Hi! I am the founder of the Bright Start team. I am passionate about providing quality and timely, evidenced-based care with and alongside our interdisciplinary team. I am a speech-language pathologist by trade and a mama at heart. We are so happy to come together as a team to service a wide range of families through both early steps and private sessions throughout the Greater New Orleans area.

As a speech-language pathologist, I’m here to help your child achieve their feeding, speech and language goals! My favorite part about early intervention is getting to know your family and helping your child thrive in their natural environment. I received my Master’s Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. I have clinical feeding experience (NICU, inpatient, acute care) working with children and their families to achieve their nutrition goals for feeding, as well as working with kiddos who have sensory-motor difficulties. My in-home speech/language experience is with special populations, such as (but not limited to) those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anoxia, Down syndrome, Cleft Lip and Palate, and children with Developmental Delays. I’m here to brighten your day and help your family succeed!

My name is Abigail (but my kiddos call me “Abby”) and I received my Masters Degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. For the last 2 years I have worked as a dedicated pediatric Speech Language Pathologist servicing children in clinical, daycare, and in home settings across the Acadiana Area. I have experience treating children with a variety of communicative difficulties including expressive and receptive language, articulation, socialization, and alternative and augmentative communication. I am thrilled to provide early intervention services with a focus on cognitive based, child-lead play to target a variety of communicative functions. In my free time, I enjoy family walks with my husband and pup, Bruno, yoga, and reading! I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your little ones to help them find their “voice”!

Hi! My name is Claire Charbonnet! I was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and earned my masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans in 2022. I have treated children with expressive and receptive language delays, articulation disorders, fluency impairments, and those needing augmentative/alternative communication in a school setting. I believe in meeting each child where they are in their communication journey and equipping them with the tools and language they need to communicate effectively and confidently.

Hi! My name is Colleen and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist eager to help you and your child with all of your communication and feeding needs. I received my Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, and I am proud to call this city my home. After two years of experience in the pediatric hospital setting working with children of all ages, I developed a passion for providing early intervention services. My experience includes working with children that have receptive and expressive language delays, feeding/swallowing disorders, hearing loss, tracheostomies, clefts of the lip/palate and special populations such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. I am passionate about working together as a team and look forward to helping your child thrive in his or her everyday environment!

Hi! My name is Becca, and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist! I received my bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and my master’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. For the last 3 years, I worked at a pediatric outpatient clinic in the greater New Orleans area. While there, I treated children of all ages with a range of communication and swallowing disorders including expressive/receptive language delays, speech sound disorders, voice and fluency disorders, cognitive-communication challenges, feeding/swallowing disorders, social communication, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I enjoy building strong relationships with the children and families I work with and creating a positive and encouraging environment where communication can grow. I believe in a collaborative approach and love working together with families and other professionals to help each child reach their goals. I’m so happy to be part of the Bright Start team and to support your child as they find their voice and thrive!

Hi! My name is Michelle and I received my Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from LSUHSC in New Orleans. I have over 6 years of experience as a pediatric speech language pathologist, working with kids of all ages to improve their functional communication skills.

I have treated children with expressive and receptive language delays, speech sound disorders, fluency impairments, and those needing augmentative/alternative communication in both the school and outpatient settings. I enjoy early language intervention and using evidence based practice in order to improve communicational skills in a child’s natural setting.

I look forward to collaborating with parents and caregivers and personalizing services to meet the needs of each child!

Hi everyone!

My name is Jordan, and I am beyond excited to be a part of the Bright Start team! I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and earned my Master of Arts in Communication Disorders from the University of Louisiana–Baton Rouge.

I am passionate about helping children develop strong communication skills and feel confident expressing themselves in their everyday lives. I’ve had the opportunity to work with children in clinic, school, and home settings, and I love incorporating play, books, movement, and child-led activities to keep therapy fun, engaging, and meaningful.

I have experience working with children who use AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), as well as those with speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, feeding and swallowing difficulties, and social communication challenges. I have also led social groups focused on building peer interactions, turn-taking, and conversational skills.

I am so excited to support your child’s growth and be a part of their communication journey!

Hi! My name is Jenn and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 13 years of pediatric experience! I am so excited to join the Bright Start team and be a part of you and your child's journey! My work experience is from a hospital-based outpatient pediatric setting where I have gained extensive knowledge and expertise of a wide range of diagnoses including developmental delay, brachial plexus injuries, torticollis, prematurity, cerebral palsy, stroke, cancer, toe walking, various genetic diagnoses as well as many orthopedic and neurologic conditions. I love building therapeutic relationships with my patients and families over our time together and truly value family-centered collaboration and education.

I was born and raised in New Orleans and went to the University of Georgia for college where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. After college, I moved back home to attend LSU Health Sciences Center where I earned my doctor of physical therapy degree in 2011. I am married to my husband, Ryan, and we have 3 beautiful children that keep us very busy! I look forward to working with you and your child to help them succeed!

Hi! My name is Jane Gogreve, and I am excited to help your little one with all of their speech, language, and feeding/swallowing needs! I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and earned my masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology here at LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. I have worked in the outpatient and inpatient pediatric hospital setting for the past two years where I have treated a variety of medically fragile children of all ages with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, developmental delay, prematurity, and tracheostomy and ventilator dependence. I have gained great experience in speech, language, feeding/swallowing, oral motor, cognition, and voice treatment. I am excited to get to know you and your child and become a part of your little one’s path to success with all of their communication and feeding goals!

Hi! I'm Lauren, a pediatric physical therapist, and I am so excited to be a part of the Bright Start team! I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Nicholls State University and went on to earn my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. I have experience in acute, inpatient, and outpatient pediatric settings. I have worked with children from birth to young adulthood with a variety of diagnoses, including developmental delays, neurologic and genetic disorders, orthopedic conditions, traumatic injuries, and other complex medical conditions.

As a mother myself, I understand how important it is to feel supported and involved in your child's care. I'm passionate about creating a fun and encouraging environment where families feel heard, kids feel empowered, and every milestone is celebrated.

I can’t wait to help your child work toward functional independence—whatever that may look like for them— and to support your family through your unique journey! here

Hi, I’m Hannah Anding! I’m a pediatric occupational therapist with a passion for helping kids gain independence through play and purposeful movement. With experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, I’ve had the privilege of working with children with neuromuscular disorders, developmental delays, handwriting challenges, emotional regulation, behavior challenges, and medically complex needs. From fine motor skills to functional daily tasks, I’m here to support your child’s journey every step of the way!re

Hi! My name is Abigail Hebert, and I am a pediatric physical therapist with over two years of experience working with children from infancy through young adulthood. I have previously worked in an outpatient setting with a variety of neurological, orthopedic, and genetic diagnoses - including developmental delay, torticollis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brachial plexus injury, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am passionate about supporting children’s development through play-based interventions and providing family-centered care. I enjoy empowering parents and/or caregivers with practical strategies that can be easily incorporated into daily routines.

I was born and raised in New Orleans and earned my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I then returned home to complete my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2023.

I am so excited to join the Bright Start team and to meet you and your little one! I am honored to support your family through this early intervention journey and to help your child reach their fullest potential!

Hi! My name is Emily and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist eager to help you and your child with all of your communication needs. I received my Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Jackson State University in Mississippi. I am from Arkansas but love living and working in New Orleans. I have worked in a variety of settings including clinics, schools, and hospitals. My experience includes working with children that have receptive and expressive language delays, and articulation disorders. I look forward to working with you and your child in their everyday environment!

Hello! My name is Savannah and I am a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric speech and language therapy. I have worked with children who have expressive and receptive language delays, speech sound disorders, feeding disorders and special populations such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and down syndrome. I received my Master's Degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and I am currently in my clinical fellowship. I am passionate about providing early intervention services and I enjoy working with children in their natural environment. Being a part of a child’s success to effectively communicate with their friends and family is very rewarding. I am looking forward to working with not only your child, but with your family as a whole!

Hi! I’m Emily Lanie. I graduated with a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I have experience treating children with the following difficulties: Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, apraxia of speech, articulation, social communication, expressive/receptive language, cognition, genetic disorders, fluency, and alternative and augmentative communication. I believe that early support—paired with strong collaboration between caregivers and care team members— sets children up for long-term success. I am passionate about helping children build a foundation for communication through play-centered therapy. I take an individualized approach, meeting children where they are and building on their unique strengths/motivations. Outside of work, I enjoy needlepointing and quilting. I cherish spending time with family and friends, as well as playtime with my pup.

Hi there! My name is Shea and I am so excited to be a part of the Bright Start team! I earned my bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) and my master’s degree from LSU-Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA. For the last 2.5 years, I have worked with medically fragile children in the pediatric hospital setting. Throughout this time, I gained experience in treating feeding/swallowing disorders, expressive/receptive language, cognition, voice, and articulation/speech disorders. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with families to help their children meet their goals! In my free time, I enjoy exercising, reading, and spending time with family/friends! I can’t wait to serve you and your child with your communication and feeding needs!

Hey there! I’m Sarah, an occupational therapist with a passion for helping children learn through play and meaningful everyday activities. I graduated from LSU Health Sciences Center here in New Orleans with my Master of Occupational Therapy and have focused my clinical experience in pediatrics. I have had the opportunity to work with children of all ages with a variety of developmental differences, including autism, sensory processing challenges, and areas of motor growth.

I enjoy supporting skills such as play, attention, sensory regulation, motor development, and caregiver coaching to help families feel confident carrying strategies into daily routines. My approach is child-led, relationship-based, and centered around making therapy fun and functional.

When I am not working, I enjoy thrifting, lifting weights, and spending time with my husband and our 3 cats! I’m excited to work alongside you and your child to help them learn, play, and thrive!

Hi! My name is Amy, and I received my Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017. Since then, I have gained experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist, working with children of all ages to support and strengthen their communication skills.

I have worked with children who present with expressive and receptive language delays, speech sound disorders, fluency differences, and those who benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) across both school and outpatient settings. Though I have gained invaluable experience working with a wide range of pediatric speech and language differences, I am most passionate about early childhood language development.

I am driven in my provision of neurodiversity-affirming care, and my therapeutic approach is child-led, strength-based, and relationship-centered, with a focus on supporting each child’s autonomy, confidence, and overall communication success.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and my four-year-old son. We enjoy walking and biking together around Bayou St. John and City Park, not far from where we live.

My name is Erin and I received my Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. I have experience treating children with a variety of communication disorders including expressive/receptive language, articulation, social and cognitive aspects of communication (including intellectual disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder), and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I am eager to provide services to the early intervention population with focus on incorporating play and functional activities tailored to meet the needs of each child. I value the importance of family participation and will provide tips, strategies, and resources in order to promote carryover of skills in the home. I look forward to working with you, your family, and other members of the interdisciplinary team in order to meet your child's speech and language goals!

Hi! I am an occupational therapist with an advanced certification in hand therapy and 12 years of pediatric experience. I have had the opportunity to practice in a variety of settings treating a vast range of diagnoses, and my extensive experience has shaped my skills as a therapist today. I value collaboration, and I am passionate about educating and empowering families as we embark on this journey together! I have a unique specialty in the treatment of children with congenital upper limb malformations, skeletal dysplasia, and trauma, with advanced skill in custom orthosis fabrication, bracing, taping and other musculoskeletal treatments. However, I have continued to maintain practice and skill in the treatment of children with prematurity, medically complex diagnoses, genetic disorders, various syndromes, neurological conditions and neurological trauma, developmental delay, autism, visual-motor and fine motor delays, handwriting difficulties, delays in independence with self-care skills and more! Above all, I strive to create a positive experience with focus on FUN while maintaining at the core of my practice: integrity, trust, teamwork, evidence, and client satisfaction.

I am a Louisiana native with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University, and I earned my master’s degree in occupational therapy from The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida. After years of living and working in other states, I found my way back home to Louisiana, and truly “know what it means to miss New Orleans”. I have a beautiful son with a triumphant spirit and the sweetest dog, Olive. I am passionate about fostering learning opportunities through experience and exploration. I love helping children succeed and watching them radiate with pride when they’ve accomplished something new. I look forward to sharing in those experiences with you and your little one!

Hello! My name is Laurel and I am a Pediatric Physical Therapist. I am originally from Michigan, but I moved to New Orleans in 2006 and am so happy to be here! I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 2004 and my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in 2009. I have always worked in pediatrics and have experience in inpatient hospital settings (including NICU), in addition to outpatient clinics, providing traditional weekly PT, as well as therapy intensives. I have worked with children with a large variety of diagnoses, including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, prematurity, hypotonia, torticollis, various genetic disorders, and many other neurological and orthopedic conditions. I truly believe in family-centered care, and I am so excited to be a part of the Bright Start team. I look forward to getting to know you and your child!

My name is Jenna and I'm a speech language pathologist specializing in pediatric language and articulation. I received my Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. I have experience working with school-aged children to address language, articulation, and fluency disorders that negatively impact academic performance within the classroom setting; however, I also enjoy early language intervention through use of literacy and play in the child's natural environment. I enjoy seeing a child make progress and as a result being able to effectively communicate with their family and peers. I think parent/caregiver education is crucial for the child's success, so it's important for me to work just as closely with the family as I do with the child. I'm looking forward to working with you!

Hi everyone, I’m Carley! I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and am so excited to be a part of the Bright Start team! I am passionate about helping children thrive by building on their strengths and guiding them toward greater independence and confidence. I’ve had the privilege of working with children across a variety of needs including handwriting difficulties, sensory and motor challenges, behavioral and emotional concerns, developmental delays, feeding difficulties, neurodivergence, and medical/genetic conditions. As a parent myself, I understand the importance of being seen and supported through the highs and lows, advocating for your child’s needs, and supporting children in ways that fit naturally into everyday family life. I look forward to working with your family and helping your child learn, grow, and have fun!

Hello! My name is Hayley, and I am so thrilled to join the Bright Start team! I earned my Master of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Louisiana State University in 2017. For the last 7 years, I have worked as a dedicated pediatric speech-language pathologist servicing children across the greater New Orleans area within many settings, including preschools, daycare centers, elementary schools, and outpatient facilities. Though I have gained invaluable experience working with a variety of pediatric speech and language disorders, I am most passionate about early childhood development and am a strong advocate within the autism community. I am driven in my provision of neurodiversity-affirming practices, and my therapeutic approaches are child-led, strength-based, and relationship-centered. In addition, I am a Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) trained clinician and am skilled in working with children who use echolalia and scripting to communicate. In my free time, I love doing yoga, listening to live music, reading, crafting, and loving on my cats, Puddin and Theo!

My name is Campbell and I am so excited to join the Bright Start team! I am a licensed and registered occupational therapist here in New Orleans where I earned my Master of Occupational Therapy from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2023. I have experience serving families across the greater New Orleans area in school and outpatient settings with diverse needs ranging from developmental delays and disabilities to various orthopedic/genetic conditions. As an occupational therapist, I am a fine/visual/sensory motor promoter by trade, and my passion is supporting my neurodiverse community within early childhood development. I am a practitioner of evidence-based neurodiversity affirming care, child-led play for functional outcomes, and supporting family participation in the natural setting. In my free time, I enjoy art and hanging out with my wife and our two cats and bunnies! I look forward to working with you!

Hi there! My name is Emma. I’m an occupational therapist with experience working with children with genetic conditions, autism, developmental delay, ADHD, medically complex diagnoses, and pediatric feeding disorders (outpatient and school-based settings). My favorite part of the job is using a strengths-based and neuroaffirming approach to collaborate with families to improve emotional regulation, fine motor skills, and self-help skills. I attended LSU Health Shreveport where I earned my master’s degree in OT.  I’ve had the adventure of working in the schools out in San Diego, but like most Louisianians… I made my way back home, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I'm looking forward to teaming up with you and your child to celebrate every little achievement like a big milestone!

Hi, y’all! I’m Mary McInnis Sorobey, and I’m the office manager here at Bright Start.

I’m a proud New Orleans (Metairie) native and Mount Carmel alum. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Missouri Valley College and spent several years working in the sports world before stepping away to be a stay-at-home mom.

In August 2024, I was offered the opportunity to join my sister-in-law’s pediatric therapy clinic. I absolutely love being part of a place that makes such a meaningful impact on kids and families in our community. Supporting our incredible team of providers and helping keep things running smoothly behind the scenes is something I genuinely enjoy.

It’s truly a joy to be part of Bright Start’s mission to provide compassionate, personalized therapy in a supportive and nurturing environment—every single day!