Senior Clinical Leadership

Allyson Chrystal

Vice President of Pediatric Therapy

As Vice President of Pediatric Therapy, Allyson Chrystal M.S., MOT, OTR/L is committed to guiding and developing Westside’s team of highly-skilled therapists and leaders.

Allyson is an occupational therapist with 25 years of experience in pediatrics across a variety of clinical settings. She received her MOT degree from Midwestern University, in addition to a M.S. in Functional Medicine/Human Nutrition from UWS. Prior to Westside, her passion for teaching and mentoring led her to serve as a clinical instructor in pediatrics for several years at Midwestern University and South Suburban College. Westside’s emphasis on building strong relationships with patients, families, and coworkers brought Allyson to Westside, aligning with her commitment to helping children thrive.

In her free time, Allyson enjoys leading her outdoor fitness group and exploring remote travel destinations with her two children.

Ali McCarrell

OT

Allison Geary

SLP

Allison Geary is a Speech-Language Pathologist who holds a B.S. Degree in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a M.S. Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University.

She has experience working in early intervention and outpatient pediatric settings, as well as serving as a team lead prior to becoming a Speech Director. Her clinical specialties include craniofacial concerns including nasality/resonance difficulties, motor speech/apraxia of speech, and early language. She is also a feeding therapist with a focus on dysphagia/oral motor concerns, myofunctional therapy, and infant feeding.

Outside of work, Allison enjoys reading, crocheting, and taking walks with her dog.

Alyssa Sanders

OT

Alyssa Sanders holds a Masters of Occupational Therapy and serves as a Regional Occupational Therapy Director (OTR/L) at Westside. She brings experience from both outpatient pediatrics and school-based therapy settings, supporting children and families across a variety of needs and environments.

Alyssa’s clinical specialties include sensory processing and modulation, emotional regulation, fine motor skill development, visual motor integration, and executive functioning. She works to help children build practical skills and confidence that carry over into daily routines at home, in school, and in the community.

Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys sports, traveling, and exploring new food in Chicago.

Brittany Thompson

PT

Brittany Thompson, PT, DPT, earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University after completing her Bachelor of Science at Bradley University. She has spent her entire physical therapy career at Westside, beginning as a physical therapist at the Frankfort location and now serving as Director of Physical Therapy for nearly five years, primarily supporting the Northern and Western suburb locations.

Brittany brings a warm, friendly, and team-focused approach to care and leadership, drawing on her years of experience working with families across multiple clinic settings. She values creating a welcoming environment where children and caregivers feel supported throughout the therapy process.

Outside of work, Brittany met her husband in physical therapy school and is now a mom of three (two boys and one girl). On weekends, her family enjoys exploring new parks and restaurants and spending time with friends, family, and neighbors.

Caitlin O’Dowd

PT

Caitlin O’Dowd, PT, MPT earned a Masters in Physical Therapy from University College Dublin in Ireland after completing her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also a Certified Schroth Scoliosis Therapist, a certified Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapist, and a Certified Emergency Medical Technician. Caitlin has been with Westside for her entire PT career, starting in 2015 and having served as Director of Physical Therapy since 2022.

Her clinical interests include working with patients of all ages, abilities, and diagnoses. She specializes in working with infants and patients with torticollis, developmental delays, scoliosis, pelvic floor concerns (constipation, incontinence, etc), and supporting children with neurological and genetic diagnoses. She also brings a strong movement and performance background from coaching figure skating since 2009 and providing off-ice strength and conditioning to athletes since 2015.

Outside of the clinic, Caitlin is a mom of four (one boy and three girls) and a figure skating coach. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places with her kids, and traveling.

Haley Ashley

PT

Haley Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science from Davis & Elkins College in 2010, with minors in Nutrition, Athletic Training, and Psychology, and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at West Virginia University in 2013. She has been with Westside Children’s Therapy since her internship in 2013 and has served as a director mentoring the physical therapy team since 2018.

Haley treats children with a wide range of needs, including torticollis, neurological diagnoses, developmental delays, and orthotics. She is also trained in serial casting and enjoys supporting families and teammates with a steady, encouraging approach.

Outside of the clinic, Haley is a mom of three (two boys and one girl) and has been married since 2016. She loves spending time outdoors with her family and building meaningful memories together.

Joyce Kraus

Counseling

Joyce Kraus holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the College of St. Francis, a Master of Social Work from Aurora University, and a Doctor of Social Work from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and an Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) member, with experience providing mental health therapy in inpatient, partial hospitalization, and private practice settings for individuals ages 3 through 80. Joyce has also taught future social workers at the college level.

Joyce specializes in working with children and adolescents, supporting concerns such as ADHD, anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, depression, OCD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. She brings a thoughtful, steady presence and a broad clinical perspective to help young people and families feel understood and supported.

Outside of work, now that her three children are grown, Joyce enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends—as well as her cats and dogs.

Kellie Tarra

OT

Kellie Tarra earned her degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Illinois State University and went on to complete her Master of Science at Saint Xavier University in 2016. She is a licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist (M.S., CCC-SLP/L) with experience serving children from preschool through 8th grade in the school system from 2016–2022. Kellie joined Westside Children’s Therapy in 2022 and is now one of the speech directors. Kellie oversees speech therapists at other Westside locations.

Kellie enjoys supporting children and families across a range of communication needs, with special interests in AAC—having previously served as an AAC evaluator—as well as childhood apraxia of speech, pragmatic language, early language development, speech sound disorders, and fluency.

Outside of work, Kellie loves spending quality time with her almost-one-year-old daughter, her husband, and their two dogs, and she also enjoys doing puzzles.

Kristalyn Turner

SLP

Kristalyn Turner, M.S., CCC-SLP, completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Eastern Illinois University. She began her career as a classroom aide before moving into a school-based speech-language pathologist role, building a strong foundation supporting children across a range of communication needs.

Kristalyn later joined Westside as a full-time SLP, advanced to clinic supervisor, and now serves as Speech Director. She has a special clinical interest in pediatric feeding disorders, including dysphagia, and enjoys supporting children with autism and their families with practical, compassionate care.

McKenna Henning

Counseling

McKenna Henning holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bradley University and a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Illinois State University. She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). With over a decade of experience in early childhood education and a background in therapeutic recreation supporting individuals with disabilities and clients navigating mental health challenges through recreation and play, Mckenna brings a well-rounded, child-centered perspective to her work.

McKenna has been a counselor at Westside Children’s Therapy for almost six years and transitioned into the role of Clinical Director in 2023. Her clinical specialties include neurodiversity (ADHD/ASD), anxiety, OCD, trauma, grief and loss, attachment issues, adjustment concerns and life transitions, developmental disabilities, emotion regulation challenges, stress management, and parent/caregiver support.

Outside of the therapy room, McKenna enjoys exercising, sports, and spending time with family and friends. She recently gave birth to twins and has loved being a mom.

Nimisha Perumpel

OT

Misha Perumpel holds a Master of Occupational Therapy and is a licensed occupational therapist (MOT, OTR/L) and Regional OT Director at Westside, with experience in both outpatient pediatrics and acute care. She brings a thoughtful, child-centered approach to supporting children and families across a variety of needs and settings.

Misha’s clinical interests include handwriting, fine motor and visual motor integration, executive functioning, and self-care/ADLs, with experience working with infants and toddlers as well. She enjoys helping children build practical skills and confidence through engaging, meaningful activities.

Outside of work, Misha loves traveling, hiking, and art.

Pamela Kooi

SLP

Pamela Kooi earned her Master’s degree in Speech/Language Pathology after attending Eastern Illinois University and Marquette University. She holds the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and is a Licensed Speech Pathologist in the State of Illinois. Pam brings a broad range of experience to her work, including working the past 11 years at Westside Children’s Therapy. While working at Westside, she has been a Lead Speech Therapist and currently fills the role of a Director of Speech Therapy.

Pamela specializes in supporting children with language disorders, phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and gestalt language processing. She is known for a thoughtful, individualized approach that helps children build communication skills and confidence while partnering closely with families.

Outside of the clinic, Pamela enjoys spending time with family and friends, rescuing senior dogs and supporting the Chicago Cubs!

Brad Czochar

Diagnostics

Bradford Czochara, Psy.D., ABN, LPC, CGP, earned his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University. He brings a strong clinical foundation to his work, with experience spanning neuropsychology and rehab psychology across the lifespan.

Bradford’s clinical interests include neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as providing individual psychotherapy and group therapy. He is committed to offering thoughtful, practical support tailored to each person’s needs and strengths.

Outside of his clinical work, Bradford enjoys music, video games, reading, and spending time with his family.

Emily Shearer, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Diagnostics

Emily Shearer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a passion for helping children and families better understand their unique strengths and needs. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa and has extensive experience providing assessment and psychological services across a variety of clinical settings.

Throughout her career, Dr. Shearer has worked at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the Learning and Attention Disorders Clinic, Child and Adolescent Psychology, and the Center for Disabilities and Development. She has also provided services through University of Iowa Counseling Services, LittleStar ABA Therapy, and private practice.

Dr. Shearer specializes in the evaluation and diagnosis of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that helps families gain clarity, access resources, and confidently move forward with the support their child needs.

Outside of work, Dr. Shearer enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing pickleball, and staying active through regular workouts.

Eun-Yeop Lee, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA

Diagnostics

Eun-Yeop Lee, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA, is a Massachusetts and Illinois licensed psychologist, PsyPACT-authorized psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 10 years of experience in residential schools, hospitals, private practices, and therapy centers across several states.

Most recently, Dr. Lee served as a pediatric neuropsychologist at Northwestern Medicine’s Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and the Rush NeuroBehavioral Center. She is dedicated to understanding how neuropsychological profiles and medical conditions impact learning and behavior in children and adolescents.

Dr. Lee earned her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of South Florida, completed her internship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at The Watson Institute, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, and completed her postdoctoral training at McLean Hospital in Boston.

She has conducted comprehensive neuropsychological and educational evaluations for children with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disabilities, and other developmental concerns, providing families with individualized educational and behavioral recommendations. Since graduate school, Dr. Lee has been especially passionate about working with the Early Intervention population (birth to 3 years), with specialized interests in ASD diagnosis and training in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).

Outside of work, Dr. Lee enjoys traveling, staying active through sports and fitness, and is currently improving her surfing and golfing skills.

Kara Steiskal, Psy.D

Diagnostics

Kara Steiskal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from DePaul University, as well as a Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Adler University. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois (License #071-022326) and began her clinical work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) before expanding her role during doctoral training to include diagnostic assessment and therapy services across community mental health centers, schools, and multi-disciplinary practices.

Kara specializes in diagnostic assessments for children ages 2–16, providing diagnostic clarification for concerns such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and mood disorders. She also offers individualized and family-centered feedback sessions to review results and share tailored recommendations and resources. In therapy, Kara works with children ages 5–17 and supports a range of concerns including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and depressive disorders, restricted/avoidant food intake disorder, adjustment concerns, attachment disruptions, and school avoidance. She provides individual therapy, parent training and support, and family therapy, using an integrative approach that draws from cognitive and behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and play therapy techniques.

Outside of work, Kara enjoys spending time with family and friends, spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, skin-care, and shopping.

Virgen M. Quiñones-Fernandini, MD

Diagnostics

Dr. Virgen M. Quiñones-Fernandini serves as Senior Medical Leader at Westside Children’s Therapy. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Ponce Health Sciences University and an Executive Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota. She completed residency training in General Psychiatry, followed by fellowships in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. She is board certified in Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. In addition to her medical training, Dr. Quiñones-Fernandini holds Montessori certifications in Assistant to Infancy (0–3 years) and Early Childhood (3–6 years), as well as credentials as a Registered Yoga Teacher and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher.

With more than 20 years of clinical, academic, and healthcare leadership experience, Dr. Quiñones-Fernandini has dedicated over 18 years to caring for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Throughout her career, she has served in numerous leadership roles within academic medicine, including Medical Director of the PHSU Wellness Center, Associate Program Director for Adult Psychiatry and the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Vice Chair of Clinical Services, and Clerkship Director at Ponce Health Sciences University. Her work has centered on comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, interdisciplinary collaboration, physician education, quality improvement, and expanding access to evidence-based, family-centered behavioral health services.

Dr. Quiñones-Fernandini specializes in autism spectrum disorder, child and adolescent psychiatry, ADHD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, neurodevelopmental disorders, addiction medicine, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and integrated behavioral health. She is passionate about partnering with families, empowering caregivers through education, and delivering compassionate, collaborative care that supports each child’s unique strengths and needs.

Outside of work, Dr. Quiñones-Fernandini enjoys spending time with her husband, four daughters, and extended family. She also enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, crocheting, exploring nature, and traveling. A lifelong learner, she is passionate about mentoring healthcare professionals, fostering leadership development, and expanding access to compassionate, evidence-based care for children and families.