Meet the Team
Meet our team of neurodivergent and neurodiversity-affirming pediatric speech and occupational therapists dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children and their families with care grounded in respect, connection, and empowerment.
Mary Coburn, M.A., CCC-SLP (she/her)
Speech-Language Pathologist, Owner/Director
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective Founder
Mary is a Hanen-certified provider in both It Takes Two to Talk® and More Than Words® for social communication. She is also a Level 2 trained SOS Approach to Feeding®, and helps support individuals using strategies such as Natural Language Acquisition for gestalt language processors, and Collaborative and Proactive Solutions.
Mary earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Communication Disorders from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She has worked in pediatric private practice since 2014. Mary lives in Olympia with her husband and two children.As a neurodivergent provider and parent of two neurodivergent children, she has first-hand knowledge and experience with how important the role of advocacy and acceptance is for a child's well-being.
Mary approaches therapy and parent coaching by developing a deep understanding of each child and then assisting to empower them in ways so they can better navigate through their brain-based challenges. It is her mission to help parents and clients change negative perspectives towards brain-based challenges, focusing on the importance of considering each child's learning style as it relates to learning at home, in school, and in their therapy sessions.
Mary enjoys gardening, running, hiking, sewing, and spending quality time with her family. She is a mother of two and a strong advocate for her own son, who faces daily communication challenges. Mary brings a unique perspective to her therapeutic approaches. Her dual roles allow her to provide parents with a platform where their concerns, fears, and frustrations can be met with compassion and understanding of the challenges that are often presented when raising a child who struggles with communicating even at the most basic of levels.
Crys Hassler, M.S.Ed., CCC-SLP (they/them)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Crys strives to meet clients and their families where they’re at and assist them in finding strategies, tools, and frameworks to reach their goals. Since beginning their career as a speech therapist in 2021, they have built a therapeutic foundation based on establishing trust, presuming competence, and taking the time to get to know their clients as a whole person, not just their speech concerns.
As a queer and neurodivergent provider, Crys seeks to use their lived experiences to empower families by gaining a better understanding of their child and helping children to advocate for themselves. Their intervention is tailored to each child using a strengths-based model that builds on a child’s interests and passions. Crys has extensive experience working with non-speaking and minimally speaking individuals and going through the funding process for a speech generating device (AAC).
They also have training and experience in assisting transgender and gender-nonconforming youth in developing a voice that is true to them. Outside of the office, they enjoy spending time with their partner and two cats, playing video games, and delving into their most recent creative endeavor.
Samantha Trout M.A., OTR/L (she/her)
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Co-Founder of Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective (SYNC)
Samantha enjoys working with clients of all ages and continues to learn something new with all the clients she serves. Play, establishing mutual respect, building strong relationships, and presuming competence are foundations of her practice.
She specializes in pediatrics and relationship-based approaches such as Ayres Sensory Integration. Therapy goals are individualized and may include supports for developmental skills, activities of daily living, self-regulation, independent living skills, and community participation.
When not working on her clinical duties, she spends time with her son and cats, and enjoys reading, hiking, and playing board games.
Amy Arotca, M.S., OTR/L (she/her)
Occupational Therapist
Amy loves working with clients to increase their success and satisfaction with their valued daily activities. She has been an occupational therapist since 2016 and has worked in a variety of settings with people of all ages.
She works with clients and their families to create individualized goals. Goal areas often include improved independence with everyday activities, self-regulation, and sensorimotor skills. Intervention includes building or strengthening skills through play and engaging activities, as well as suggestions for supports and new strategies. Her favorite moments are when a client engages in an activity that seems difficult or scary and when a caregiver learns a new idea to support their child outside of therapy.
Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, reading a good book, and painting.