Our Staff

Sonya Brooks, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech-language Pathologist and Co-owner

Sonya received dual Bachelor's degrees in 1995 in the fields of Speech Pathology and Child Life and Family Studies from Louisiana Tech University.  She went on to attain a Master's degree in 1997 in the field of Communication Disorders from University of Louisiana: Monroe.  She has maintained both ASHA and Louisiana certification since graduation.  Since then, Sonya has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, inpatient rehab, home health, early childhood intervention, long-term acute care, skilled nursing facilities, and hospital acute care.  She has served as clinical supervisor for graduate students entering the field of Speech-language Pathology.

Her areas of interest are varied and reflected in her pursuit of continuing education and certification. She recently earned an ASHA ACE which is awarded to those therapists with an exceptional commitment to continuing education. Advanced training and Certifications include: Hanen certification for the program "It Takes Two to Talk", Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Treatment, SCERTS comprehensive approach for autism spectrum disorders, Orofacial Myology, Certified in VitalStim Therapy and Advanced VitalStim approaches, Deep-Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation for Swallowing Intervention, Jay Rosenbeck's Treatment of Dysarthia and Apraxia of Speech, Michael Crary's Treating Adult Dysphagia, Myofascial Release: Manual Techniques in Dysphagia Management, Blom-Singer Post-Laryngectomy and Voice Restoration Systems, Voice therapy and Physiotherapy for the Professional Voice and Vocal Abuse Disorders, and Certified to dispense Fluency master.

In addition to working with the patient, Sonya focuses on educating parents and caregivers on how to integrate and maximize skills in daily routines.  She believes that therapy is a partnership and that caregivers are the primary advocates and educators for their loved ones.  She emphasizes that "learning is not isolated to the therapy session and must continue in the home or natural setting."

In her time away from the clinic, Sonya and her husband Stacey, enjoy traveling to the mountains, going to concerts.  They also enjoy home improvement projects and seem to be constantly in the middle of one!

Kim Anderson, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist and Co-owner

Kim feels fortunate to have found a profession that she absolutely loves.  She began garnering experience in her chosen field while working as a physical therapy technician for almost 4 years while earning her undergraduate degree from University of Louisiana-Lafayette in General Studies with a minor in psychology.  She graduated from massage therapy school while waiting for her PT graduate program to begin in order to develop her palpation skills.  She then earned a doctorate in physical therapy in 2002 from University of St. Augustine, a school known for producing graduates with strong manual therapy skills.  Upon graduating from PT school, she became rehab director for Physical Therapy Specialists of Baton Rouge, a clinic specializing in manual therapy.  She then began working as a contract PT in order to attain experience in the multiple specialties available to physical therapists such as treatment of children and working with patients in acute settings with neurological as well as orthopedic impairments.  Kim has taken continuing education in the treatment of patients with stroke and Parkinson's disease, advanced manual therapy practice, pediatric courses on functional play and NDT (neurodevelopmental technique,) kinesiotaping, and treatment of disorders of the foot and shoulder. 

Kim has 1 dog, Zenzi, who is the most perfect shepherd mix puppy in the world.  While searching the web for a name with a German origin, they came across the name Zenzi and decided it fit her well.  Their German friends have never heard of it.  Kim is proud of her Cajun heritage and frequently boasts, yes boasts, about being from Broussard, LA.  On any given weekend, Kim can usually be found on I-10 somewhere between Baton Rouge and Houston.

Mika Doucet, LOTR, MOT

Occupational Therapist

Originally from Jennings, LA, Mika realized that she wanted to become an OT in high school following a hospital tour of an impressive therapy department.  After earning a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from McNeese State University, she completed the Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA.  Further training was completed during intense rotations at an outpatient hand clinic, an outpatient neurological and orthopedic clinic, and at Shriner's Pediatric Burn Center in Galveston, TX.  She went on to receive her National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and her Louisiana state license.  Her professional career began in Lafayette working in an inpatient facility, where she was able to gain experience in the acute care of patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics with orthopedic and neurological limitations.  This provided her with the familiarity of a variety of practice areas including splinting, psychiatric evaluations and group treatment, rehab treatment, and intensive care therapy.  While in Lafayette, she also spent time practicing in Home Health care and Outpatient hand therapy.  Some of her continuing education courses include:"Treating Autism: Putting the Puzzle Together", "Acute Stroke", "NDT Treatment of Adult Hemiplegia in Functional Weight Bearing Activities", "Contextual Memory Test",  and "Behavioral Inattention Test". She is certified in Saebo Splinting and The Listening Program.

As a therapist, her goal is to treat clients of all ages and skill levels with a holistic approach to maximize learning, development, and function. Since all treatment is age-appropriate, her pediatric OT treatment plans often involve play therapy to engage the individual in an environment suitable for learning and interacting while working on the development of cognitive, sensory or motor function. 

Outside of work, Mika likes to spend her time outdoors or in the kitchen. 

Kelly Abate,MA,CCC-SLP

Speech-language Pathologist

Kelly,a native of Lake Charles, LA,earned her bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2008. She continued her studies at LSU, earning her master's degree in Communication Disorders in 2010. During graduate school she had the opportunity to intern in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation, newborn nursery, and multi-disciplinary early-childhood clinic. Kelly has completed advanced training, becoming Hanen certified,through attending It Takes Two to Talk, a family-focused program of parents with young children who have communication difficulties. Kelly is excited to share the practical and powerful strategies she learned during this training to help more children communicate and interact more successfully during every-day routines and activities. Most recently, Kelly completed training in The Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol, a systematic approach that encourages best approximations of words until the child develops increased motor-speech coordination. This protocol has been effective for a variety of medical and communication diagnoses, including but not limited to: childhood apraxia of speech, phonological disorder, autism, and Down's syndrome. Kelly's areas of interest include; pediatric feeding, autism spectrum disorders, and apraxia of speech. Kelly truly enjoys helping others and making a difference in her patinet's lives. during her time away from clinic, Kelly enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with her friends and family!

Emery DeSonier,PT,DPT

Physical Therapist

Emery grew up in Lake Charles,LA, active in the community, attending local elementary, junior high, and high schools before moving away for college. She graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, cum laude, with a Bachelors degree in Biology and then pursued her interests in physical therapy at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Creighton was the first in the country to train therapists at the Doctorate level, therefore Emery finished with a Doctor Of Physical Therapy degree. She returned to Lake Charles to begin her physical therapy career in 2001, working under the mentorship of a veteran PT in the field of pediatrics and adult neurological care in an outpatient, private practice setting.

To further advance her skills and setting experience, Emery moved to Houston, TX, to work for Texas Children's Hospital, outpatient centers. While at Texas Children's Hospital, she was able to work alongside a large multi-disciplinary staff of PT, OT, speech therapists, audiologists, and physicians in their specialty clinics for sports, serial casting, and the seating, mobility, wheelchair clinic gaining further skills. She was able to learn more in the neurological field, prosthetics, vestibular rehabilitation, and orthopedics, additionally. Ever the traveler, Emery took her knowledge to the Tuomey Hospital system in Sumter, South Carolina. She worked with the ENT practice in town, developing a vestibular rehabilitation program for the people served by the hospital system and providing comprehensive physical therapy for both pediatrics and adults with specialized on those adults with neurological deficits.

She returned back to Louisiana to work for The NeuroMedical Center of Baton Rouge. LA, getting their outpatient clinic in Gonzales,LA, up and running. There, she was able to utilize all the skills from her earlier training and settings to be the solo physical therapist on site providing care for children to adults in the rehabilitation of orthopedic,vestibular,neurological,post-operative spine and joint repair diagnoses.

The reputation of Hope Therapy Center made its way to Baton Rouge, enticing Emery to move back to the Lake Area to join their practice. Through her career,patient centered care has been her focus with an emphasis on education of the patient and family. The more the patient knows about their rehab, the more they will participate with good quality of movement, having a better outcome and success. Emery was pleased to find such a match in Hope Therapy Center.

Emery is excited to have returned to her hometown with the treasures of great knowledge and treatment ideas for the people of the Lake Area from her time away. She is looking forward to helping those in need with balance and vestibular,neurological,spine and joint repair issues.

Kristin Mathis,PT,DPT

Physical Therapist 

Kristin is originally from Elton,LA. She has had a passion for working with children for as long as she can remember. She began working for a physical therapist in Jennings,LA as a summer job her junior year in high school. After working under her mentor PT she decided pediatric physical therapy would be her direction of study. Kristin earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from McNesse State University. She continued to work with a pediatric PT at a clinic in Lake Charles while going to school. In 2007, she got married. Two weeks after marriage, the happy couple moved to Atlanta, GA for Kristin to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Emory University. In her second year of PT school, a baby was on the way. Grayson Michael was born on July 24,2009. With lots of help and support from family, the new mom and dad made it through being 10 hours away from home & caring for a newborn. Kristin graduated with honors from Emory on May 10,2010 and promptly moved home to be closer to family. Kristin began working for Hope Therapy Center in August 2010. Bryce Calvin was born on December 7,2010. Since her return from maternity leave. Kristin has been applying all the acquired knowledge from six years of PT aide work and three years of school and clinical work to the children she is caring for.

Kristin's mission is to provide children of all ages an opportunity to improve developmental skills, increase performance quality, and achieve independence and comfortable living within the patient's home, school, and community. She also feels strongly about empowering parents by involving them in the treatment planning and process. Kristin is enthusiastic to promote education and involvement of the community in the awareness of children's special needs.

Shannon Harper,Ma,CCC-SLP

Speech-language Pathologist

A Hoosier at heart, Shannon came to us from Indiana,where basketball is the "American Pastime", the Indianapolis Colts are worshiped by all and Indy car racing is loved as much as hunting is here in SWLA. She earned a dual degree in Communication Sciences and Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington,IN. She immediately went on to receive her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology from Louisiana Tech University. If you ask her how she ended up in Louisiana, she won't really have an answer, but will swear it was the single best decision she's ever made. This nearly 1,000 trek down south introduced her to her husband of 13 years. Following graduation, she and her husband returned to Indiana where she gained over 13 years of experience as an SLP in a variety of settings including: hospital,schools and clinics. She additionally gained management experience as a Rehab Director for 2 years in a Skilled Nursing setting. Returning to Louisiana after 13 years was yet another journey in her life, but helping her husband achieve a dream to work side-by-side with his father was certainly worth it. Since moving to Lake Charles, Shannon has primarily worked as an independent contractor, but feels she may have found her niche here at Hope Therapy Center. Shannon has a love for knowledge and spends many hours every year continuing her education. Although experienced with a variety of disorders and populations, Shannon has a specific interest in pediatric feeding issues, Downs Syndrome, Craniofacial Syndromes and Parkinson's Disease. She is certified to provide VitalStim Therapy and is one of a handful of therapists in SWLA certified to provide LSVT LOUD. LSVT is a highly reserached and effective treatment targeting those with Parkinson's Disease and other Neurological disorders of the voice.

As a busy mother of four, Shannon is always striving to find the perfect balance between work and family. She feels that her experience gives her a unique perspective and is by far the most valuable she's earned to date. It's given her the ability to relate to families on a more personal level and see things through the eyes of a parent....not just a therapist. She feels that therapy is a partnership and empowering families to carryover skills outside of the therapy room is key to success. When not at work, you can usually find her volunteering at her children's schools, fulfilling duties as "mom's taxi service" or trying to catch up on some neglected home projects. And as if life with four kids and a dog isn't chaotic enough, they have recently added two new puppies...yes, that's right, TWO new puppies to the mix. At the end of the day, Shannon feels blessed to have an amazing family and a profession she loves.

Cindy Istre

Office Manager

Cindy has been working in the medical field for over 18 years in a variety of settings.  She has been specifically working with insurance and billing for 15 of those years.  Cindy enjoys her job as office manager at Hope Therapy Center, she enjoys everyone she works with and getting to know the patients and their families and see the success of our patients.

In her time away from the office, Cindy enjoys spending time with her husband David and their children Amber and Colin. She enjoys watching her daughter perform as a McNeese Cowgirl Kicker and her son playing soccer for Sulphur High school. Her dog  Diamond, bring many laughs to their home and to our clinic.

Cyndy Lirette

Administrative Assistant

Cyndy has over 35 years experience in the medical field in a variety of office settings.  She has worked with insurance and billing since 2003.

Cyndy enjoys spending time with her husband Wayne, her 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 2 granddogs.