MEET OUR THERAPISTS

Ashley Romero, M.S., CCC-SLP

Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist

Ashley is native of New Jersey. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Hearing and Speech Sciences and Public Relations. Prior to becoming a speech-language pathologist, Ashley worked in an ABA-based school in New Jersey where she worked with Pre-K and elementary aged children on the autism spectrum. This is where she discovered her passion. Ashley went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Florida Atlantic University. While completing her Master’s, Ashley continued to provide ABA therapy and completed the requirements to become a BCBA (certification pending).

Prior to founding Bridging the Pieces Therapy, Ashley worked in a variety of settings including charter and private schools, hospitals, and outpatient clinics. She is motivated to provide successful therapy that is enjoyable to her clients and family. She is also a PROMPT-trained therapist.

Ashley is a licensed speech-language pathologist and is credentialed through the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). She has a passion for helping children improve their speech and language skills to promote effective and functional communication. She is also a proud mom to two children, Atlas and Aria.

Heather Engel, M.S., OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Heather is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist who holds a Bachelor of Health Science degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University. Since graduating in 2015 she has served children from infancy through school-age with neurological, chromosomal, and developmental delays. She has experience working within various outpatient and hospital settings, including neonatal intensive care and early intervention programs. Her specialty areas include infant and toddler development, school-related skills, handwriting, feeding, and sensory. Specific diagnoses include autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, developmental delay, and sensory processing disorder. Heather focuses on an interdisciplinary approach of parents, teachers, therapists, and medical professionals for success in everyday environments and routines

Krista Nichols, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Krista is a native of Florida. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Albizu University in Miami. She has worked in a variety of settings such as PPEC, school, daycare and clinic. Krista enjoys providing services to early intervention populations and has experience collaborating and providing parent coaching to families. She has worked with many Autistic clients and strives to provide Neurodiversity affirming care through relationship-based learning and child-led play. She enjoys collaborating with Occupational Therapy to ensure that clients are regulated and ready to learn, prior to providing speech and language services. Krista is passionate about helping children to use their voices to advocate for themselves and their needs

Speech-Language Pathologist

Blakely Keyser, MSOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

BIO COMING SOON!

Eleni Marquez, M.A., CCC-SLP

Eleni is a New York City native who is dual-licensed in Florida and New York as a speech-language pathologist. Eleni also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Eleni earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from the State University of New York at Cortland and a Master of Arts in Communication
Sciences and Disorders from Iona University. Since graduating in 2019, she has worked with children from preschool through high school in diverse settings, including homes, schools, and daycares providing speech-language therapy in English and Spanish. Eleni is passionate about delivering child-centered care and is committed to building strong, collaborative relationships with clients and their families.

Lexi Spalding, MOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Lexi is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and received her master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She has clinical experience providing pediatric occupational therapy across outpatient, school-based, and telehealth settings. She has experience with children with autism, sensory processing disorder, and developmental delays. Her approach is family-centered, collaborative, and rooted in building functional skills through meaningful engagement.

Elizabeth Nolan-Dougherty, M.S, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

My Professional Journey: A Mother’s Perspective

As a mother of two, aged 12 and 11, my primary responsibility lies in nurturing my children. This role carries over in my career as a Speech and Language Pathologist. I received my master’s degree in Speech and Language at Brooklyn College, while simultaneously maintaining my involvement as a member of their swim team. This combination of athleticism and academic pursuits ultimately resulted in my relocation to a beach town, where I continue to enjoy swimming. As Dori wisely advises, “Keep on Swimming!” This philosophy encapsulates my approach to life and career, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and maintaining a positive outlook!

Sophia Roman, OTD/OTR/L

Doctor of Occupational Therapist

Dr. Sophia Roman, OTD, OTR/L is a bilingual pediatric occupational therapist with four years of experience working in pediatric therapy across outpatient, charter school, and telehealth settings. Originally from Miami, Florida, Sophia is excited to return to her home state aftergaining valuable leadership experience in North Carolina, where she served as the Occupational Therapy Department Lead. In that role, she led departmental operations, supervised COTAs,
mentored graduate students, and collaborated across disciplines, including ABA, speech therapy, physical therapy, and psychology.

She earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Science and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, along with an Interdepartmental Developmental Disabilities Certificate, from Florida State University. Her doctoral capstone focused on advocating for and supporting sleep participation in children with autism spectrum disorder, emphasizing occupational therapy’s role in promoting healthy sleep routines.

Her clinical interests include early intervention, motor skill development, sensory integration, and family-centered care. She has experience working with clients ranging from infants to
young adults and is dedicated to helping every child grow in their own unique way.

Christina Steff, B.S., SLP-A

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Hi! My name is Christina Steff, and I’m so happy to be part of the team here at Bridging the Pieces Therapy as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). I earned my bachelor’s
degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Florida and am currently pursuing my master’s in Communicative Disorders through Eastern New Mexico

University.

I have experience working with children from birth through 12 years old and love helping them find their voice and confidence through communication. I’m especially passionate about
supporting children on the autism spectrum and enjoy creating fun, engaging activities that make learning to communicate a positive and meaningful experience.

When I’m not working, you can usually find me studying, spending time with my family, or relaxing at the beach. I’m grateful to be part of a team that values connection, growth, and celebrating every child’s unique journey!