Meet Our Staff
Our Founder
Monika Lesch, OTR/L
(registered and licensed occupational therapist) has over four decades of experience in pediatric occupational therapy, including twelve in North Carolina public schools. She has expertise in
the treatment of babies, children, young adults with sensory processing challenges and neuromotor disorders.
Monika is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). Her experience includes extensive work with sensory integration and sensory processing challenges. She is also certified in Neuro Developmental Therapy (NDT), a treatment technique typically used for children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Additional areas of training include oral motor intervention and eating challenges, myofacial release, visual therapy, and Brain Gym. As a certified yoga instructor, Monika includes yoga in her practice with children.
Occupational and Speech Therapy Staff
Blair Hodge, OTR/L joined Play Again in October 2015. She has been with Play Again since the start of her OT professional career. She has experience with a wide variety of diagnoses including sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and many others. Blair graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science. She attended occupational therapy school at Lenoir-Rhyne university and graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy.
Anna Starr, COTA/L is a certified licensed occupational therapy assistant. She has worked with children who have physical and cognitive impairments, sensory integration challenges, and behavioral deficits through clinic and home based as well as in an equine setting. She obtained her associates in occupational therapy health sciences at South College in Asheville in 2017. Anna has a bachelors degree in communication from East Carolina University. She is currently working towards obtaining her masters degree in occupational therapy. Anna previously worked as a home health nursing assistant and is passionate about helping others. Born and raised in western North Carolina, she is happy to give back to her community. Anna is a mother of two and spends her free time with her family playing outdoors, picking mushrooms, enjoying art, advocating for surrogacy, and teaching dance classes.
Megan West, COTA/L is a licensed OTA who received her AAS degree in occupational therapy health sciences from AB Tech in Asheville earlier this year! She has worked with older adults as a certified nursing assistant and loves working with children. Megan is a mother of four and has been married for 19 years. She enjoys spending her free time going to baseball, track and field, and soccer games watching her children play. Megan’s passion for helping children through occupational therapy comes from being a parent of a child with special needs. She hopes to make a difference for others in the way that OT has made a difference in her daughters life.
Bambi Garrsion, M.S., CCC-SLP earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She has over 20 years of experience working with children who demonstrate speech and language delays. She has substantial experience working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is fluent in sign language and has additional training in Auditory-Verbal techniques and Cued Speech. Prior to joining the staff at Play Again Therapy, Bambi worked in the public schools as a Hearing-Impaired Specialist for 11 years. Before that, she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, VA.
Yatziry Montiel Rosales, M.A. CF-SLP earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College in 2022 and a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro this past May!
Yatziry has worked with adults and children in a variety of settings: schools, clinics, and hospitals. She has experience with a variety of communication disorders in children 2-12, autism spectrum disorder, phonological/articulation delays, receptive/expressive delays, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Yatziry is a Bilingual Spanish speaker and her passions include advocating for children and their families and helping them find their voice in all forms of communication! Yatziry is a first generation college graduate and is beyond excited to start her professional career at Play Again Therapy!”
Margaret Gordon, M.A. CCC-SLP, joined Play Again Therapy in May, 2016. Prior to Play Again Therapy, she worked for the NC School for the Deaf in Morganton for one year before moving to Guilford County Schools for 9 years. Following this, she worked for Burke County Schools for 20 years. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Appalachian State University. She has experience working with a variety of communication disorders in children, namely, autism, apraxia, phonological/articulation, receptive and expressive language delays, and communication disorders of the deaf and hard of hearing.
Summer Allison, MA CCC-SLP earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Appalachian State University. Summer has worked in a variety of settings including: schools, hospitals, nursing homes, home health and early intervention. She has over 17 years experience working with children who demonstrate a variety of communication disorders such as: phonological/articulation disorders, expressive/receptive language delays, apraxia, fluency disorders, and autism. She has experience with augmentative and alternative communication ( AAC) and with neurodiversity affirming and child led therapy. She has taken classes in ASL and has experience in working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing, this being a special interest because her daughter is hearing impaired.
Crysta Hollifield, MS, CCC-SLP earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Appalachian State University. Crysta has worked with adults and kids in a variety of settings including: schools, adult developmental facilities, daycares, and clinics. Crysta specializes in augmentative and alternative communication and literacy development.
She is passionate about helping individuals with complex communication needs find their voices, and helping families and caregivers be a part of that journey through teaching, coaching, and support.
Gabrielle Silver, SLP-Assistant joined Play Again in June 2021. Gabrielle is a registered
Speech-language pathology assistant with an Associates in Applied Sciences from Caldwell
Community College & Technical Institute. She will earn a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in December of 2021 from Appalachian State University. Her goal is to earn a masters degree and become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the near future.
She has experience with a variety of communication disorders in children ages 3-12, who have cochlear implants, on the autism spectrum, have phonological/articulation delays, receptive/expressive delays, and Down syndrome. Gabrielle is passionate about helping others achieve their full potential. She was born and raised in McDowell County, NC and enjoys spending free time making memories with her family and friends.
Office Manager
Leslie Hawkins Leslie's responsibilities include, patient intake and enrollment procedures, Medicaid and Private Insurance billing and questions, and general administrative duties. Should you need her assistance with these or any other matters, she is available at our Morganton location, Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm.
Vanessa Chambliss, ITFS/CBRS
Vanessa has 13 years experience working with children with special needs and delays. She holds a State of North Carolina Professional Educator’s License in Special Education and has a Bachelors of Art Degree in Psychology. Vanessa is a certified Infant, Toddler and Family Specialist and an accredited provider of Level 3 Triple P Stepping Stones Counseling. She has also completed training in ABA Therapy, TEACCH Autism Program, Play Therapy and Behavior Management. Prior to joining Play Again Therapy, Vanessa was a Self Contained/Autistic Cluster Teacher with Catawba County Public Schools.