Rebecca Taylor, BS Psychology, BS Occupational Therapy
Owner, Pediatric Potentials
406-582-4182
Rebecca Taylor has been practicing as a pediatric Occupational Therapist since graduating in 1999 with a double degree in Psychology and Occupational Therapy from the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Currently, Rebecca is the owner and one of the practicing Occupational Therapists at Pediatric Potentials, a private practice in Bozeman, that was established in January 2003. Pediatric Potentials serves children from birth through 16 years old who have developmental, motor, sensory or behavioral challenges.
Rebecca is committed to continuing to expand her knowledge in the field of occupational therapy. She was certified in Sensory Integration in December, 2003 and is qualified to administer Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT). In addition, she was certified in Therapeutic Listening through Vital Links in 2005 and has completed many other continuing education courses including but not limited to: pediatric feeding and eating, neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), The P.L.A.Y. Project, Handwriting without Tears, and pediatric taping. Rebecca has also completed the ATSTAR assistive technology course focusing on strategies to improve client independence. Rebecca looks forward to the opportunity of continuing to grow as a therapist and assisting the children receiving services at Pediatric Potentials.
Originally from Maine, Rebecca has lived happily in Bozeman since 2002 with her husband and two children.
Sarah Nicholas, MOTR/L, CLS
Occupational Therapist, Pediatric Potentials
406-582-4182
Sarah graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1997. She graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree in 1999 and with a Master of Occupational Therapy degree in 2007. She has worked in pediatrics her entire career in private practice, early intervention and in multiple school settings. Additionally, Sarah worked for seven years in a Special Care Nursery/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has a special interest in children birth to three as well as infants and young children with feeding dysfunction. Sarah is a Certified Lactation Specialist. She uses a neurodevelopmental and sensory approach to treatment. Sarah has served on the Wyoming Governor’s Early Intervention Council, as the board chair of the non-profit Wyoming Parent Information Center, and on the Laramie County School District Parent Advisory Council. She especially loves spending time with her husband, Jason, and their daughters Natalie and Necia as well as skiing, hiking and camping.
Shawna Heiser, MS Applied Psychology
Owner, Special Learning 1 on 1
Behavioral/Autism Consultant
Professor of Psychology at Montana State University
406-580-2640
Shawna is owner and operator of Special Learning 1-ON-1, which has expanded to service children, adolescents, and a few adults with a wide variety of special needs since early 2000.
Shawna’s specialty involves working with families of children and adolescents with behaviors, communication, and developmental disabilities ranging from Autism to Attention Deficit Disorder. She currently consults with several different school districts, early childhood intervention programs across the state, and continues a private behavioral counseling practice.
Shawna was trained by five of the top researchers in the field of Autism and is recognized as a behavioral/autism specialist in the state of Montana. As her expertise has become more widely known, she has been asked to share this knowledge at many conferences for state and local organizations and several school districts across the state.
After establishing her business, Shawna returned to the University in 2002 to share the experience and knowledge she has gathered since graduation with her Montana State University Psychology students as a Professor. She teaches a variety of junior and senior level courses including Behavior Modification and Learning and Motivation. Her motto in servicing children is Every Child Deserves an Opportunity for Independence.
Tanis M. Trenka MSCCC-SLP
Owner Trenka Speech-Language Services
406-570-9465
Tanis received her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Idaho State University in 2005. Prior to achieving her Master’s degree, Tanis received her Bachelor of Science degree at Montana State University in Early Childhood Education. She spent time gaining experience in speech and language disorders at a wide range of settings through internships.
Upon graduation from ISU, Tanis moved back to Bozeman to complete her Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC). Since her graduation in 2006, Tanis has spent her time specializing in pediatric speech therapy with a vast mixture of disorders from expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation disorders, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger’s, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, patients requiring Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices, cleft palate, hearing loss, recurrent aspiration pneumonia, pediatric dysphagia, children with decreased oral motor skills for feeding/swallowing and for speech production, and overall developmental delay.
In 2008, Tanis became the owner and speech therapist of Trenka Speech-Language Services. Tanis is fluent in Signed Exact English and American Sign Language and is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Montana Speech-Language Hearing Association (MASHA). Tanis has attended continuing education courses for Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, Orofacial Myology, and DREAM Program for Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices.
Tanis is excited to continue serving the children in the Gallatin Valley with all of their speech therapy needs at Trenka Speech-Language Services.