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Pediatric Therapy

York Hospital’s Pediatric Therapy team provides innovative and exceptional treatment in occupational, physical and speech therapy. Our child and family focused team provides comprehensive evaluations and ongoing therapy to children of all ages to enhance and restore function and mobility; and to encourage independence at home, school and in the community. The team strives to make the development of skills fun through play-based activities where children learn to move, communicate and interact with their environments in a meaningful and natural manner. We offer a strong collaborative team approach with treatment and consultation to homes, schools and community programs.

York Hospital in South Berwick
57 Portland Street, South Berwick, ME 03908.
Phone: (207) 384-7260

York Pediatric Therapy
127 Long Sands Road, Suite 6A, in the Long Sands Plaza, York, Maine 03909​
Phone: (207) 351-2018

Call our South Berwick team for questions and scheduling at (207) 384-7260.

Meet the Staff

KAREN BENSLEY, PT, DPT, MS, PCS
Karen is passionate about working with children of all ages! She has been a pediatric Physical Therapist for almost 30 years. She is a clinical specialist in pediatric PT as recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board of PT Specialties, since 1994. She recently completed her clinical doctor in pediatric physical therapy, with a specialty concentration in pediatrics, from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Previously, she obtained a BS in PT and an advanced clinical Masters in PT (with a specialization in pediatrics/neurology).

Karen has been an active member of the APTA and is currently working with leadership on developing clinical guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of infants with torticollis. She was a writer for the American Board of PT Specialties Specialist Certification Examinations team for 2011-2012. In addition to being a part of the Pediatric Rehab team, Karen is the core faculty member at the UNH LEND program, where she trains post-graduate students to be leaders in the neurodevelopmental disabilities field and is a member of their Seacoast Developmental Clinic team. She also guest lectures at local colleges and universities in Maine and New Hampshire; and for the Maine APTA, as well as hosting graduate and undergraduate students. She is NDT (neurodevelopmental treatment) certified, and has extensive experience in designing and implementing orthotics, mobility and seating for children, PT in the aquatic setting, assistive technology, evidence-based evaluation and treatment of torticollis and plagiocephaly, kinesiotaping, and comprehensive motor function assessments and treatments.

Karen is passionate about providing family-centered, comprehensive pediatric therapy services in a manner that allows families and children to integrate therapy into their daily lives, respecting their individual priorities and preferences. Helping kids to enjoy movement and play is her goal, and she greatly appreciates working collaboratively with the team at York Hospital in South Berwick.

KIRSTEN BERTHIAUME, PT
Kirsten Bertiaume is a Pediatric Physical Therapist that has worked in pediatrics for 21 years. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings, including Crotched Mountain Rehab Center; Connecticut Children’s Medical Center; Shriners Hospital for Children gait laboratory; Portsmouth Hospital and currently at York Hospital in South Berwick. She has experience treating a multitude of diagnoses including: cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, spina bifida, hypotonia, developmental delay, post orthopedic surgery, torticollis, plagiocephaly, adaptive equipment assessment, and gait analysis.
CAITLIN BRACALE, OTR/L

Caitlin grew up in the small town of North Haven, CT and completed her education in the nearby town of Hamden to stay close to her family. She attended Quinnipiac University for her undergraduate degree in Health Science as well as her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, which she received in fall of 2015. She enjoys live music, hiking, photography, and spending time with her two cats.

During her time at QU, Caitlin had the opportunity to train in a wide variety of settings through her fieldwork experiences, including mental health, acute care, vocational training, skilled nursing, neuro-rehabilitation and sensory integration. She originally intended on becoming an occupational therapist in order to work with clients with neurological conditions, but after completing a pediatric fieldwork she discovered her passion for working with children. Caitlin truly enjoys being a pediatric therapist because she can change the lives of children while having fun! She incorporates motivating and creative activities into her interventions to make the experience enjoyable for the child while ensuring that each task is fitted to the child’s specific strengths and needs. Caitlin treats children with varying diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, ADHD/ADD, sensory processing disorder, and other neurological conditions. She believes that viewing the child from a holistic lens is the key to understanding how multiple factors impact behaviors, play skills, and ability to learn.

Caitlin is registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and licensed to practice occupational therapy in the states of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine.

TOBI K. CARTMILL, COTA/L
Tobi is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has been a COTA for 14 years with York Hospital. Tobi received her AS degree from North Shore Community College in 1997. Previously she earned her BS in Administration from the University of New Hampshire. Tobi is passionate about working with children of all ages. She has experience with early intervention, school based therapy, sensory processing, and fine and gross motor skill development. Tobi, along with her Pediatric team, provides family-centered therapeutic services to assist with the enrichment of the child.
ERIN ESTES, MS, CCC-SLP
KELSEY GOODWIN, OTR/L

Kelsey Goodwin joined York Hospital after graduating in 2013 from the University of New England. While training to be an Occupational Therapist, she provided in-home care to children with autism, ADHD, and cerebal palsy. Kelsey started working in Pediatric Occupational Therapy immediately upon graduation, providing comprehensive evaluations and care plans for children with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, Rett syndrome, global delays, impulse disorder, cerebral palsy, apraxia, and sensory processing disorder. She provides an individualized perspective on each child’s sensory processing needs to develop safe and health play skills. Kelsey provides a unique perspective on behavior and sensory processing and how to use behaviors as insight into sensory processing needs.

HILLARY LANE, DPT

Hillary is a pediatric physical therapist who has been working with children and families of all ages and abilities since obtaining her doctorate in physical therapy from UNE in 2015. She was also a fellow in the NH LEND program, which prepares leaders in order to improve the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Prior to working at York Hospital, Hillary was a PT in the school setting for children with significant medical and therapeutic needs. Hillary has experience working with medically complex children, children with diagnoses to include but not limited to:  cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, plagiocephaly and torticollis, autism, developmental delay, toe walking, spina bifida. She also has experience treating in the aquatic setting and adaptive equipment assessment.

Hillary’s greatest passion is forming relationships with children and families, ensuring parents and caregivers are actively involved in determining their child’s care. She loves collaborating with the rest of the YH pediatric therapy team!

JACQUELINE LIPSKY, MS, CCC/SLP
Jacqueline Lipsky MS CCC/SLP attended Nazareth College of Rochester, NY where she received a B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders in 2002 and the Student Leadership Award in 2003. At the University of New Hampshire, she received a M.S. in Communication Science and Disorders, a graduate certificate in College Teaching as well as a graduate certificate in MCH-LEND (leadership and training for children with special needs). Jackie holds national certification through the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Prior work experience as an SLP includes early intervention, integrated preschool, Head Start, special needs classroom as well as school experience pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Recent continuing education include Hanen: It takes Two to Talk; Hanen: More than Words; Baby Signs: Independent Certified Instructor, Oral Motor and Feeding, Oral Language and Apraxia.
STACY PARISI, MS, CCC-SLP

Stacy graduated from Northeastern University in 2002 and has been practicing in the pediatric setting ever since. She is a Certified Early Intervention Specialist working with patient populations of birth to 3 years.  She also has experience working in the both the public school and outpatient therapy settings. Stacy works with children from birth to 13 years and has experience with diagnoses including: autism, apraxia, articulation, language disorders and global delays. Stacy is trained in PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) and Social Thinking and has developed social language and play groups.