Meet our Team
Jonna Arp, Director of Operations
Jonna (she/her) was born and raised on Maui, Hawai'i, then moved to California where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Redlands.
As the Director of Operations at Gather & Grow, Jonna brings a unique fusion of clinical insight, operational leadership, and creative energy to the forefront of neuroaffirming care. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Jonna has led multidisciplinary teams, streamlined systems, and implemented patient-centered practices across a range of clinical and administrative settings.
Driven by a deep commitment to inclusive, strengths-based support for neurodivergent individuals, Jonna ensures that every aspect of the practice reflects compassion, collaboration, and accessibility. Her operational strategies are grounded in evidence-based frameworks and informed by a profound respect for individual differences.
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In addition to her healthcare career, Jonna holds a background in music and performance, For many years she worked professionally as a singer with a renowned Convention Band, and performed in mainstage theatre productions in Hawai'i and California. This background helps shape her approach to leadership, communication, and innovation.
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Whether refining internal processes or expanding community partnerships, Jonna is dedicated to making neurodivergent voices central to the practice’s mission—building systems that don’t just accommodate differences, but celebrate them.
As a mother of a 7 and 9 year old she keeps very busy, but in her “spare” time, she enjoys singing, dancing, roller skating, hiking, paddle boarding, and is an avid concert goer. She also loves to surf, but since moving to Colorado, has traded in her surfboard for a snowboard!
Molly Forney, M.S., OTR/L,
Creative Programs Director, Lead Occupational Therapist
Molly Forney, M.S., OTR/L (she/her) started working with Gather and Grow as an Occupational Therapist through Adventure Camp in where she was drawn to Gather and Grow’s innovative, person-centered approach—grounded in self-determination, advocacy, and collaboration.
Since moving into a full-time role in October 2021, Molly has continued to bring that passion to her work, specializing in supporting neurodivergent teens and young adults. She is particularly dedicated to helping individuals navigate key life transitions, with a focus on post-secondary planning and adult life readiness.
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Molly works closely with clients on executive functioning, self-advocacy, identity exploration, and emotional regulation. She also has experiencing in employment supports, college transition, and independent living skills. Her practice is rooted in collaboration and client-centered care—ensuring that each goal is both meaningful and motivating for the individual.
Molly received her Master's of Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri, where she was a graduate assistant at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. She currently serves as a member of IN!’s Young Professional Board where she assists with increasing awareness and options for inclusive higher education in Colorado. The Young Professionals Board also works alongside alumni on transition after college to assist with community management, networking, and maintaining connections. Molly is also a founding member of the Front Range Adapted Triathlon which is a free triathlon for youth with disabilities.
In her free time, you can find Molly spending as much time as possible outside with her husband and dog whether that’s skiing, hiking, camping, or taking pictures. She also loves to travel, immersing herself in new cultures and communities as a way to continuously learn, grow, and broaden her perspective.
Jessie Gortsema, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lead Speech Language Pathologist
Jessie (she/her) specializes in supporting clients from late elementary through adulthood. Jessie is a Certified Neurodiversity Sexuality Professional, a certification she applies through leading our Dating and Sexuality program and working one-on-one with individuals to support boundaries, safety, and achieving their desired dating and relationship goals. She supports adolescents and adults with goal setting, career exploration, and communication in complex social situations, like school and work. She enjoys incorporating dialectal behavior therapy and polyvagal concepts to best support her clients' emotional regulation within the context of communication. Jessie is also a clinical supervisor.
Before becoming an SLP, Jessie worked at a group home for neurodiverse adults with complex communication needs. It was there that she developed a passion for supporting individuals in becoming more independent by being able to advocate for themselves, express their needs, and actively participate in their community.
At Florida State University, Jessie studied under a federal grant geared toward research and training in autism and related diagnoses. Her experience there led her to work with children and families in the community, volunteering at local transition programs, and working alongside job coaches to promote language and regulation skills in workplace settings.
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Previously, Jessie served on the Utah Assistive Technology Team, where she helped to support students using communication systems and a variety of assistive technology. Jessie is passionate about making therapy functional and using client strengths to help individuals reach their fullest potential.
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In her free time, she can likely be found reading a book, watching Harry Potter, or taking her dog hiking and camping with me throughout Colorado.
Julia Zielenski, M.S., CCC-SLP
Julia (she/her) specializes in supporting elementary to high school aged individualizes with autism, ADHD, and reading disorders, including dyslexia and dysgraphia. Her therapy approach is rooted in identifying each learner’s strengths and using them as a foundation for meaningful growth. She believe every mind is unique and valuable. In her sessions, Julia also works on regulation, motivation, and celebrating differences before addressing higher language needs. She is trained in the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) Program, and incorporates Orton-Gillingham-based strategies to create individualized, multisensory reading and language interventions. She values holistic, strengths-based interventions.
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​As a former speech-language pathology assistant (SLP-A), Julia brings 7 years specialized experience in literacy-based interventions, phonological processing, and executive functioning support. As an SLP-A, Julia worked at an intensive private school for children with learning and language disabilities, where she participated in teaming with professionals in the fields of neuropsychology, pediatric behavioral neurology, occupational and recreational therapy.
During her free time, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and son, playing with her Bernese Mountain Dog, hiking, and singing. She is a Colorado native and can be found most days enjoying all this beautiful state has to offer.
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Julia came to Gather+Grow in 2021 as a graduate student intern, which cultivated her passion for neurodivergent individuals. After obtaining her master’s degree in speech pathology from Emerson College, Julia returned to Gather+Grow as a graduate-level therapist.
Rhyan Furbish, MSW, LSW
Rhyan (They/Them) is an autistic social worker and mental health therapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent teens and adults. Rhyan’s background is in liberation health, which examines the role of social, cultural, and institutional factors on health and wellbeing. This includes exploring internalized ableism, discussing the impacts of masking, and promoting increased self-acceptance, interdependence, and self-determination. Rhyan works with clients to understand their neurodivergent identity, prevent or recover from autistic burnout, and manage co-occurring anxiety, depression, and chronic illness.
Rhyan has a clinical focus in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) through client-led Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, as well as using exposures to address specific phobias. Rhyan is committed to using trauma-informed gradual exposures in a way that is client-paced, connected to individual interests and meaningful activities, and protects sensory differences. Exposures will never be used for sensory desensitization or to promote masking of neurodivergent traits or adoption of neurotypical social and communication norms (encouraging eye contact, suppressing stimming, etc.). Clients will never be forced to engage in an exposure or be "surprised" with an exposure. All exposure work is planned and discussed thoroughly ahead of time and prioritizes informed consent and client autonomy.
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Rhyan believes therapy should be tailored to each person’s interests and connection style. For some, sessions might look like traditional talk therapy, for others sessions may include art, games, info-dumping about special interests, swings, or taking walks outside. They primarily draw on cognitive and behavioral approaches — acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills adapted for neurodivergent processing — pulling in polyvagal, somatic and sensory interventions for nervous system regulation.
Rhyan holds a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Social Work from Boston University. Before moving to Colorado, they worked at a high school for neurodivergent teens where they provided individual therapy and led therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons groups.
Outside of work, Rhyan is most likely climbing rocks, hiking trails, reading sci-fi novels, or playing tabletop roleplaying games.
Haley Musack, COTA/L
Haley (she/her) is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L). Prior to obtaining her OTA degree from Pima Medical Institute, Haley earned her Bachelor in Kinesiology from Oregon State University. During her time at Oregon State, Haley tailored her studies and volunteer work to focus on supporting individuals with unique abilities, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.
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Haley first joined Gather and Grow as a Level 2 Fieldwork student, where she cultivated strong relationships with clients and honed her skills in neurodivergent-affirming practices. With over eight years of experience working with Autistic kids and teens, Haley is passionate about creating supportive, safe, and inclusive environments that empower each person’s unique strengths.
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Outside of work, Haley enjoys relaxing with her husband, cats and dog. She’s always up for a game night with friends, experimenting with new Pinterest recipes, or hitting the tennis courts. Haley is excited to bring her compassion, experience, and enthusiasm to the Gather and Grow team.
Natalie Ruiz, MS, CCC-SLP
Natalie (she/her) is a speech‑language pathologist originally from Austin, Texas. She earned her undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and completed her M.S. in Speech‑Language Pathology at Texas Tech University.
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After graduate school, Natalie moved to Colorado with a friend simply for the adventure—and has loved calling it home ever since. She began her career working with adults and older adults and, over the past several years, has specialized in supporting individuals with autism. Her clinical expertise includes articulation, pragmatic language, and executive functioning. Natalie thrives on collaborating within a multidisciplinary team and bringing a diverse range of strategies and supports into personalized therapy.
Driven by a person‑centered, strengths‑based philosophy, Natalie prioritizes meaningful, individualized, and engaging therapy—celebrating the unique qualities of each person.
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Natalie and her fiancé recently moved to Broomfield as he begins his aerospace engineering studies at CU Boulder. She’s also a dedicated dog mom to Holly, her English Cream Golden Retriever. As the eldest of three sisters, Natal ie values staying closely connected to her family. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys playing pickleball, baking sourdough bread, taking walks with Holly, and planning her next getaway.
Bonnie Smith, COTA/L
Bonnie (she/her) is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) with over 12 years of experience supporting neurodivergent children. In addition to her clinical work, Bonnie brings a strong background in school-based occupational therapy, having spent several years providing services in public school settings. This diverse experience informs her holistic and collaborative approach to supporting children and their families.
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Bonnie is passionate about inclusion and committed to providing neuroaffirming, person-centered care. She values building genuine, trusting relationships with her clients—grounded in respect, fun, and shared goals. Her work is rooted in strength-based practices that foster autonomy, confidence, and meaningful growth. Bonnie supports clients in areas such as emotional regulation, sensory processing and integration, and fine and gross motor development.
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Outside of the clinic, Bonnie enjoys spending time with her kids—whether they’re playing pickleball, hiking, or having a game night. She also loves cozying up with a good book and her cat. Bonnie is honored to support children as they grow, connect with their strengths, and live their fullest lives.
Tiffany Lin, OTD, OTR/L
Tiffany Lin, OTD, OTR/L (she/they) is an autistic occupational therapist offering strengths-based, trauma-assumed, and identity-affirming care. Guided by their own lived experience of a late autism diagnosis, Tiffany brings deep empathy to those who feel misunderstood. She joined Gather + Grow in October 2025, drawn by the practice’s neuroaffirming philosophy and unique range of services.
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Originally from Portland, Oregon, Tiffany holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida. Their doctoral capstone involved developing a clinical practice guideline focused on ethical practices in autism care, centering actually autistic voices. Tiffany is also a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s LEND Fellowship (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), where they deepened their commitment to honoring diverse lived experiences.
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Tiffany brings a range of experience across public and private school settings, supporting students with medical complexity, high support needs, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. They also value their clinical background in pediatric inpatient and residential psychiatry, long-term care, and healthcare administration.
With a strong passion for intersectionality, Tiffany enjoys supporting individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. As someone who identifies as nonbinary, Tiffany is affirming of neuroqueer identities of all presentations. Their professional interests include developing sensory-safe environments for nervous system regulation and fostering spaces where neurodivergent individuals can thrive. Tiffany is also a certified Reiki Level 2 practitioner and integrates somatic co-regulation into their work.
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Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys adventuring with their black cat, going to metal concerts, lifting weights, and baking bread. Their favorite stims are singing, swinging, and spinning in circles, and their special interests include autism, fitness, and spirituality.
Ali Crook, Administration Assistant
Ali (they/them) was born in Poulsbo, Washington, but moved to Colorado at a young age and has called this state home ever since. They graduated with an associates degree in Fine Art from Aims Community College in 2024 and will continue to take classes here and there as they have a deep desire to learn about the world around them and the people within their community.
Ali brings a lot of practical knowledge to the role of Administrative Assistant, as most of their professional background has been working in scheduling, billing and insurance, and human resources for small therapy and education companies. Ali loves working for small practices because of the unique connections you get to have when you know the population of people you are working with.
Especially as a neurodivergent individual themselves, Ali believes that everyone should have access to the support and accommodations they need to thrive, and are honored to be serving in such a vital role in making that happen for so many. Driven by a deep love for their community, Ali loves getting to see all the people who come through the office day in and day out and loves being able to help advocate for the resources that people need to feel successful!
Outside of the office you can find Ali playing an array of instruments (like guitar, baritone, and singing) , metalsmithing, hanging out with their fiancé and two cats, and enjoys walks/hikes and are always stopping to appreciate the birds and bugs they find.
Don’t be afraid to say hi and tell Ali about your special interests, they love to hear about the things that bring others joy!