Our Therapists

Michelle Phibbs, OTRL

Michelle founded Willow Integrated Therapy in July 2019 with the vision to provide sensory based treatment that provides results families deserve in order to increase joy within their lives. She has worked with children and adults as an occupational therapist in a variety of clinic and school settings in the Ann Arbor area since June 2004. She has received extensive training in the area of sensory processing through numerous courses including participating in mentorships with Lucy Miller’s STAR Institute in Denver, Colorado, where she obtained a Professional Certification in treating Sensory Processing Disorder. Michelle is an advanced practitioner with Integrated Listening Systems (iLs) and uses this sound therapy with her clients. Michelle enjoys working with selective eaters. She uses a combination of Kay Toomey’s S.O.S Approach and Beckman Oral Motor to treat feeding needs. Michelle has also worked as a vision therapist, receiving instruction for treating visual and ocular motor skills from a developmental optometrist. She uses neurodiverse affirming practices with focus on a relationship based model to treatment that starts with safety and connection. In her free time, Michelle’s enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her family, trying new recipes and exercising.
 

Faith W, OTRL

Faith Taylor is the Lead Occupational Therapist at Willow Integrated Therapy. She brings a deep knowledge of relationships and connection to her work with clients. Faith’s background includes certificate of proficiency in the DIR/Floortime methodology, certified ILS provider of the Safe and Sound Protocol listening therapy, and is currently working toward her STAR Proficiency Level 1 certification through the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. Trainings and specialization include Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, trauma informed care, Play Project, and working with individuals with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) Profile of Autism. Faith is an active member of COTAD (Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates of Diversity) and brings with her, an ever-expanding understanding of occupational justice and the necessity of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this field. Faith has a deep passion for working with neurodiverse populations and advocates for holistic whole person care for each client. In every interaction she brings an open heart, curiosity, and a strong ability to attune to each individual she works with. We live in an ever-changing world, and it is Faith’s hope to equip individuals with the knowledge and understanding of their own bodies and sensory systems to be able to move through each moment of life as fully as they can. Outside of work, Faith recharges in the woods and fields, through her daily yoga practice, dance, reading, creating, and spending time immersed in her rich Ann Arbor community.

Michelle S, OTRL

Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University, where she gained experience in working with individuals in inpatient psychiatric facilities, as well as supporting and advocating for survivors of abuse. Michelle graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, from which she gained experience in sensory integration, cognitive rehabilitation, and equine therapy. Michelle completed her Doctoral Capstone project at the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center in Kalamazoo, MI, where she gained understanding of the foster care system, and gained clinical skills and specialized in trauma-informed care. Michelle utilizes a strengths-based and trauma-informed model of treatment. With her passion for mental health and sensory integration, Michelle is a certified Clinical Trauma Professional, ADHD Certified Specialist, and is certified in Integrated Listening Systems (iLs), Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), Therapeutic Listening, and the AEIOU Feeding Approach. She is also a certified Therapy Dog Team with her dog, Fig Newton. Michelle strives to promote safety, connection, education, and individualized-holistic care. She is passionate about utilizing stress reduction and regulating strategies, as well as incorporating affirmations and promoting self-efficacy. When it comes to working with children and families, Michelle enjoys using a coaching model during sessions to help empower families and clients to share their voice and their needs, to identify solutions, and to be at the center of the therapy process. Michelle is fluent in Spanish and beginner-intermediate in American Sign Language, and she has a passion for uplifting, honoring, and advocating for marginalized populations and cultures. Outside of work, Michelle loves hiking with her husband and her dog, dancing, playing volleyball, horseback riding, and photography.

Emily D, ORTL

Emily graduated from Western Michigan University with her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. She worked for Dearborn Public Schools for 4 years helping students to engage with their school environment. She then moved to Los Angeles where she worked at an early intervention clinic for a year before moving back to Michigan. Emily has a passion for using child-led, play-based, neurodiversity affirming therapy to guide children as they blossom into their best selves. She is devoted to continually expanding her OT knowledge and skills to meet the needs of her clients. She is dedicated to collaborating with the therapy team, clients and their caregivers to ensure progress in the clinic, home, and community. Outside of work Emily enjoys spending time with her friends and family, crocheting, reading, painting, listening to music, trying new recipes, and spending time in nature.

Shanley T, CCC-SLP

Shanley earned her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Alabama and went on to obtain her PhD specializing in stuttering from Louisiana State University. She completed her postdoctoral study at the University of Michigan. Throughout her clinical and academic experiences, she has worked with a wide range of children with articulation disorders, language disorders, and autism as well as stuttering. Shanley is dedicated to supporting each of her clients in their communication and self-advocacy. She believes that family involvement is critical for client success and is passionate about making speech therapy a safe environment for everyone. Her top priority is participation in life, and she strives to cater therapeutic goals to suit clients’ individual needs to achieve this. Shanley has served on the Research Ethics Committee for the National Stuttering Association and helped found a support group for adults who stutter in the Ann Arbor community. Outside of work, Shanley loves to read and spend time with her little family composed of her husband and two dogs. 

Katie O, OTRL

Katie has worked with children and adults as an Occupational Therapist since 2017, primarily working with neurodiverse children. After graduating from Western Michigan University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy, she has continued to receive training through Learn, Play, Thrive - a practice that promotes the use of strength-based, holistic and neurodiverse-affirming approaches to therapy. Additionally, Katie is trained in Kay Toomey’s SOS sensory-based approach to feeding and has received basic training using DIR Floortime - a developmental, individual-differences and relationship-based method to understanding child development and intervention to support children in reaching their fullest potential. She has also attended courses about sensory integration and utilizing neuroplasticity to improve pediatric motor learning. Katie believes that looking beyond surface-level behaviors and considering differences in sensory processing, emotions, thoughts, feelings of safety and individual preferences is crucial for successful and immersive participation in childhood occupations and overall well-being. In her free time, Katie enjoys exploring Ann Arbor, spending time with her husband and their golden retriever, crafting, Pilates and reading. 

Kylee H, CCC-SLP

Kylee holds a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Eastern Michigan University. Following graduation, she worked at an outpatient clinic, where she gained extensive experience working with children with autism, language disorders, articulation disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and stuttering. Kylee is passionate about early language intervention, articulation, apraxia of speech, gestalt language processing, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is dedicated to learning neruo-affirming techniques and strategies to better help her clients. She utilizes child-led, play based therapy and tailors therapy towards client’s interest to enhance their intrinsic motivation and participation in their own success. Kylee is trained in LAMP and Gestalt language processing and has worked with AAC users across multiple programs, including Proloquo2Go, LAMP, TouchChat, TD Snap, Grid3, and Grid for iPad. She also has experience in obtaining high-tech AAC devices for her clients. Outside of work, Kylee enjoys hiking in national parks, playing with her dogs, and sitting down with a good book.

Alex E, OTRL

Alex graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. She has always had a passion for working with children and helping them grow and thrive as they learn to navigate the world. Since graduating she has worked in school settings to help ensure functional independence and participation in the educational setting as well as outpatient pediatrics settings. She has a passion for learning and has a huge interest in developing knowledge and skills related to sensory processing, how this impacts participation in daily occupations, and learning different strategies and interventions for supporting sensory differences. Her goal is to help families grow and thrive together while helping them learn to navigate sensory processing differences. She hopes to ensure that families and children feel heard, supported, and confident while gaining skills and reaching their goals in the therapeutic setting. When not working, Alex loves to learn new things and engage with activities with her hands such as legos, diamond painting, and other crafts. She also has a love for all things Disney and Pokemon. When sitting at home you can find her spending time with her fiancé and cat, Raikou.

Michael S, ORTL

Michael received his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Northern Michigan University and spent his summers during college working at Bay Cliff Health Camp as a counselor for children with physical and developmental disabilities. This is where he found his passion for occupational therapy and a continued desire to work with children and their families. He received his Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Huntington University in Fort Wayne, IN. His clinical experience has been primarily in outpatient pediatric care. He thoroughly enjoys collaborating with fellow clinicians, patients, and their families to support independence and well-being. Michael has furthered his education to support his patients through training for the Alert Program for Emotional Regulation, interoception courses for mind-body connections and body awareness, and upcoming trainings for DIR/Floortime interventions. In his free time, Michael enjoys reading, crocheting, running, and spending time with his family and friends throughout lower Michigan.

Marz R, ORTL

Marz is a graduate of the Masters of Occupational Therapy program at Eastern Michigan University. She has worked in Ohio as an acute care OT for clients across the lifespan, as well as a school-based OT in Michigan, primarily working in Early Childhood Special Education and Elementary Education, and holds an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) certificate. Marz is passionate about using OT techniques and tools to serve individuals, their families, and the community to promote performance, participation, access and equity. When not seeing clients, she spends time with her children and pets, enjoys nature, and works on home-improvement projects.

Maddie W, ORTL

Maddie graduated with a degree in psychology and English writing from Hope College, located right on Lake Michigan. There, she was able to gain experience  working with children and adults with various abilities through running therapy, hippotherapy, and aquatic therapy. She received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Michigan—Flint, and she completed her doctoral capstone project in Bozeman, Montana. She had the unique opportunity to collaborate with the city’s Parks and Recreation department to redesign playgrounds utilizing a nature-based, sensory-informed approach. Maddie has a passion for nature and the outdoors and attempts to utilize natural elements throughout treatment sessions and home exercise plan building as much as possible. Additionally, she has furthered her education through primitive reflex integration training in order to support children and their families throughout all developmental stages of life. In her free time, Maddie loves to spend time outdoors running, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, and backpacking.