Cheyanne Hevey, MS OTR/L
Amy Wadaga, MS OTR/L
Yuridia Garza is a graduate of Brenau University where she received her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2002. She has practiced as an occupational therapist in various settings including pediatric home health care, clinic-based therapy, aquatic therapy, equine assisted therapy, adult acute inpatient rehabilitation, and inpatient pediatric rehabilitation. Currently, she serves patients in the home and natural environments in Hall, Dawson, and Forsyth Counties as well as outpatient setting in her Gainesville, GA Clinic. Additionally, she has been working at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU) on the weekends for the last 9 years. Yuridia has extensive practice and continuing education in Sensory Integration theory and practice, Neuro-Developmental Treatment, Equine Assisted Therapy and Oral Motor/Feeding Therapy, including the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Shaker Course Training, SOFFI Method, and the Can Eat Approach amongst others. Yuridia is NDT/Bobath Certified in the Management and Treatment of Adults with Hemiplegia, Certified in Physical Agent Modalities, is a Certified Kinesiotape Practitioner (KTP), Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention, and Level II Clinician in Hippotherapy. She obtained the AOTA Pediatrics Board Certification in May 2017. Yuridia has a good working relationship with Brenau University and enjoys working with Level I and Level II students. She enjoys working out, traveling, sports (GO DAWGs!), and spending time with her fiancée Jay and sons, Chevy and Max.
Yuridia Garza, MS OTR/L
Lifting Spirits Therapy Services Inc
Pediatric Rehabilitation
Cheyanne is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where she received her Bachelor's in Health Sciences. She is also a graduate of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences where she received her Master's in Occupational Therapy. Cheyanne’s passion for working in pediatrics stems from a job at the Conductive Education Center of Orlando from 2016-2021 where she provided therapeutic services to children and adults with neurological and motor disabilities. She also has experience working in the inpatient rehab setting from a clinical rotation at a level 2 trauma center. Cheyanne is passionate about creating an inclusive and fun environment during her therapy sessions. When she’s not at work, she enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and hiking.
Paula Nagorski is a graduate of Brenau University where she received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Paula has experience in settings such as skilled nursing facilities and outpatient pediatrics. She provides services in clinic in Gainesville and home based services in the Cumming and Dawsonville areas. Paula lives in Cumming with her husband and six children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Claudette Brumant, MS OTR/L
Erin Nichols, CFY-SLP
Erin Nichols earned a Master's of Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University. While achieving her higher education, she enjoyed working in child development centers in Gainesville, Georgia. Erin has clinical experience with pediatric clients in schools, private clinics, and home health settings. She has worked alongside children diagnosed with: articulation, fluency, and language disorders. She is passionate about supporting the language development of children through play-based activities. In her spare time, Erin enjoys hiking, cooking, and volunteering.
Shiesha Rucker, CCC-SLP
Amy moved from Michigan to Georgia in March 2023. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Allied Health Science with a minor in Psychology in 2018. She is also a graduate from Davenport University where she received her Master’s of Occupational Therapy in 2022. Amy completed her fieldwork experiences in settings including multiple school systems and a general outpatient rehabilitation clinic. Prior and during her schooling, she enjoyed working with kids of all ages as a behavior technician, nanny, and camp counselor. She also has various experiences working in healthcare, including roles as a community living support and skill building mentor working with both adults and children with disabilities in their homes and within the community, as well as working as a resident aide in a nursing home. Amy is currently certified in Interactive Metronome, and is passionate about learning and growing to continue to become a better pediatric occupational therapist with continued education and hands-on clinical experiences. She strives to provide the best care and treatment to her clients and their families. In her free time she enjoys camping and hiking, spending time with her friends and family, and pet sitting.
Claudette graduated with a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Dominican College in New York. After graduating, she worked in early intervention and pediatric settings both home and school. The last 11 years has specialized in pediatric settings provided services including sensory integration and engagement in therapeutic activities to children both on the spectrum and/or with physical challenges.
Dr. Jennica Pridemore graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education. In 2016, she graduated from The University of North Georgia with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is certified in Vestibular therapy from AIB and Dry Needling from SMI. She has experience in home health/outpatient pediatrics, acute care and outpatient orthopedics through her clinical rotations and has practiced in outpatient orthopedics. Jennica and her husband, TJ, love spending time with friends and family.
Paula Nagorski, MS OTR/L
Lyndsey Nichols, Lead-DPT
Kiera Linton, MOTR/L - OT Lead
O: (770) 615 - 7676 F: (770) 615 - 0177
500 Spring St SE Suite 101, Gainesville, GA 30501
ygarza@liftingspiritstherapy.com
Shiesha Rucker received her Master’s of Science in Communicative Disorders. She is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with a deep passion for helping individuals improve their communication skills and quality of life. With over 15 years of experience in the field, she has worked with clients of all ages and backgrounds, specializing in speech and language disorders, cognitive-communication impairments, and swallowing difficulties. She is dedicated to staying current with the latest research and techniques in the field in order to provide the best possible care for her clients. She believes in a personalized, clinician and client-centered approach to therapy, and is committed to helping each individual reach their full potential and achieve their communication goals. In her spare time, Shiesha enjoys being with her husband and three kids, shopping and hanging out at the beach.
Dominic Holt, BCBA
Kiera is a graduate of Georgia Southern University where she received her Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and Social Studies and a graduate from Nova Southeastern University where she received her Master's in Occupational Therapy in 2019. Prior and during her schooling, Kiera worked at various daycare centers and has long history of working with children of all ages. Kiera is passionate about working alongside clients, families, and caregivers to provide the best care and treatment through collaboration, creativity, and commitment. Kiera enjoys lifelong learning and spending quality time with family and friends. She also enjoys music, dancing, and working out.
Dr. Lyndsey Nichols graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in May 2021. Before earning this degree, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Georgia. Dr. Nichols has experience from her clinical rotations in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient orthopedics/pediatrics. Most of her 32 weeks spent in these multiple locations focused on post-operative, orthopedic, developmental delay, trauma, neurology, oncology and cardiorespiratory.
Jennica Pridemore, DPT
Tori Pou, DPT
Dr. Tori Pou is a graduate of Medical College of Georgia where she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2009. She has been practicing physical therapy for 8 years in various settings such as Early Intervention services, home health, outpatient pediatrics, and pediatric inpatient rehabilitation. In her 8 years of practice, she has treated a variety of diagnosis from general developmental delay, brain injury, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, torticollis, and many other syndromes that result in abnormal tone. She currently provides care for pediatric patients within their home through Early Intervention services. She also works in the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta treating pediatric patients with acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, and multi-system trauma. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and is certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention. She is passionate about advocating for her patients to ensure that her patients receive the best care possible to facilitate her patients reaching their highest potential. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Sam, and her four girls.Type your paragraph here.
Dominic, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, began her career while studying at the University of
Tennessee, Martin (UT Martin), where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While
completing her undergraduate studies, Dominic obtained the positions of case manager, and mental health technician, supporting adults with mental health and intellectual disabilities as well as seniors
experiencing behavioral/mental health crises. Later, Dominic began working with children through an internship at UT Martin, where her passion for the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) sparked. She went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Psychology with a focus in ABA in 2017, and eventually relocated to Georgia to continue her journey. While working in the field, Dominic has been able to provide direct behavior therapy to numerous children diagnosed with Autism and other disabilities, consultation services to schools and providers in her community, and support to many families. She also serves as Secretary for a nonprofit organization, Black Applied Behavior Analyst, Inc., that provides support and recognition for Black professionals in the field of ABA.
Dominic leads with compassion in her work and has an intense devotion to underserved communities. In
her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and fur babies, Bo and Cookie, visiting the lake,
and traveling.