COvington Satillite

  She’s an Indiana native, so it’s no surprise that she loves college basketball, especially March Madness! Lindsay moved to Washington right after graduating with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Downer’s Grove, IL.

She wanted to look forward to going to work every day to help people return to activities pain free. So, she became a Physical Therapist. She loves feeling like she has helped make changes in her patients’

lives, and appreciates that she has never “felt like a number” working for OPT. At OPT, Lindsay feels like she is part of a family and her opinion matters.

Traveling to her aunt and uncle’s cabin in the Indiana woods is her favorite way to spend her vacation time. She also loves snowboarding, glassblowing, photography, reading and movies.

Professional Certifications: Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), Athletic Training Certified (ATC), Kinesiotaping, Concussion Certification

  She’s proud of her love of the Seahawks, but hates to admit being a fan of reality TV. Paula also held her high school shot put record for years and can understand Dutch better than she speaks it.

An athlete all of her life, Paula pursued a career in physical therapy to learn about how the body works so that she could help people build confidence and feel better. She is a University of Washington graduate and loves the OPT mission statement, “to improve the quality of life of those around us.” Adapting treatment to meet individual needs and interacting with different personalities are her favorite things about being a Physical Therapist.

Married with two kids, a lop ear bunny and a Labrador, Paula also finds time to strength train at the gym, run, hike and walk for exercise.

Professional Certifications: Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist (OCS) – in process

  She’s a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) who loves getting her hands dirty in her garden. Kathleen is learning photography and enjoys cheering on the Seahawks too.

After graduating from the University of Washington, Kathleen started her occupational therapy career in hospital and school settings. At OPT, she enjoys treating a diverse caseload of acute, post-surgical, and chronic conditions. She enjoys connecting with so many different types of people in a fun environment, and appreciates that OPT supports her professional ongoing education and growth. As a CHT, Kathleen is passionate about helping her patients return to all of their activities, and she strives to exceed the expectations of all of her patients.

On the weekends, you’ll find Kathleen working in a skilled nursing facility.

Professional Certifications: Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)

  She’s a mom to two wonderful, active kids who loves spending time with her family. A Wenatchee native, Michelle moved to Seattle to pursue her BA in European Studies at Seattle Pacific University. So, it’s no surprise that she is passionate about traveling!

Michelle was inspired to become an Occupational Therapist because she wanted to help people become as independent as possible. She earned her Masters of Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound and is currently working toward taking the Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) exam. At OPT, Michelle appreciates the great variety of people she gets to work with and the daily opportunities to see her patients improve.

When she’s not working, studying for her CHT exam, or going to her kids’ sports, music and school events, Michelle also finds time to pursue her love for art and photography.

As a high school student, Jessica experienced rehabilitation firsthand as a physical therapy patient following shoulder surgery. When she learned that occupational therapy combined her passions of working with children and adult orthopedic rehab, she knew what career to pursue. After earning her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from University of Puget Sound (UPS), she went on to graduate from the UPS Occupational Therapy graduate school with her Master’s of Science.

As an Occupational Therapist (OT), Jessica loves being able to share her skills and knowledge with patients as she helps them overcome obstacles that prevent them from enjoying their lives. She loves working with people and hearing their stories. AT OPT, she enjoys the warm, welcoming environment that feels like family, as well as the wealth of knowledge that the Certified Hand Therapists (CHT’s) offer.

Jessica has been to 14 countries, and she once went skydiving and bungee jumping in the same day! Her favorite vacation spot is Hawaii, and she enjoys spending time with her young son, JP, as he explores the world.

“Kindness is free. Sprinkle that stuff everywhere.” - Unknown

  She’s an avid Vikings fan who loves to vacation in Minnesota with her two children.

After working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, Chris wanted to expand her knowledge to better serve her clients. So, she became a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). As a PTA, she is passionate about treating the whole person and helping them return to the lifestyle they love. Opportunities to grow as clinician, working with a great team of people and hour-long appointments are her favorite things about OPT.

Chris also loves to teach – if she had to change careers, she would become a teacher. In her free time, you’ll find her cooking, reading and weight training.

Professional Certifications: Certified Health and Fitness Specialist

  Sonja graduated with her B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Washington. She wanted to take her education to the next level, so she attended Green River Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program.  

At OPT, she loves the welcoming, approachable environment and working with a team to find the best ways to improve the quality of life for all patients. In her free time, Sonja can be found working on DIY house projects, playing/watching soccer, crocheting and hiking.