Meet Our Team

Kayley is the co-owner and co-founder of Playhaus Pediatric Therapy and a practicing occupational therapist whose passion for reaching underserved communities helped inspire the clinic’s creation. A Houston native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Texas A&M University (Whoop!) and her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Austin. Her love for pediatric therapy began during five years of volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility, where she helped children of all abilities experience the joy and confidence of learning to ride horses. Since becoming licensed in 2020, Kayley has gained experience across hospitals, hand clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home health, pursuing advanced training in infant development, torticollis and plagiocephaly, DIR Floortime, executive functioning, sensory integration, and reflex integration to help children build independence and families feel supported. She lives in New Braunfels with her husband, Jeff, their son, James, and their dog, Beau, and enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Christine is the co-owner and co-founder of Playhaus Pediatric Therapy and a practicing occupational therapist who helped create the clinic with a heartfelt purpose: to give children a place where they feel understood, celebrate their strengths, and build independence through meaningful play. Originally from Wellington, Ohio, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Findlay and has practiced in Arizona, Florida, and Texas since 2012. Her experience spans hospitals, trauma centers, outpatient clinics, and home health, with advanced training in sensory integration, feeding, pelvic floor therapy, and developmental approaches that support individualized, evidence-based care. Christine brings that same dedication to her role as an owner, mentoring future therapists and building a collaborative workplace where clinicians feel supported, families feel heard, and children’s progress is celebrated. She lives in New Braunfels with her husband, Wyatt, and their children, Leah and Maverick, and enjoys fitness, reading, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Laura is our Office Coordinator and one of the first friendly faces you’ll see when you walk through our doors. With more than 20 years of management experience, she helps keep our clinic running smoothly while creating a welcoming environment for every child and family. She has a heart for serving others and a strong connection to her family and community. Laura enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling her grandchildren. She recently welcomed another grandbaby and is loving this exciting new chapter with her family!

Whether she's greeting families, answering questions, or supporting our therapists, Laura is dedicated to making every family's experience at Playhaus a positive one.

Madysen is a licensed occupational therapist who brings enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication to helping children thrive. A Seguin, Texas native, she recently earned her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and is excited to serve families in her hometown. She completed one of her clinical rotations with us at Playhaus, where she developed a love for our play-based approach and family-centered care. We were thrilled to welcome her back as a member of the team to begin her professional career. Madysen enjoys creating engaging, meaningful sessions that build children’s confidence, independence, and everyday skills while supporting their unique strengths and goals.

Kathryn “Kat” Carrillo is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) with six years of pediatric experience working with children of various ages and diagnoses. She is passionate about helping children reach their fullest potential through play and movement. By following each child’s lead, Kat creates engaging sessions that support their individual goals. She brings energy, creativity, and a playful spirit to her work. Outside of the clinic, her greatest joy is spending time with her husband, daughter, and beloved pup.

Charlene brings 13 years of pediatric experience to Playhaus, including work in home health and outpatient settings. She has a love for working with children and helping them grow. Her kind, gentle approach helps children feel comfortable and supported during their sessions. She values connecting with each child and celebrating their progress along the way. We are excited to have her experience and caring spirit on the Playhaus team!

Elizabeth “Liz” is a bilingual speech-language pathologist (SLP) with over 12 years of experience in hospitals, outpatient clinics, early intervention, and home health. She grew up in South Texas and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Liz is passionate about serving the bilingual community and empowering families to confidently support their child’s speech, language, and feeding goals. She values collaboration and enjoys mentoring fellow therapists while working to expand access to evidence-based care in underserved communities. Outside of work, Liz lives in New Braunfels and enjoys spending time outdoors, relaxing at the spa, and thrifting.

Yesenia Yee is a licensed bilingual speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) with seven years of experience in pediatric clinic and home health settings. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Before joining Playhaus, she worked in an Arizona pediatric clinic and later served primarily Spanish-speaking children and families in New Braunfels. Having received speech therapy herself in elementary school, Yesenia feels a personal connection to her work and believes every child deserves a voice. She lives in Seguin with her husband, daughter, and two Shih Tzus.

Janell is a speech-language pathologist who began her pediatric career as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) in 2022. She later earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology to expand her knowledge and skills in supporting children and families. Her experience includes helping children with expressive and receptive language, articulation, fluency, social communication, and cognitive-communication skills. 

Janell makes therapy fun, functional, and engaging through play, creativity, and everyday routines that help children use their skills beyond the therapy room. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring coffee spots, shopping at Target, and spending time with family, friends, and her dogs, Jax and Kiwi.

 Miranda Pena is a Clinical Fellow Speech-Language Pathologist (CF-SLP) who earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She is passionate about helping children develop the communication skills they need to connect, learn, and thrive in their everyday lives.

Miranda enjoys working with children of all ages and is dedicated to creating fun, engaging, and individualized therapy experiences that support speech, language, and social communication development. She believes that every child learns best when therapy is meaningful and motivating, and she strives to build strong relationships with both her patients and their families.

Miranda is committed to providing family-centered care and collaborating closely with caregivers to promote progress beyond the therapy room. She values celebrating each child’s unique strengths while helping them build confidence and independence in their communication skills.

Emily Smith is a pediatric speech-language pathologist originally from Wisconsin. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Troy University and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Abilene Christian University–Dallas in 2024.

Emily has experience working with children across a variety of settings, including early intervention, private schools, public schools, and private practice. She has supported children with a wide range of communication needs and is especially passionate about helping children with language delays in the early intervention population, phonological and speech sound disorders, and voice disorders.

Emily believes that children learn best through meaningful relationships and engaging, play-based experiences. She enjoys incorporating each child’s unique interests, passions, and movement into therapy sessions to create motivating opportunities for growth and communication. She is dedicated to partnering closely with families and empowering them with strategies to support their child’s progress beyond the therapy room.

Emily feels honored to be a part of each child’s communication journey and is committed to helping children build confidence, connection, and success in their everyday lives.

Emily lives in New Braunfels with her husband. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time at the lake, taking Pilates classes, and getting lost in a good book. She is excited to be part of the Playhaus Pediatric Therapy team and looks forward to helping children and families thrive.

Erin Doss is a physical therapist with extensive experience in outpatient and hospital settings. She works with babies through older children, helping them build strength, balance, and movement skills for everyday life. Her experience includes supporting children with torticollis, toe walking, and balance challenges. Erin brings a caring, encouraging approach to therapy, helping children build confidence and celebrating their progress alongside their families. A Seguin native, she lives in her hometown with her husband and their three children.