Our Team
We are a close-knit team of OT practitioners, passionate about collaboration and ongoing learning to help kids experience joy and reach their full potential.
AMY BUCHHOLZ, OTR/L
(she/her)
Occupational Therapist & Co-Owner
Amy is passionate about her work with children, and finds joy and fulfillment when helping families. She has been practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist since 1999, when she received her degree from the University of Florida.
Having worked in many pediatric practice settings, she's firmly settled on the small patient practice as the best way to connect with a family and support system. So she founded Bright Spot with her partner Ryan in 2017.
She has sought extensive post-graduate training and is committed to continual learning to stay at the forefront in her field:
- Level 1 Intensive Mentorship at the STAR Center
- mentorship in the DIR/Floortime Approach with Profectum faculty member and educator Kiegan Blake, OTR/L, M.A.Ed.
- SOS Feeding approach, Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, Pediatric Yoga, and Collaborative Problem Solving among others.
Amy is a craft artist on the side, an acrobat in a local circus company, and a lover of dance.
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AMANDA KLEIST, OTD
(she/her)
Occupational Therapist
Amanda is a relationship- and play-based occupational therapist who loves working with individuals of all ages! Originally from New Mexico, she went on to complete her undergraduate education in Boise, Idaho and graduated from Pacific University here in Oregon in 2020 with a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. After graduating she spent time working in program development to support health equity and access within the context of a non-profit working with resettled refugees. Amanda completed the STAR Institute Level 1 Advanced Mentorship in Sensory Integration she's found immense joy in collaborating with families and individuals to meet a myriad of needs through play ever since.
As an adult with ADHD, she found a hidden passion for supporting neurodivergent adults in understanding the various strengths, needs, and skills unique to them and collaborating to find strategies and tools to help them thrive. Amanda further broadened her therapeutic skills by spending time practicing in pediatric home health, gaining invaluable insight into ways to bring therapeutic play and sensory exploration into homes and the daily life of families.
She is so excited to be at Bright Spot and to come alongside families and individuals in client and family-centered therapy. Amanda is driven by empowering clients in engaging in all of the things they love and need to do and by advocating for occupational justice in our community and larger health systems. Neurodiversity affirming practices are the cornerstone of her practice approach, and she finds it vital to meet each and every person where they are to harness their unique strengths for healing, growth, and meaningful engagement. When she's not working as an OT, she enjoys going on long hikes, singing, dancing, playing sports, cooking, playing video games, reading, and exploring with her little family and her dog Luna.​
MEIKA SCOTT-BROWN, COTA/L
(she/they)
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
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Meika is a compassionate and curious therapist who deeply values a neurodiversity-affirming and collaborative approach to her practice. She has always been driven toward service, initially finding her way to Occupational Therapy through her experience supporting older adults and folks nearing end of life. She worked as a Life Enrichment Coordinator in an elder care environment where she enjoyed leading a variety of therapeutic activities promoting quality of life and joy for her clients.
Meika discovered her interest in Pediatric OT when she had the opportunity to intern at Bright Spot during her academic fieldwork, where she fell in love with the work and never looked back. The core of Meika’s practice comes from her own experience as a person with ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, through which she has gained a wealth of strategies to adapt and thrive in a world that wasn’t built with neurodiversity in mind. She is devoted to supporting her clients to live to their fullest potential.
As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Meika has specialized training and experience in developing personalized treatments to target clients’ goals and maximize their engagement in meaningful activities. She completed the STAR Institute Level 1 Advanced Mentorship in Sensory Integration and continues to educate herself on the lived experiences of her clients and the most current evidence-based practice.
Outside of the clinic, Meika enjoys somatic movement practices, practicing her Spanish-speaking skills, discovering new music, cooking, adventures in nature, and general puttering.
MEGAN MATTHEWS
(she/her)
Administrative Assistant
Megan's friendly face will cheerfully meet and greet children and their families in the clinic, and behind the scenes she'll be working hard to provide high quality care to all through administrative support services. Megan is a "Jill of all trades" with a professional background in workshop facilitation, education, administration/human resources, and patient advocacy. Her constant longing to learn and grow makes her a inquisitive and bold part of our team.
Outside of the office Megan enjoys spending time with her sweet dog Mowgli, playing piano and ukulele, singing, and being social with friends and family. She continues to find ways to provide support and advocacy to others and takes pleasure in enjoying all the adventures the beautiful Pacific Northwest has to offer!
CICI EKWENCHI
(she/her)
Clinic Office Assistant
Cici is a multidisciplinary artist from Georgia with a passion for health, wellness, and the outdoors. She has an innate desire to see others thrive, persevere, and create long-lasting positive change. With a background in community service, information technology, administration, and hospitality, she’s eager to apply her skills at Bright Spot in the pursuit of empowering clients to reach their fullest potential in a safe, inclusive environment.
At her core, Cici is an art enthusiast, and her preferred mediums are analog photography, woodworking, and oil painting. She enjoys expanding her creativity through baking and supporting Portland’s underground music scene. Her favorite pastime is hiking, so she’s thrilled to explore the mountains and hot springs of the Pacific Northwest!​​​
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RYAN MOSKAL
(he/him)
Operations, Finance, & Project Manager
Ryan is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he studied electrical and computer engineering. He began his professional life as a systems engineer in the aerospace industry before leaving to pursue other interests.
He entered the world of small business to manage finances and operations for a custom bicycle company (Ryan loves bicycles). And then joined Amy to support her work, as partner in life and business, and has been co-owner and practice manager of Bright Spot for four years now.
His skills as a systems engineer and exceptionally organized, thoughtful, and efficient human have translated incredibly well to laying the foundation for a small clinic. He maintains a strong focus on the client experience, to establish clear communication and understanding with parents about their insurance and billing during the therapy process.
Outside the office, Ryan enjoys running, cycling, tennis, and meditation.
