Erica is an occupational therapist and the owner of Wild Roots Therapy, PC. When not at work she is also a busy mom to three, wife, and a yoga, gardening, and camping enthusiast.
Erica has been an occupational therapist for 17+ years and in private practice for 10+ years. Erica started her career working in the rural schools and has served Montana districts from Colstrip, to Broadview, Red Lodge, and all the miles in between. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences from the University of Wyoming in Laramie and Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR.
Erica’s clinical expertise is in the evaluation and treatment of children from babies to teens with various developmental disabilities including autism, sensory processing disorders and neurodevelopmental differences from childhood trauma.
Erica has advanced training in Sensory Processing Disorder in the Intensive Mentorship Program, Level 1 from the STAR Center in Denver, CO under the direction of Lucy Jane Miller. Erica has also completed the STAR Center’s SOS Approach to Feeding. She has specialized training in the Integrative Listening Systems (ILS) and the ChildTrauma Academy has acknowledged Erica has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase 1 Level.
Erica was part of the panel for Big Sky ACES ECHO Mental Health Collaborative and on the panel for a project partnering ECHO Billings Clinic & The ChildTrauma Academy NMT ECHO focused on “trauma-informed” psychopharmacology. Erica also sits on the board of directors for KaraCares a grass roots non-profit start up that will provide funding for adaptive equipment and college education fees for children and young adults with significant mobility impairments.
Most recently, Erica has been consulting and presenting for local groups and organizations to facilitate knowledge and implementation of trauma sensitive sensory strategies across home, school, and community settings.
Emili Crowder, Lead Occupational Therapist
Emili is a native Montanan from S**o. When not at work Emili enjoys spending time with her family, and dog, fishing, camping, and if you need movie advice she’s seen them all!
Emili has a Bachelor’s degree from MSU-Billings in Exercise Science and a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Mary.
Emili has been working with kids in a private practice setting since September 2017. She has experience with equine and aquatic therapy as well as assessment and treatment of children from infant-teens in the clinical setting. Emili’s continuing education training areas of interest are visual rehabilitation techniques, Bal-A-Vis-X, sensory processing, interoception, and most recently P.L.A.Y Project. Emili will begin her STAR Center Mentorship fall of 2020.
Tenika Capouch, Occupational Therapist
Tenika Capouch graduated from University of Mary in 2018 where she earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Tenika is a Billings native and completed her bachelor’s in Human Health and Performance at Rocky Mountain college in 2016. She played 4 years of basketball at the collegiate level and enjoys hiking, Netflix, and playing with her two corgis in her spare time. Tenika has always wanted to work in pediatrics and traveled to Peru during the summer of 2017 to provide services to school-aged children with various physical disabilities. Her creativity and positive personality keep kids engaged and motivated to work on the skills they need to succeed in everyday life. Tenika is passionate about reflex integration and helping clients to build interoception. Her most recent continuing education experiences were with the P.L.A.Y. Project. Tenika is excited to begin her Level 1 Mentorship at the STAR Center in January 2021.
Madyson Klapmeier, Occupational Therapist
Maddy completed her Level 11 Fieldwork with Wild Roots Therapy during the summer of 2019 and officially joined the Wild Roots team after graduating from the University of Mary with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. Maddy’s undergraduate degree is from the University of Montana. She has a B.S. in Science in Health and Human Performance. Maddy is from rural Montana and enjoys all that Montana has to offer (camping, fishing, hunting, etc.) with her extended family, husband, and dog Simms.
Maddy loves working with the 0-3 population with special interests in autism and sensory processing. She is excited to continue learning about trauma and its impact on child development from her colleagues. Maddy is also the Montana Occupational Association Board Treasurer.
Kendra Pryor, Occupational Therapy Assistant
Kendra started her second career in the field of OT after she saw the remarkable differences OT made for her family following the injury of her younger sister. Kendra decided to pursue a career in helping others and graduated from St. Catherine University in Minneapolis, MN. Kendra has spent her entire life taking care of children within her own family and her community. She is originally from Idaho but has moved around the midwest during her adult life.
Kendra has special interests in feeding and working with preschool aged children. Kendra is excited to learn more about trauma and interoception from her Wild Roots colleagues. In her free time, Kendra and her family enjoy the Billings restaurant scene, hiking, and playing with their dogs.
Brian Schuppe, LCPC
Brian is a licensed clinical professional counselor who provides services for adults, families, and adolescents both in the clinic and virtually through HIPAA compliant teletherapy platforms. Brian is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Therapy (SMART), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He also utilizes his training in Attachment Regulation and Competency and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) with appropriate clients. Brian is a US Army Veteran and former foster parent which shaped his interest in working with those who’ve experienced trauma.
When not at work, Brian is a husband, father to three children (ages 9-19) & two dogs, a chef and woodworker.
Lindsey Hafer, OTR/L
Lindsey is the newest occupational therapist on our Wild Roots team. She graduated from the University of Mary-Billings Occupational Therapy program with Miss Maddy and we are so happy she decided to join her previous classmate on our team! Lindsey is originally from Billings but she spent many of her childhood years and also completed her undergraduate education in the midwest. Lindsey has pediatric therapy experience at a local clinic and previous work experience in the wellness field. Lindsey enjoys working with children of any age but has a soft spot for the elementary years.
When not at work Lindsey is busy exploring Montana with her husband who is an art teacher. The two enjoy biking, camping and skiing with family and friends.
Julie Clark, LCSW
Julie Clark is a licensed clinical social worker with Elysian Counseling and Trauma Care. Julie is providing counseling services from the Wild Roots Therapy clinical space as well as other community locations.
Julie works with children, adults and families who have experienced adverse trauma and the lasting effects it can create throughout the lifespan. Julie specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Therapy (SMART), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is a trainer for Attachment Regulation and Competency (ARC). These modalities provide theoretical framework to assist in the intervention of multiple or prolonged traumatic stress. Julie is also trained to perform Neurofeedback and is excited to bring this modality to Billings!
Julie graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a masters in Social Work in 2012. Then in the spring of 2014 she graduated with a second master’s degree in Health Care Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Julie currently teaches advanced practicum for Walla Walla University in the Billings satellite campus.
Born and raised in Billings, MT, Julie enjoys spending time with her two young boys and getting as much family time as possible. She has traveled to seventeen different countries and loves to travel learning about new cultures as well as reliving history. Julie has lived in Heredia Costa Rica and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she taught English to young children. Lastly Julie has a passion for all animals. She combines animal assisted therapy into practice and has worked with dogs, horses and even dolphins.
The name Elysian stands for a place of paradise and tranquility. Elysian Counseling and Trauma Care strives to provide an environment to promote safety, trustworthiness, support, empowerment and collaboration for those who have been impacted by trauma. “For through your vulnerabilities come your greatest strengths” (Sigmund Freud).
