TheraCare Outpatient Services partners with clients and families to provide therapy in a safe, caring environment with a focus on improving quality of life and confidence.
We are pleased to serve you and your family as a speech, occupational, and music therapy clinic meeting the needs of both adult and pediatric clients.
We strive to serve people by placing our focus of therapy on your individual and family needs. With this as a high priority, we are able to provide timely and effective services to improve the quality of life of those impacted by various diagnoses while helping families assist and cope with the needs of the individual.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Melanie Stinnett, MS, CCC-SLP graduated with a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Missouri State University in May 2010. She has since worked in a variety of settings including acute/inpatient care, inpatient rehabilitation, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient services. While working throughout the continuum of care, Melanie has worked alongside of seasoned professionals who have helped to guide her skills and expertise to where it is today. She is passionate about serving others and increasing the communities opportunities to find skilled speech therapy services in an area with a high need for these services.
Allyson Beary, MS, CCC-SLP graduated with Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Missouri State University. She is a native to Springfield, Missouri and is eager about serving her community and others in it. Allyson’s practicum experiences in graduate school included acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, early intervention, and elementary school. She has been employed with TheraCare Outpatient Services since June 2017 and has found a passion working with children benefiting from various types of Augmentative Communication systems.
Elise Mitchell, MS, CCC-SLP graduated from Missouri State University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. With a passion for assisting Missouri school districts driving her, Elise has spent over 80% of her professional career focused on management and operations of school-based therapy implementation. With extensive experience with virtual service provision and Missouri school-based service guidelines, Elise serves as the TheraCare Operations Consultant and works closely with TheraCare schools to ensure high quality services.
Marie Nace, MS, CCC-SLP graduated from Missouri State University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She has experience in several settings, appreciating something unique and special from each, including: Medical-Inpatient Rehabilitation and Acute care, Home Health, Early Childhood Special Education, and Outpatient Pediatrics. Working at TheraCare is a pure joy due to the special families we serve, the clients, dedicated staff, opportunities for growth, and our involvement within the community. In her free time, she enjoys reading mystery novels, painting/art, biking, the outdoors, and spending time with her four children!
Patty Wolf, MS, CCC-SLP graduated with a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Missouri State University in 2008. Since graduating, the majority of her experience has involved skilled nursing and long term care settings. She enjoys using her speech therapy skills to help patients of all ages and was excited to begin serving younger clients and their families at TheraCare in May of 2018.. She serves weekly in the nursery department of her church and her other interests include time with family, reading, baking, and basket making.
Megan Goforth, MS, CCC-SLP graduated with a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Missouri State University in May 2016. She has experience in a variety of settings, including acute care, home health, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient services, and school services with birth to adult patients. Megan’s areas of interest are reading/spelling disorders and swallowing/feeding disorders. She also has a Master’s degree in Library Sciences and has worked in various positions in libraries for over 10 years.
Erin Dillon, MS, CCC-SLP graduated from MSU with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Erin has experience in several settings with populations from birth to death including: Medical-Inpatient Rehabilitation and Acute care, Home Health, Early Childhood Special Education, Schools, and Outpatient services. Erin enjoys providing her patients and/or students with the power of communication as well as helping those with swallowing disorders eat safely.
Kristen Lantz, MHS, CCC-SLP graduated with a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Missouri in May 2013. She has worked in variety of settings, including inpatient rehabilitation, pediatric outpatient, and school-based services. Kristen is typically only seen in the clinic during the summer, as she is busy fulfilling school-based speech therapy contracts throughout Southwest Missouri. Kristen is passionate about providing the children of Southwest Missouri with access to skilled speech and language therapy services. Outside of the clinic, you will find Kristen enjoying time with her family, throwing down at local CrossFit competitions, and snuggling up to her pup!
SLP-Assistants
Marie Drennon, SLP-A, graduated from Missouri State University in 2019. She is excited to start her career with TheraCare and will be serving area schools as well as individual clients. In her spare time, Marie’s favorite thing is to spend time with her husband, Kyle, and their dog, Greenbeans.
Occupational Therapists
Matt Brewer, MSOT, OTR/L graduated with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Cox College. Matt has had extensive interest and fieldwork placement in pediatrics, as well as psych and behavioral experience as a psychiatric technician for children and adults. Matt’s goals are to help children reach their maximum potential by gaining independence and functionality in their everyday lives. Outside of work, his interests include DIY, technology, animals, gardening and most importantly spending time with his wife, two kids, and two Great Danes.
Breanna Green, MOTR/L graduated with a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Missouri State University. She has experience in inpatient, outpatient, and school settings. She has a passion for helping children gain the skills they need to succeed and enjoy life. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, baking, and crafting. She is excited to begin her career at TheraCare.
Grace Beyer, MOT, OTR/L graduated with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Austin, Texas. She has experience in skilled nursing, outpatient orthopedics and outpatient pediatrics through travel therapy. She has always been especially passionate about pediatrics and is excited to serve the area schools through TheraCare. Outside of work, Grace enjoys hanging out with her boyfriend, friends and dog as well as hiking/doing anything outdoors.
Ashleigh Mankey, MS, OTR/L graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012 with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Since then, she has primarily worked in early intervention. She also has experience working in nursing homes and rehabilitation, but her passion is working with children. She is thrilled about the opportunity to serve children and families in the southwest Missouri area. When Ashleigh is not working, she likes to spend time with her husband, family, and 4 dogs.
Shay Albey, COTA, graduated with an Occupational Therapy Assistant degree from Ozarks Technical Community college in 2017. She also has a degree from the University of Arkansas in Lifespan and Human Development. Her experience has been working with pediatrics in the school setting, but she also has experience working with inpatient rehabilitation as well. Shay is passionate about empowering children and families to successful outcomes and is honored to serve the Springfield and surrounding community with TheraCare!
DeAnna Wildman, COTA, graduated with an Associates degree from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO. She has practiced as a Occupational Therapy clinician in multiple settings including: Skilled nursing, Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, and Home Health, but her favorite is Early Childhood Intervention/Special Education. DeAnna finds working with children immeasurably rewarding and feels so blessed to be able to work with TheraCare. Before becoming a COTA, DeAnna graduated with a Bachelor of Science, from Missouri State University, in Housing Design and Drafting, and still enjoys dabbling in design as a hobby. In her free time, she also enjoys spending time with her husband and little girl, doing anything crafty, playing games, and spending lots of time outdoors.
Physical Therapists
Chelsea Hord, PT, DPT graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Missouri in May 2012. She has since worked primarily in pediatric settings but also has some experience with home health care and outpatient services. Chelsea finds so much joy in working with children of all ages and diagnoses. Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her son and husband.
Lisa Hoffman, PT graduated from MSU in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family studies. She then graduated from MSU in 2003 with a Master’s degree in physical therapy. Since 2003 she has served a wide variety of patients including TBI, SCI, orthopedic, vestibular, geriatric, and pediatric in a various settings including inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, skilled nursing, and acute care. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her 2 boys, outdoor activities, and going to the gym.
Office Staff
Bailey Nielsen serves as the Accounts and Benefits Specialist for TheraCare. Prior to working with the TheraCare family, she studied at OTC and gained 6 years of experience in the medical field – from surgery to insurance billing. Bailey has been married to her husband, Justin, for just over 11 years and they have two dogs, Dually and Chief. They live in Republic and love to do anything outside including hiking, swimming and horseback riding.