Liz received a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Scranton (1998) and a Master of Arts in Special Education, Educational Therapy concentration, (2009) from California State University Northridge. Liz worked at Pediatric Therapy Network, one of the nation's top training facilities for Sensory Integration. Through the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California, she completed Advanced Training in Sensory Integration, a 4-month intensive course. She received her Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) certification in 2002. Liz is certified in Advanced Therapeutic Listening, Samonas Sound Therapy, The Listening Program bone conduction, and Processing and Cognitive Enhancement (PACE). Liz combines her occupational therapy and special education backgrounds to enrich the lives of children with learning differences.

Beth Pfaffinger
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Beth graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1997, has an undergraduate degree in Biology from Loyola Marymount University. Beth has worked with children and teens in the schools, the sensory integration clinic, at home, on the job, and in the hospital setting including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Beth has taught premature infants to learn to successfully breast and bottle feed, helped developmentally delayed babies learn to grow both in their fine motor and gross motor skills, taught children with severe disabilities to use assistive technology to access their education, helped children with feeding and swallowing disorders (including weaning off g-tubes to resistant feeders) to safely and successfully eat along with their peers, brought basic life skills training to pregnant and parenting teens, taught children on probation to channel their energy into photography and making music, helped children with mild to severe sensory processing disorders learn to grow and flourish, and supported children with ADD, autism and learning disabilities achieve success. Beth brings a wide range of experience to the Child Success Center making her uniquely equipped to view the whole child from many different angles and help support children and their families on their journey to well-being.

Sarah Cairns, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
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Sarah graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy.  Since the completion of her degree, she has devoted her skills to providing quality therapy for the pediatric population.  Prior to the Child Success Center, Sarah worked for Progressus Therapy, one of the leading nationwide providers of school based therapy.  She has had the opportunity to collaborate directly with teachers in the classroom, and provide both classroom and clinic-based therapy for children. Sarah is a trained and certified Sensory Integration (SI) therapist, earning her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification through an intensive course provided by lead clinicians and researchers in the SI field.  She is also a certified Therapeutic Listening provider.  Sarah has experience treating children from toddlers to adolescents with a variety of disorders, including developmental delays, Autism Spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and sensory processing disorder.  She is experienced in the treatment of dysgraphia (handwriting difficulties), and in the provision of handwriting programs such as Handwriting Without Tears.  She continues to further her knowledge by attending courses with the most recent, evidence supported information on child development and therapeutic programs to support the success of children with special needs.

Melissa Bare, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
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Melissa has been working with children and families as a pediatric occupational therapist for the past 12 years. She has a BS in Occupational Therapy from Worcester State College, Worcester, MA (1996) and a MA in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (2003). At the University of Southern California, she was a recipient of the Maternal and Child Health grant where she received extensive training in research, leadership, nuerodevelopmental disabilities and feeding. She completed a 4-month intensive course in Advanced Training in Sensory Integration and received her Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) certification in 2003. Melissa has experience treating infants through school age children with a variety of disorders, including regulatory disorders, developmental delays, Autism Spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, sensory integration dysfunction and feeding disorders of infancy and early childhood. Melissa specializes in family-focused treatment approaches that empower families to help their children achieve their developmental and learning goals.

Minal Dhanak, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
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Minal graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy in 2005. Since then, she has worked with children in a variety of settings, including schools, in the home, clinic setting, as well as in the community. Minal brings a wealth of clinical experience from working with children with a variety of disorders, including developmental delays, Autism Spectrum disorders, regulatory disorders, genetic disorders, sensory processing disorder and feeding/oral motor difficulties. Minal is certified with The Listening Program. She is working towards earning her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification. While working with children is Minal's passion, she also enjoys conducting trainings for parents, teachers and other professionals. In the last year, she has conducted several trainings on typical development in children in the Los Angeles area.