Our team

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  Michelle is a native Houstonian and also a first-generation college graduate! She graduated from an Occupational Therapy Assistant program with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) at Lone Star College Tomball in 2023. During her education and training she completed one of her fieldworks as a student at Empower Pediatric Therapy. It was here that she truly discovered the passion for early childhood development in a pediatric setting. Michelle’s strengths include being a fluent Spanish speaker, treatment flexibility, loves challenging behaviors, up for new experiences, patient and compassionate. Her spark and interest began when she was only 16 years after attending her grandfather’s therapy session for Dementia. Her goal is to bring light and joy even through someone’s hardest day. In Michelle’s free time she enjoys spending time with family, ice skating, weightlifting, running outdoors, and hot yoga! 

Eduardo is one of our amazing Occupational Therapy Technicians and has known for a while that he has wanted to work with children. Eduardo feels so fortunate to be working at his dream job. As a graduate from Stratford high school, he loved participating in activities for students with special needs. The program "Lunch buddies" was the highlight of everyday because, it was a time that he was able to sit with, talk to, and engage with peers having special needs. Eduardo began his studies at the University of Missouri in 2022 and will now be pursuing his OTA certification back home in Houston. Eduardo has been working and volunteering for Empower for over 8 years and has so much fun doing so! Helping our students play, socialize, build teamworking skills, target health and fitness is what he loves to do. Which is why he’s the perfect fit for Empower! 

Arianna is one of our Amazing OT Techs at Empower Pediatric Therapy and a proud graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree in Psychology with a minor in Health Professions. She is passionate about helping children succeed by meeting them where they are, building strong connections, and creating opportunities for success. Her creativity, perseverance, and compassion make her a true asset to the Empower family. 

Arianna looks forward to diving deeper into the field of Occupational Therapy and pursuing her goal of becoming a certified occupational therapist in the near future.

Outside of Empower, Arianna enjoys staying active and embracing the Houston outdoors. In her free time, you can often find her at the gym or on the running trails around Houston.

 Maddie is our amazing Child Development Associate (C.D.A.), receiving her certification through the Child Development Council for Professional Recognition in 2026. Maddie graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Sociology from Texas A&M University in 2023. While at Texas A&M, Maddie served as the president of P.S.U.N., a volunteer student organization dedicated to creating positive experiences for children with disabilities and special needs as well as their families. Maddie has had the opportunity to shadow multiple Physician's Assistants in both the field of pediatrics and other disciplines, broadening her understanding of children's health and passion for supporting the whole child. She has had prior work experience both as a pediatric respite attendant and within Cell Biology and Genetics research as a part of Texas A&M University. Maddie is CPR and First Aid certified through the American Red Cross. She specializes in teaching positive social skills while helping children develop confidence, independence, and a positive sense of self. Above all, Maddie is passionate about creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels safe to learn, grow, and positively express themselves. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live music, playing guitar, and long-distance running. 

 Kinley Stokes is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders (2020) and a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (2022) from Baylor University. She brings a broad range of therapeutic expertise, including articulation, fluency, receptive and expressive language, cognition, pragmatic language, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). 

Kinley is particularly passionate about working with non-verbal individuals of all ages with complex communication needs. She has extensive experience with both low-tech and high-tech AAC systems and enjoys continually expanding her knowledge in this area. She has completed several specialized AAC trainings, including the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) course, Moving Forward with LAMP on iOS, and the TD Accelerate Program.

In her free time, Kinley enjoys crafting, exploring new coffee shops, and staying active at the gym!

Gissele Everhardt, OTD, OTR/L, is a registered occupational therapist with a passion for working with children and their families. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi before continuing her education at Baylor University, where she earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy.

What Gissele loves most about pediatric therapy is getting to know each child for who they are and finding ways to make therapy feel fun, meaningful, and something they can feel successful in. She strives to create a positive and encouraging space where children can build confidence, gain independence, and be themselves. Gissele also values collaborating closely with families and providing practical strategies that can be carried over into each child’s everyday routines and environments.

In her free time, Gissele enjoys yoga, trying new coffee and matcha spots, traveling, never passing up a sweet treat, and making memories with her family, friends, and dogs.