Our Team
Aaron DeNardo – OTRL, RYT, CMT – Occupational Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Massage Therapist, Owner/Director
Aaron completed the Occupational Therapy program at San Jose State University in 2002. For his first few years as an OT, Aaron explored working with different populations in a variety of settings. Then he discovered pediatrics and hasn’t looked back since. He has been working as a pediatric OT in the South San Francisco Bay Area since 2004 in private clinics, public schools, and non-public schools. He specializes in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADD/ADHD, regulation challenges, social challenges and learning differences.
Aaron uses a holistic approach, helping children become more aware of their bodies, thoughts, and emotions. Through the use of intense movement activities and creative games, Aaron supports his kids in developing gross and fine motor skills, self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, mindfulness, and confidence. Woven deeply into his therapeutic style is the use of NonViolent Communication (NVC). Aaron has been studying and practicing NVC since 2003 along with many other personal growth techniques and approaches. He has been leading the weekly NVC practice group at The Giraffe since it opened in 2015. NVC helps Aaron connect deeply with his kids so that they feel safe and understood. This place of heart connection facilitates and underlies all of his work. Aaron has received training in the DIR/Floortime Model, Integrated Listening Systems, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Rhymthmic Movement Training (RMT), Brain Gym, Bal-A-Vis-X, Interactive Metronome, SOS Approach to Feeding, HANDLE, Therapeutic Listening Program, Brazelton Touchpoints Approach, Julia Harper’s Practical Sense in Sensory Integration, Safe and Sound Protocol and Astronaut Training Program. Aaron became a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2019.
Alyanna Michelle Poniente – MS OTRL – Occupational Therapist
Alyanna Michelle received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Stanbridge University. While attending Stanbridge, Alyanna worked part-time at a transitional program for young adults with developmental disabilities. There, she helped foster their independence in life skills, college-level classes, and jobs. Alyanna also served as Stanbridge’s community service co-chair for the honor society of occupational therapy, Pi Theta Epsilon. She has a passion for building a strong relationship with her clients and helping them reach their full potential. She is the current lead OT at the non-public school-site, Morgan Autism Center. Alyanna strives to provide family-centered care and believes in play-based therapy and collaboration. She has experience in providing sensory-based integration strategies and social-emotional strategies to the pediatric population. She is certified in Integrated Learning Systems, Julia Harper’s Practical Sense in Sensory Integration, Safe and Sound Protocol and Brazelton Touchpoints Approach. In her free time, Alyanna loves spending time with her family and friends, playing with her dogs, playing games, and traveling.
Cassie Tycast – MS OTRL – Occupational Therapist
Originally from Florida, Cassie moved to Texas and then returned to complete her master’s in occupational therapy at Barry University in Miami. She was a competitive gymnast for over 18 years, which led her to discover her passion for the mechanics of human movement and how it impacts health and well-being. This ultimately guided her to the field of occupational therapy, and she loves the potential the field brings to people. Now, she has the pleasure of using movement to promote sensory and emotional regulation with her clientele. Cassie has experience working with children of all ages, ranging from 6 months to 21 years of age with various neurological, neurodevelopmental, and neuromuscular conditions in both the clinic and home environments. She also works with children with sensory-based feeding disorders. Cassie enjoys collaborating with families to find solutions to help their children gain independence in their daily lives using play to facilitate skill acquisition and development. She is certified in Integrated Learning Systems and SOS Feeding in addition to receiving training in Julia Harper’s Practical Sense in Sensory Integration.
Nina Caudill – MS OTRL- Occupational Therapist
Nina received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University in 2018. She has worked with children and young adults from age 2-23 across various settings including outpatient pediatric clinics, schools, homes, public tutoring centers, and non-profit summer camp programming. Nina specializes in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention-Deficit Disorder, Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, regulation challenges, social challenges, and learning differences. Nina utilizes a holistic approach to assist children to become more independent and confident. She believes in a client-centered and play-based approach to unlock her client’s full potential which is heavily contingent on rapport and trust. She uses her client’s motivations, strengths, and interests to develop gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual motor integration, self-regulation, and social skills. Her greatest passion is to teach her client’s that: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think” (A. A. Milne). She also believes “it takes a village” and strives for collaboration between caregivers, teachers, and other therapy practitioners for optimal generalization of skills for her clients. She is certified in integrated learning systems and safe-and-sound protocol as well as receiving training in the DIR/Floortime Model and Reflex Integration Through Play. She also has knowledge and experience with using Social Thinking and Zones of Regulation curriculum. When not working, Nina recharges through her hobbies of dance, in-door rock-climbing, and traveling.
Elana Candiotti – MS OTRL- Occupational Therapist
Elana completed her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. Her previous OT experience includes adult rehabilitation in the hospital setting, as well as with children in the school districts. Ultimately her passion for supporting children in their unique goals led her to work at Laughing Giraffe Therapy and the Morgan Autism Center. She hopes to create a fun and empowering learning environment for every child she works with. Her therapeutic approach stems from an appreciation of body movement, play, and providing the just-right challenge. She is certified in Julia Harper’s Practical Sense in Sensory Integration, Integrated Listening Systems, and the Safe and Sound Protocol. She is excited to continue with additional certifications in the future. She has previous work experience as a gymnastics coach, preschool teacher, and personal trainer which provides her with a strong foundation for her work in occupational therapy. Outside of work she loves spending time outdoors, doing yoga, and trying out new recipes!
Geneva Lum – MS OTRL- Occupational Therapist
Geneva is a Bay Area native and has always enjoyed helping others and working with children. She first heard about occupational therapy in high school and pursued a career in the field ever since. She holds a degree in Human Biology from UC Santa Cruz and is a recent graduate from the Occupational Therapy program at San Jose State University. Through her experiences in her graduate program, fieldwork settings, and background as a lifeguard and paraprofessional, Geneva has grown in her joy and love for working with others and caring well for the individuals entrusted in her care. Geneva looks forward to joining the team at Laughing Giraffe Therapy and spending her time in the clinic and the Morgan Autism Center. Outside of OT, you can often find her spending time with her loved ones, trying new restaurants, designing and making new stickers for her Etsy shop, hiking, cooking, and reading!
Cole Foright – MS OTRL- Occupational Therapist
Cole Foright (they/them) grew up in central Kentucky and later attended Eastern Kentucky University where they received their Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy with a Minor in Horses, Humans and Health in 2018. During school Cole volunteered at Central Kentucky Riding for Hope and then pursued fieldwork at an outpatient pediatric placement that specialized in the use of Hippotherapy (OT/PT/SLP using equine movement as a sensory integration modality). These beloved experiences taught Cole a compassionate understanding of animals and children, and inspired a passion they’ve held close in their heart ever since. They began work at a pediatric outpatient clinic in rural Kentucky and then transitioned to a travel position in the school systems on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Throughout their journey they have also maintained their business as a professional artist and became certified in Level II Reiki, Canine and Equine Massage, and Relationship Coaching. They’ve taken courses on “Play Therapy and Infant Memory” and “Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for Health and Wellness”, as well as other continued education courses about holistic practice and/or sensory integration. This unique mix of education and experience informs Cole’s approach to helping children become more of themselves. Cole cares about connection first and leaning into the trust and security of that connection to work through the challenging parts of daily living and “being a kid”. They also understand the value and importance of a family unit and the complexities that can be present across the various relationship dynamics throughout the household. Cole is a caring supportive soul here to help the children that walk through their door and the people helping those kiddos get there.
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