Micheal Williams, MA, CCC-SLP (Owner, Speech Therapy Supervisor)
Micheal is the owner and lead speech therapist at WSTS. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2010 and a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2012. He has worked in acute, inpatient, home health, and outpatient settings with both pediatric and adults clients who have deficits in speech, language, voice, and/or cognition. He has additional training and experience in care of tracheostomies, and assisting clients with Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices.
Erika Williams, OTR/L, CHT (CFO, Occupational Therapy Supervisor); Advanced Practice: Hands Therapy, Physical Agent Modalities
Erika is the CFO at Williams Therapy. She graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy with Departmental Honors, High Honors in 2007. She then worked as an occupational therapy assistant in acute and inpatient rehab. She continued her education and during her Bachelor’s program she was part of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (top 5%), Golden Key International Honor Society (top 15%), and Psi Chi Honor Society (Psychology honors). She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from California State University, Chico in 2011. For her Master’s Degree she was awarded the Texas Woman’s University Graduate Student Scholarship and was part of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (top 5%) and the Golden Key International Honor Society (top 15%). Ultimately, she graduated with her Master of Arts Degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University with high honors in December 2014. She has experience working in acute, subacute, long-term acute, inpatient, home health, and outpatient with both pediatric and adult clients with orthopedic, neurological, and medically complex problems. Her area of interest is in the rehabilitation of the upper extremity. She is a board certified hand therapist. She currently has her advanced practice in hand therapy and physical agent modalities. She has received training via mentorship and is adept at making custom splints/orthoses.
Paravee Prakongsup, MA, CCC-SLP
Paravee Prakongsup is a licensed speech language pathologist (SLP). She graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University, Los Angeles with a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2018. She has experience working with pediatric and adult clients who have various types of disorders including articulation and language delays or disorders, fluency disorders, literacy delays and difficulties, autism, Down syndrome, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, cognitive-communication disorders as well as tracheostomy and ventilator dependent patients. She has worked with nonverbal children and adults that could benefit from low and high tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices. Paravee has worked in multiple settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities including subacute and long-term acute care, and both inpatient and outpatient care.
Angela Chung, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Angela graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2013. She worked in pediatrics providing Early Intervention services and sensory/play-based occupational therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, feeding difficulties, and developmental delays in both home and clinic settings. In 2015, Angela transitioned to specializing in hand therapy. She treated a range of orthopedic cases in the adult population including conservative and post-operative tendon injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, fractures, sprains, arthritis, overuse/pain syndromes, etc. She utilizes clinical reasoning skills to provide individualized treatment in rehabilitating each client’s unique upper extremity deficits and improving their meaningful functional outcomes. Angela obtained her advanced practice in hand therapy and physical agent modalities and has been a certified hand therapist since 2017.
Emily Grullón., OTR/L, OTD
Emily is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. Currently, she works as a clinical occupational therapist in an outpatient clinic as a hand therapist, in addition to working as an adjunct occupational therapy professor at West Coast University. In the clinic she goes by Emily, however in an academic setting, she goes by Dr. Grullón. She has been published in peer-reviewed journals and has been invited to speak on podcasts and universities for her work on occupational justice, in addition to her work on the role of cannabinoids in pain management and function. She has worked as a hand therapist since starting her clinical career as an OT in 2018. Emily has worked under the supervision of board-certified hand surgeons in Denver, Co and Los Angeles, Ca. She has accrued over 4,000 hours of Direct Practice Experience required to become a Certified Hand Therapist and plans on taking the exam soon. Due to her extensive work and research on occupational justice, in practice, she not only focuses on treating the condition, but instead on treating the individual holistically, with a focus on reducing health inequities through an occupational justice lens. She believes that as occupational therapists we must look beyond the medical model to be truly client centered. In her free time, Emily spends time with her dog Pippa and enjoys adventures in the great outdoors.
Hallie Spigelman, MS, OTR/L
Hallie graduated from West Coast University in 2018, with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. While at West Coast University, she earned the Honorary Academic Achievement Research Award. Proceeding schooling, Hallie worked in a highly specialized outpatient hand therapy clinic where she treated diverse diagnoses of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. She had direct communications with hand surgeons, which allowed for personal care, optimal functioning and regaining of independence. Hallie obtained her advanced practice in physical agent modalities in 2020 and continues her practice of hand therapy at Williams Therapy Services. Here, she creates personalized treatment plans for each patient to get them back to doing what they need, and love to do with their hands. Hallie is excited to be a part of the Williams Therapy Services team where she hopes to continue to ease suffering and improve the quality of all lives.
Laura Benavidez, MS, OTR/L
Laurie is an occupational therapist and has been practicing for 10 years. She works across the lifespan (pediatrics to adults) and is passionate about health and wellness. She graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas-Pan American (with minors in Chemistry & Psychology). She then received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas-Pan American in 2012. She has 10 years working in various pediatric settings (home health, clinics, schools) in-person and online from infants to teenagers with developmental delays, ASD, sensory processing, social-emotional learning, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, and hand/arm injuries. She has certifications in mindfulness and sensory processing oral motor skills. She also has experience in in-patient hospital and outpatient OT working with patients post-stroke/hip & knee replacements/amputees. Laurie also has three years of wellness and life coaching in-person and online for adults, businesses, law firms, and golf mental game coaching. She is a yoga instructor in person and online. She is bilingual in Spanish and loves helping others. She enjoys content creation and playing golf with her husband.
Rachel Munar-Villasista, COTA/L
Rachel graduated with a B.S. in Sociology with an emphasis on Medical Sociology from Mount St. Mary’s University (Cum Laude in 2018). During her time at MSMU, she participated in the PALS program in Santa Monica which involved helping the youth develop skills and self-esteem that encouraged them to reach their full potential through education, cultural, recreational and outreach programs. Prior to obtaining her COTA license from Stanbridge University (Summa Cum Laude in 2021), Rachel worked as an ABA therapist and provided behavioral intervention services using evidence-based techniques to children with Autism and other developmental disabilities in their home settings. She also has past experiences servicing at a community-based pediatric school, skilled nursing facility, and outpatient clinic for adults and pediatrics. She has provided rehabilitation services for the elder population with chronic diseases such as dementia, arthritis, COPD, cancer, and helped adults recover from an injury or surgery, as well as treat specific issues such as improving their range of motion, endurance, and overall motor skills. Her creative mindset has led her to creating progressive treatment strategies that continue to motivate her clients to reach their goals. During her free time, she loves going to Disneyland, the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
Carissa Dizon, Office Manager
Carissa studied Musical Theatre at the American and Musical Dramatic Academy in Hollywood. Her previous work experience as lead front office scheduler and senior intake coordinator have prepared her for her role at Williams Therapy. She is excellent with scheduling, coordinating care with physician’s offices and insurance companies, as well as assisting patients and staff as needed. Her passion for integrating personal and virtual communication has become an aide to our company’s marketing. Carissa is also fluent in English and Tagalog.