FOUNDER, Occupational Therapist

Julie Williams, MS, OTR/L, is an Arkansas native and earned her Masters degree in occupational therapy from the University of Central Arkansas. She and her husband moved to Nashville in 2011 and currently live in Thompson’s Station, TN.

Julie has worked in a variety of pediatric settings throughout her 18 year career including school systems, outpatient clinics, and home-based settings. She has experience working with children of all ages with a variety of diagnoses including: Autism, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, dyspraxia, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, muscle weakness, incoordination, oculomotor difficulties, and fine motor and/or visual motor delays.

Julie has professional certifications in Therapeutic Listening (a sound based sensory integration protocol), Astronaut Training (a vestibular-visual protocol), Handwriting Without Tears, Reflex Integration, and Pediatric Kinesiotaping. She has also completed the Level 1 STAR institute for sensory processing disorder mentorship training program

Julie is happily married to her husband, Joe, and they have two fun-loving boys, Judah (10) and Ezra (6). She enjoys sunshine, drinking coffee, warm fires, spending time with her family and friends, learning calligraphy, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Occupational Therapist

Ashley Smith, OTD, OTR/L, originates from Ohio and earned her Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from Belmont University in 2007.

Ashley has worked in a variety of occupational therapy settings including acute care in many of the local hospitals, pediatric and adult outpatient care, and adult rehab. Ashley has experience working with adults with many different neurologic conditions such as strokes and traumatic brain injuries; cognitive processing; and orthopedic conditions which all impact their abilities to regain independence. She has worked closely with children on the autism spectrum, focusing on sensory processing, core strengthening and coordination, and visual processing. For the last several years she has been working with students with handwriting difficulties, helping to address the underlying issues such as fine motor and visual motor delays, executive functioning and visual and auditory processing. Ashley is a certified Handwriting without Tears handwriting specialist.

As a homeschool mom for the past 9 years, Ashley has used her skills and experience as an occupational therapist to help other homeschool families navigate some of the issues their children have been facing. She is passionate about helping the family as a whole, knowing how important caregiver education is in helping children succeed.

Ashley and her husband Weylon live in Thompsons’s Station with their four children: Emery, Judson, Avis and Etta. They enjoy family dinners, road trips, spending time with family and friends and watching Ohio State football.

Occupational Therapist

Jessie Royal, MS, OTR/L, originally from Northern Virginia, earned her Masters degree in occupational therapy from Boston University.

Jessie has worked in a variety of pediatric settings throughout her career, including outpatient clinics, both public and private school settings, holistic therapy clinics, and home-based settings. She has experience working with children and adolescents of all ages with a variety of diagnoses, including: ADHD/ADD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, Autism, Down syndrome, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, developmental delay, dyspraxia, picky eating and/or feeding difficulties, oculomotor difficulties, and fine motor and/or visual motor delays.

Jessie has professional certifications in the Safe and Sound Protocol (a listening therapy program designed to improve emotional regulation and social engagement) and Interactive Metronome (a neuro-sensory and neuro-motor intervention tool). She also has a great deal of knowledge and experience in Primitive Reflex Integration, Handwriting Without Tears and Diana King cursive handwriting protocols, and executive function skills.

Jessie moved to Nashville in 2021 and currently lives in West Nashville with her sister and their two dogs—Dany (Dachshund) and Shuler (Weimaraner). She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, eating out at restaurants throughout Nashville, and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers.