exploring new destinations through travel, and playing with her dog. She brings a warm, compassionate approach to her therapy practice and is eager to support families as they help their children flourish.
Sera is an administrative professional with over 10 years of experience in providing essential office support. With a background in managing schedules, handling communications, and streamlining office processes, Sera ensures operations run smoothly and efficiently at Growing Minds.
Sera is a mother of two children and enjoys hiking and gardening in her personal time.