Dani Leon, OTR/L, CPCC: Clinical Director
Dani Leon is a mom and a clinician, trying to make the most out of the long hours and the short years of it all! She graduated from the University of Southern California's Occupational Therapy Program in 2000, and spent several years developing her clinical skills. As she was interested in a more holistic and effective approach to supporting children and families, Dani pursued further knowledge in the areas of sensory integration, child development, brain development, mental health, trauma-informed care, reflex integration, and mindfulness, among many other therapeutic tools, programs, and resources that she incorporates into her work.
In 2012, Dani opened the doors to Sprout Children’s Therapy Center with the vision of creating a space where families and children feel clearly seen, understood, and supported to grow in meaningful ways. Since then, she has cultivated a team of talented and passionate professionals who now make up the “Sprout Family”. She is profoundly proud and grateful for what they each bring to the practice, and hopes you enjoy reading about them below.
As an adult in this relatively new field of work, Dani has realized how much she could have benefited from Sprout OT as a child. She grew up with tactile and visual sensitivities, motor planning challenges, and an underlying experience that the everyday things in life felt harder than they should. This experience gives her sincere empathy for her clients, as well as an awareness of what a gift it is to help a child have an easier time as they develop through a supportive and skilled therapeutic relationship.
When Dani is not connecting with families or supporting her team, she loves to spend time with her husband, 2 children, and their pets. She also loves to spend time with friends, dance, read, watch movies, play tennis, go camping, travel, and take her dog, Moose, to the park.
Melissa Weil, MFA, MA, OTR/L: Associate Clinical Director, Feeding Specialist
Melissa comes to the field of occupational therapy after enjoying a career as an actress and singer. She received her Master’s Degree in Acting from the Yale School of Drama and then performed both in theatre and television. She was introduced to pediatric occupational therapy as a parent and was immediately struck by the need for a therapist to be very much a collaborator and supporter of families in order promote further awareness and understanding of the felt-experience of their child. This understanding opens up the possibility for greater intimacy and joy in the parent-child relationship because it makes it easier to engage more effectively and authentically with their child. She was also struck by the positive impact that addressing a child’s sensory processing through the occupation of play could have on a child’s sense of agency and self-esteem.
Before she went back to school, Melissa worked as a DIR/Floortime therapist at Real Connections Institute, under the tutelage of Ben Zequeira-Russell, Psy D. In 2011, she received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from USC and began working directly with kids as a licensed Occupational Therapist. In 2012, she joined Dani Leon at Sprout Children’s Therapy Center. Melissa has extensive training in Sensory Processing theory and practice and Rhythmic Movement Therapy. She has also acquired her advanced certification in Feeding Therapy, and enjoys working with children who have oral motor challenges as well as children who are considered picky or resistant eaters.
When Melissa is not at Sprout, she can be found hanging out with her husband, son, daughter and myriad family pets.
Alexis Provost, MSOT, OTR/L, Lead Therapist
Alexis is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has worked with children and their parents for over 15 years. She graduated in 2011 with a Masters of Science in OT. Alexis specializes in the treatment of developmental delays, emotional dysregulation and sensory processing disorder through the lens of attachment, social and emotional development and current neurodevelopmental research. Alexis has the perspective that a child must first feel safe before before being able to authentically and organically overcome inherent challenges. She feels this feeling of safety is derived from a child knowing they are seen clearly and that their felt experience in the world will be honored. Alexis is thrilled to have found her professional home at Sprout Children’s Therapy Center which makes space for and supports such profound and delicate work. She has 2 children, who constantly humble her and remind her how hard parents work everyday, all day. When not working, Alexis enjoys cooking, running, yoga, hiking and spending time with her family and friends.
Mina Delavar, OTD, OTR/L, Program Development Specialist
Mina always knew she wanted to serve the pediatric population in some capacity, but it all clicked when she came across OT. She discovered occupational therapy as a sophomore in college, after her mom (an elementary school teacher) suggested observing her school’s OT. Mina was specifically drawn to the field’s comprehensive focus on child development, and its holistic approach to maximizing potential in key realms of life. Mina’s professional journey at Sprout dates back to her role as a fieldwork student. After absorbing the vast skills, compassion, and creativity from Sprout’s team, Mina earned her masters and furthered her learning at Sprout as a doctoral resident. As a resident, Mina was thrilled to pilot The Garden School Readiness Groups alongside Sprout’s wonderful team of therapists.. This experience allowed Mina to cultivate a safe space for children to re-enter meaningful routines and roles as they navigated the uncharted territory of a pandemic-stricken, virtual-learning world. Mina wholeheartedly embraces Sprout’s approach, as she is devoted to fostering individualized, play-based therapeutic experiences that are rooted in sensory integration, trauma-informed and relationship-based care in meaningful collaboration with families.
Once she earned her bachelors in psychology from California State University Northridge in 2018, Mina stayed true to her SoCal roots and pursued her masters and doctorate degrees at USC. Mina has her certification in Sensory Integration® which informs her approach to meeting children where they are and embracing their unique neurology in order to help empower them towards their most comfortable, confident and successful lives. .
Born and raised in Woodland Hills, California, Mina feels grateful to have grown up in LA’s melting pot. Trilingual in Farsi, Spanish, and English, Mina aims to mobilize access to occupational therapy services in the community, and to deepen the field’s cultural sensitivity. In her free-time, Mina enjoys singing, cooking, traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with her friends and family.
Lauren Berman, OTD, OTR/L (Photo coming soon)
Lauren has always had an interest in working in healthcare, serving the community, and connecting with children.
It was Lauren’s keen interest in eastern medicine and nutrition science that initially drew her to the field of occupational therapy while studying abroad in China. While there, she had the privilege of interning with eastern medicine practitioners, many of whom worked alongside athletes during the 2008 summer Olympics. However, she was surprised to be most intrigued by her visits to pediatric occupational therapy clinics while in China. Lauren was drawn to the holistic nature that the field of occupational therapy encompasses, while appreciating the hands-on, collaborative and dynamic approach.
She then pursued and completed her Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Since then, Lauren has developed her experience working with children with developmental differences, sensory processing differences and feeding challenges. Similar to the ideology behind her initial career interest in eastern medicine, Lauren views each child holistically, taking into account the context of how their underlying biology and their experiences intersect and impact how they show up and move through the world. She is most passionate about connecting with each child authentically, meeting them where they are and supporting them in making meaningful strides in their development.
Lauren is thrilled to have found her profesional home at Sprout Children’s Therapy Center, where the values match her own, and continue to guide and inspire her. She feels grateful to work and learn alongside such skillful and compassionate coworkers, and play and collaborate with her clients and families.
During Lauren’s free time, she can be found going on adventures with her husband Jeremy, kayaking in Marina Del Rey, drawing, training for half marathons with her dad, and spending time with family and friends. However she is most happy hanging at home with her pig, Moo and dog, Willard.
Jane Grant, MS, OTR/L, Graphomotor and ADHD Specialist
Jane has always had a passion for working with children, stemming from her background as a nanny, a preschool teacher and being an aunt of 10 nieces and nephews! She graduated in 2018 with a Master’s of Science in OT from Dominican University of California.
As an occupational therapist, Jane has worked in a variety of pediatric settings, including schools, homes, medical facilities, outpatient treatment programs, telehealth and private practice. Jane has worked with a broad range of children and has expertise in autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental differences, Down Syndrome, ADHD, visual motor and perceptual difficulties, handwriting challenges, gross motor and fine motor differences. She has designed and led groups, including kindergarten readiness, handwriting, regulation, social skills, and nature-based therapy groups. Jane has advanced certifications in handwriting and graphomotor interventions as well as sensory processing. She strives to help children by cultivating a space where they can be authentically themselves and build connections with others, while supporting their physical, social and emotional well-being through creative play and child-led experiences. Jane believes in a holistic approach that embodies children’s unique strengths and interests to support their growth and development, so they can be more coordinated, competent, and confident kids.
When not working, Jane enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, and binge watching the latest shows. Jane loves to be active and spends her time hiking, practicing yoga and meditation and being outdoors in nature!
Madison Werchowsky, MS OTR/L
Madison has over 6 years of experience working with children and adolescents. She takes time getting to know each child she works with, taking into account their unique experiences, strengths, and challenges. She places a strong emphasis on understanding a child’s sensory and emotional experiences, establishing a strong therapeutic connection, and scaffolding play to help children learn through the just-right challenge. She is passionate about developing creative, fun and child-centered interventions that help children reach their goals and help families experience more ease and confidence in their journey.
She earned her Master’s degree in Occupational therapy from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and previously earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara. Her journey in becoming an occupational therapist started with her work as a developmental behavior therapist for children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD, and difficulty with emotional regulation. Through this work, she developed her understanding of the unique challenges children and adolescents face and the importance of tailoring therapeutic approaches to meet the individual needs of each child and family.
In her free time she enjoys playing with her dog, hiking, snowboarding, and attending music concerts.
Sara Macaluso, OTD, OTR/L, CNP
Sara is an occupational therapist with experience in early intervention/pediatrics, maternal mental health, trauma-informed care, program development, and nonprofit management. She has an undergraduate degree in organizational leadership from California Lutheran University and a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from West Coast University.
Sara discovered occupational therapy while teaching for a “baby & me” program after her own son was born. In an effort to better educate herself and the parents she was working with about child development and sensory integration, she began following and learning from several pediatric occupational therapists online and soon realized she’d found a profession that perfectly matched her desire to help children and their families thrive through creative, play-based learning.
As a mom herself, Sara is passionate about bridging early childhood development and perinatal mental health. She’s facilitated groups of new moms navigating the transition to motherhood and also works with an organization supporting women who’ve experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Her other professional interests include trauma-informed care, advocacy for issues related to women’s and children’s health, and equine assisted therapy.
When not working, Sara enjoys reading, hiking, traveling with her husband and son, and practicing mounted archery.
Brianna Brostoff, OTD, OTR/L
Brianna has had a lifelong passion for working with children and is thrilled to have found her professional home at Sprout!
As a daughter of two educators, it is no surprise that this San Fernando Valley native’s first love was teaching preschool, which she did in San Francisco for 7 wonderful years prior to discovering her fascination with occupational therapy. During this time, she grew immensely, soaking in as much as she could about child-centered learning. Her schools focused on social and emotional development and age-appropriate conflict resolution, and used a compassionate and relationship- approach to supporting children. Although she had much affection for this work, she began to look toward a career that would allow her to continue working with her favorite populations (kids and their families) in a new context, and still use play as a means of learning.
She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy and has also completed certifications in healthcare quality improvement and trauma-informed care. Brianna values the field’s incredible breadth and unique approach to treatment. She loves the holistic and creative approaches used in occupational therapy to help children and families thrive and better access what is most meaningful in their lives.
During her free time, Brianna loves puns and silliness, playing games, hiking, camping, completing puzzles, trivia, dancing and singing with her friends, and playing with snakes and geckos!