At Optimal Pediatrics, we offer Pediatric Physical, Occupational, and Speech-Language therapy services all under one roof. Our philosophy of patient-centered, family friendly, expert care means that your child will receive a customized plan tailored specifically to both their individual and family goals. Their journey to reach age/developmentally appropriate skills will be guided by our therapists who specialize in pediatrics and who develop deep and meaningful relationships with the patient, families, and other caregivers. Consistency and continuity of care is critical, so at Optimal Pediatrics we take that into consideration during scheduling and when developing your child's plan of care. We adapt and modify plans, treatments, and scheduling as needed because we understand that individual and family needs change from time to time based on growth and development, school and work schedules, insurance issues, other activities, and other medical appointments. We also strive to provide a fun and comfortable environment for children who might be anxious about therapy due to previous medical appointments and procedures. Your child is at the center of our practice, and we’re excited to begin working with them!
Deidra Cottenoir: PT, DPT
Deidra is a physical therapist who has specialized in Pediatrics since 2008. Born and raised in Wyoming, Deidra returned to work in the state after earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2007 in Florida. Deidra chose to specialize in Pediatric Physical Therapy because she has always been passionate about helping children and their families. She loves that she works in a medical specialty that allows her to spend ample amounts of time with her patients, develop deep and meaningful relationships with patients and their families, and to focus on interventions that maximize functional abilities and improve overall quality of life for her patients. Deidra specializes in treating a variety of pediatric conditions, gait training, orthotic management, functional strengthening, postural control, motor development, and many other pediatric treatments. She continues to attend several continuing education courses each year in order to stay up to date on the evidenced based research and the latest trends in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Deidra is proud to develop her PT treatments based on a patient’s individual goals and she loves watching her patients make significant amounts of functional progress over the months and years that she works with them.
Reagan Scott: OT, MOTR/L, CLC
I knew I wanted to be an occupational therapist from the time I was 13 years old. I graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2003 and began practicing in the area of pediatrics right out of school. I have always known that I had a passion for children. In graduate school I wrote my scholarly project on Sensory Integration and continue to practice heavily in this area. Shortly after becoming a therapist I also came to the realization that feeding concerns were not being addressed as frequently and early as they could be. I began feeding therapy approximately 13 years ago and have continued to be passionate about it. I most recently (2016) earned my certification as a Lactation Counselor in order to assist children with feeding concerns at the most prime time available to make changes. Currently I have approximately 500 hours of continuing education in pediatrics alone. My practice areas in pediatrics include but are not limited to functional feeding, sensory integration and self-regulation, fine motor, visual motor and executive function skills. I thrive on the relationships I build with the children and their families as well as seeing the progress they make and obstacles these children overcome everyday warms my heart. I look forward to being able to continue serving the leaders of our future in this community.
Lauren Hiipakka: OT, MOTR/L
Lauren was born and raised in Casper with a mother who was an occupational therapist, and therefore was exposed to the wonderful world of OT her entire life. As soon as she was able to observe a therapy session for her two younger cousins with developmental delays, she knew she wanted to do this as a career. After finishing her undergraduate education at Casper College and the University of Northern Colorado, Lauren received her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from Touro University Nevada in 2015. She then returned to Casper and had been working with people of all ages for four years at an outpatient clinic in our community. She particularly enjoys working with her pediatric patients at Optimal. Lauren is very dedicated to her profession and works hard to provide evidence-based treatment for each and every person through continuing education. She treats each person as a whole and works hard to determine underlying factors that may be affecting outcomes.
Elyse Johnson: M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS
Elyse is a nationally certified and state licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). In addition, she is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). A native New Yorker (Go Yankees!), Elyse was thrilled to be able to return to Wyoming with her family after completing her “tour” as an Army wife.
Elyse graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany with a double major in archaeology & anthropology & worked across the country as an archaeologist which originally brought her to the great state of Wyoming. After 10 years of playing Indiana Jones, she returned to college and graduated with her Master of Science degree in communication disorders from the University of Wyoming (Go Cowboys!).
Following her husband’s Army career allowed Elyse to work in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations from pediatric through geriatric which provided her with a wealth of experience and diverse training. As a speech-language pathologist, I see children and adults with a variety of communication disorders, including those with cognitive-linguistic, aphasia, motor speech (dysarthria, apraxia), dysphagia (swallowing), voice, articulation and phonology disorders (speech sound problems), delayed or disordered language development, alternative-augmentative communication (AAC), and stuttering. Elyse has worked with a variety of populations including TBI, concussion, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, congenital conditions including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, and cleft lip/palate, among others.
Elyse has a passion for working with those individuals with traumatic brain injury and is the only SLP/CBIS in the state of Wyoming. In addition, to working as an SLP, she has lectured at universities and taught courses on TBI rehabilitation at hospitals across the country with a focus on cognitive rehabilitation. She prides herself on designing patient-specific plans of care with proven results and evidence-based therapies.
Shelby Porter: PT, DPT
Shelby is a Wyoming native born and raised in Rock Springs. Shelby attended the University of Wyoming where she received her B.S. in Kinesiology and Health Promotion in 2017. Shelby received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ in May of 2020. Following graduation, she returned to Wyoming in order to give back to the state. In her spare time, Shelby enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, spending time with her family and dog, and giving back to the community.
Shelby’s interest in rehabilitation started as an adolescent after she visited the Shriner’s Hospital for Children and the Gait Lab in Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout her graduate studies, Shelby volunteered for the Special Olympics and Rock Steady Boxing, as her passion for neurological conditions grew. As a new graduate, she is dedicated to an evidence-based practice while growing her expertise and knowledge base. Shelby believes that each patient presents their own unique case and therefore receives a specialized treatment plan with goals that are determined by the patient, family, and herself. Shelby looks forward to helping patients and their families overcome obstacles, achieve goals and become self-advocates.
Services
Optimal Physical Therapy will evaluate your movement and symptoms on an individualized basis. Your treatment will never consist of formulaic routines. Instead, our treatment techniques are customized to restore functional movement.
Therapy Services
Prematurity
Idiopathic toe walking, delayed or difficulty walking, abnormal gait
Scoliosis, hip dysplasia, and orthopedic conditions