Our Team
It all began with my love of children. When I sat down to figure out how I could most effectively help children and their families become the best they can be, a combination of different services came to mind: individual Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy for young children. But then I thought about the parents. Who is taking care of them while their children are being cared for? That was my “a-ha” moment. What would happen if I provided parents and caregivers with an environment that allowed them to address their own needs in conjunction with their child’s treatment? And so Kids Therapy Made Simple was born!
Dr. Lisa J Perlson
Dr. Lisa J Perlson OTD, OTR/L, MACLP, CPAM is a licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of California. What’s unique about her practice is that she is also licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, which can at times play a pivotal role in the betterment of the child. Dr. Lisa began her journey earning a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, allowing her to become an independently licensed psychotherapist in the state of California. While receiving her training in psychotherapy, she was introduced to, and then fell in love with, the magical world of Occupational Therapy. Not long after, Dr. Lisa earned a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California.
As a strong believer in continuing education, Dr. Lisa is always attending seminars and has received certified training to implement the following programs into her practice:
- A Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) Approach to Baby Treatment with Lois Bly
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy through the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT)
- PACE
- The Alert Program
- Handwriting Without Tears
- The Zones of Regulation
- S.C.E.R.T.S
- The Incredible Years
With an empathetic and creative approach, Dr. Lisa’s desire has always been to assist others in reaching their full potential. With a passion and drive for working with children, she finally realized her dream in combining her occupational therapy and psychotherapy experiences to encourage every child to reach their developmental potential. Dr. Lisa believes that each child is a unique individual and there is no "one size fits all" approach to any type of therapy. She believes it takes time, patience and understanding to really develop a successful individualized therapy plan for any child to succeed.
Dr. Lisa’s mission is simple: Helping kids with life.
Lindsey Lodge
Lindsey Lodge MS, OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist. She earned her Masters of Science from Loma Linda University and received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Lindsey became interested in pediatrics when she led aquatic therapy sessions for children with developmental disabilities. She completed her final graduate externship at Kids Therapy Made Simple and has been working here ever since. Lindsey enjoys collaborating with families to adapt and enhance the development of each child in order to achieve their highest potential in all areas of life. She is passionate about using her creativity to develop dynamic sensory-motor interventions for her clients.
Dr. Rebecca Toga
Dr. Rebecca Toga PT, DPT is a licensed Physical Therapist. Rebecca earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California and also received her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of San Francisco. Rebecca became interested in pediatrics after spending several years coaching youth soccer and working as an athletic trainer for kids with special needs.
Rebecca completed her final graduate internship at Boston Children’s Hospital where she specialized in treating infants with Torticollis, children with developmental delays and worked with teens status post-concussion. She thoroughly enjoys working with kids of all ages in order to enhance the quality of life for both the child and the parents. Rebecca is enthusiastic about her career and clinical focus, and strives to provide patients with understanding and encouragement. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys playing soccer, cooking and traveling.
Lauren Schlanger
Lauren Schlanger MS OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist. Lauren earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at California State University, Dominguez Hills and received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Vermont. Lauren has always had an interest in working with children which was solidified when working one on one as a caregiver for a child with special needs. Lauren is a strong believer in a multi-disciplinary approach to development when working with the pediatric community and strives to provide each individual with holistic, client and family centered care to enhance overall quality of life. In her free time, you can find Lauren taking her dog on long walks, baking sweet treats, and spending time with loved ones.