Meet Your Team
Leadership
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Senior Medical Director, Mental and Behavioral Health Services; Interim Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
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Laura Knapp, MSW, LICSW
Vice President, Mental and Behavioral Health Services
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Medical Director, Seattle Children's Autism Center
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Clinical Director, Outpatient Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle Children's Autism Center
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Erin Easley, MSW
Operational Director, Seattle Children's Autism Center
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Director, Applied Behavior Analysis Early Intervention Program; Associate Professor
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Training Director, Seattle Children’s Autism Center
Teams
Neurology
Neurologists are doctors who specialize in conditions that affect the nerves, spinal cord and brain (nervous system).
Neurodevelopmental pediatrics
Neurodevelopmental pediatricians are doctors who assess and care for children with conditions related to the development of the nervous system, including the brain. Neurodevelopmental nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training in treating children with these conditions. Nurse practitioners are also called advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They work independently and with doctors.
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Thuy-Linh Nguyen Bui, PA-C
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Psychiatry
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. The doctor may provide medicine evaluations, prescribe medicine and can help a child talk through problems (psychotherapy). Psychiatric nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training and education in psychiatry. They work independently and with doctors to diagnose, treat and teach patients and families about mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. Nurse practitioners are also called advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs).
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Ashmita Banerjee, MD
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Psychology
Psychologists are health professionals who diagnose and treat mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. Psychologists treat children with evidence-based talking and behavioral therapy. A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in the study of the mind and behavior (psychology) rather than in the study of medicine. For this reason, they do not prescribe medicine.
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Catherine Dick, PhD
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Behavior analysis
Behavior analysts are health professionals with extra training in how people act. They may assess your child’s behavior, study how changes affect that behavior and make a treatment plan to improve it. Our behavior analysts are board certified, meaning they completed additional training in their specialty and passed a rigorous test.
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Amber Persons-Geer, MSW, LAICSW, BCaBA, program coordinator
Mental health therapists
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Jenny Sleeper, LSWAIC
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Larissa VanderMeer, LMHCA
Family resource team
Our Family Resource team helps families find information and navigate resources, from initial diagnosis through the transition to adulthood. We support with things like accessing recommended therapies, special education advocacy, understanding state and federal benefits, and much more. Our aim is to share useful resources for the entire family, and to help caregivers understand and navigate key systems so they can be the best possible advocates for their child.
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Joy Gehner, MPP, family advocate and case manager
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Bianca Rodriguez, family advocate and case manager
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Rainee Selby, MHA, family advocate and case manager
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Jaimie Sigesmund, MAT, lead family advocate and case manager
Contact Us
If you would like an appointment, ask your child’s primary care provider to refer you. Learn more about how to get services at the Autism Center.
Providers, see how to refer a patient.
