Meet the Team

Office Staff

  • Tara Gay, MC CCC-SLP, Founder & Owner

    I’m the founder and owner of Carolina Milestones and a SLP with a love for play in therapy sessions.  I’ve always dreamed of having a community for the Summerville area that shared the same values as myself when it came to being a therapy provider.   I continue to learn and be influenced by my wonderful co-workers who continually strive to provide neurodivergent affirming care with genuine joy and love.

    I enjoy spending time with the Autistic population and supporting families shift their mindset to a neurodivergent affirming framework.  My children and myself were recently diagnosed Autistic ( I am AudHD, my son is AudHD, and my daughter is Autistic with a PDA profile) and I’ve become well versed in navigating insurances, evaluations, waivers, and public school systems.  I am now homeschooling my children and continuing to advocate for inclusive spaces and locating more neurodivergent affirming practitioners.

    Courses that have influenced my therapy style include DIR Floortime, Goal Writing for Autistic Students, A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach, Let's UNMASC, and Understanding the Needs & Motivations of Autistic Social Communication.    

    Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, being in nature, baking, reading, and crafting.


  • Michelle Rowell, Office Administrator

    I am a wife and mother who has had the pleasure of working at Carolina Milestones for many years. I truly love what I do and have always found joy in working with children. I am a proud mother of four daughters and have many fur babies at home. In my spare time, I enjoy walks on the beach, working in my yard, and trying new restaurants with my family.

  • Mindy West, Office Administrator

    Mindy loves working at Carolina Milestones, where she enjoys being surrounded by all the sweet children. She has been happily married for over 24 years and has two amazing grown children. Originally from Livonia, MI, Mindy has called the Summerville area home for a long time. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants with her family.

Speech Therapy Team

  • Haley Eifert, SLP - CCC

    Hi, my name is Haley! I believe that every child deserves to be heard, understood, and celebrated—just as they are. I have a deep commitment to providing affirming, strengths-based therapy for neurodivergent children and their families. I use a responsive, relationship-centered model that prioritizes connection and creates inclusive, playful, and respectful environments where children can thrive as their authentic selves. My therapy is rooted in collaboration with families, honoring their expertise and empowering them to be partners in their child’s communication and feeding journeys. I integrate principles from DIR/Floortime, Gestalt Language Processing, responsive feeding, and sensory integration into my sessions. As a certified lactation consultant, I'm equally passionate about helping families navigate early feeding challenges, from latching difficulties and oral-motor dysfunction to picky eating and sensory aversions. Outside of work, I enjoy chasing my two kids around, going to the beach, and exploring all things Charleston!

  • Hannah Plantinga, SLP- CCC

    Hi! My name is Hannah, I grew up in Massachusetts and have lived in Charleston since 2021. I have over five years of experience treating children in the outpatient clinic and natural environment. I love working with the Early Intervention population as well as Neurodivergent/Autistic children. I have a passion for supporting Gestalt Language Processors and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I’ve participated in a variety of courses to further my education including DIR Floortime 101, Meaningful Speech course on Gestalt Language Processing, Echolalia, and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), and various AAC courses including AAC for Gestalt Language Processors. I love using a child’s interests and passions to target goals to make therapy more meaningful and engaging! 


    When I’m not in the clinic you can find me at a country concert, reading books, listening to Taylor Swift, and cuddling with my cat Archie while watching the Patriots! 


  • Jackie Marsh, SLP - CCC

    Hi, I’m Jackie! I grew up in the Pocono Mountains and moved to the Lowcountry in 2021 to begin my career as a speech-language pathologist. I am passionate about helping children with their communicative independence and improve their speech and language skills.

    One of my favorite approaches to use during speech therapy sessions is incorporating play-based and child-led activities into sessions with the goal of building speech and language skills. I enjoy working with receptive and expressive language delays, fluency, articulation, and phonological disorders. I love working with the Autistic population and using a patient's specific and personal interests to promote engagement in therapy! One tool I often utilize for promoting speech and language development is modeling total communication such as augmentative alternative communication (AAC). I believe it’s important to incorporate movement and play-based activities into sessions in order to support self-regulation skills, continue to use a patient-led approach to promote participation, and to integrate play into therapy. 

    Continuing education courses that have influenced my therapy style include Applying Traditional Strategies to AAC Implementation, Vocabulary Interventions for Students with Language Disorders, and The Neurodiversity Movement: An Overview for Autism Services Providers. One course that I’m currently interested in taking is the Natural Language Acquisition Protocol to support Gestalt Language Processors.

    In my free time I enjoy beach days, baking cupcakes and sourdough bread, reading, playing volleyball, and exploring Charleston.

  • Lauren Bradley, SLP- CCC

    My name is Lauren! I enjoy working with Autistic individuals, Apraxia of Speech and supporting feeding skills. I love making therapy fun and enjoy connecting and building relationships with the children I work with as well as their caregivers. I’ve taken multiple courses to continue my knowledge and education including Natural Language Acquisition-Echolalia to Self-generated Language (Levels 1-3), SOS, and PROMPT. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing volleyball, and being on the water.


  • Erin Forward, SLP - CCC

    Hi! My name is Erin and I am from Rochester, NY. I have lived in multiple states, but spent most of my career in SC after spending undergrad at The University of Pittsburgh. I recently moved to Charleston after working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on their feeding team. I have worked in EI, home health, inpatient pediatric hospital, GI clinic and private practice throughout my career. er

    I have been a speech therapist for almost 7 years, spending most of my career supporting medically complex and autistic children with communication, AAC, and feeding. I am an expert training leader in DIR/Floortime which is a relationship-based therapy to help support a child be their authentic self. I have had extensive training in feeding and trauma informed care and frequently lecture and present on the topic. I also host a podcast called First Bite about all things speech therapy with my mentor Michelle Dawson. 

    When I am not working I love spending time with my friends, traveling, or finding a concert to go watch! 

  • Jessica Scott, SLP- CC

    My name is Jessica and I have had the joy of being a pediatric speech language pathologist over 15 years. I love helping children grow in their

    speech, language & feeding abilities through child-led, FUN, purposeful play while also equipping families to confidently communicate & enjoy meal times with their children. I have a special passion for toddlers and preschoolers, but truly love children of all ages and abilities! I especially enjoy working with children and continuing my education in the areas of pediatric feeding disorders, apraxia of speech, and augmentative alternative communication (AAC). Some courses I have completed include Prompt, SOS Approach to Feeding, and AAC for Gestalt Language Processors ~ A Meaningful Speech® Course.

    There’s always something to learn! I also am passionate about providing neurodivergent affirming care and making sure all my work babies are accepted, loved, and set up to thrive! When I’m not at work I enjoy taking trips with my husband, 3 daughters, and 2 doggies -an angel golden retriever and a goofy labradoodle, laughing at silly Tik Toks, and listening to historical fiction audiobooks.

  • Sarah Thomas

    Bio coming soon!!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TEAM

  • Lindsey Hamilton, OTR/L

    Hi! I am a licensed Occupational Therapist and mom to one sweet little boy, Oaklyn. I’m originally from North Dakota and started my career in California working in a pediatric outpatient clinic before moving to Charleston in 2020. I have over 8 years of experience treating infants & children in the clinic and home-based settings. I have a special interest in sensory processing and understanding how a child’s regulatory state impacts how they experience their environment, learn, and grow - specifically in regards to feeding and emotional regulation. I’m certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS), trained in Bodywork for Better Breastfeeding (A comprehensive Infant Massage Course) and TOTs with extensive training in oral motor skills. I’ve taken several sensory processing and feeding courses, neuro-diversity affirming feeding courses, and all of my courses to get certified as an ASDCS. Outside of work I love being a mama to my sweet boy, spending time outdoors, and staying up-to-date on everything Taylor Swift.


  • Tess Shymanski Doty, OTR/L

    My name is Tess! I am one of the occupational therapists here at Carolina Milestones! What I find so special about this field is that I get to connect with so many wonderful children of all ages, from birth all the way up to 18. I love the diversity of occupational therapy & that each day and session can look dramatically different than the next! I am passionate about supporting children on their journey of finding their own passions & participating in the activities that bring them joy.  I have completed continuing educations that have helped guide me to be the therapist that I am such as DIR 101: An introduction to DIR and DIR Floortime, Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist training, Motor Planning & Praxis Master Class, and An Affirming Approach to Support Interceptive, Feeding Challenges, and ARFID. Outside of work you can catch me eating Chik-fil-A, snuggling with my three dogs, or enjoying the beach! 


  • Heather Downey, OTR/L

    Hi, my name is Heather! I am passionate about sensory processing and incorporating knowledge from teaching yoga, breathing, and meditation practices into therapy sessions (I’ve been a certified yoga teacher since 2015!). I enjoy finding activities that bring joy to the child I’m working with and incorporating goals into new, creative activities that promote engagement. Outside of work I love spending time with my daughter and doing activities as a new family of 3! I continue to practice yoga and love anything outdoors, exploring new places around Charleston, and connecting with friends and family.


  • Michelle Doucette, OTR/L

    Hi! My name is Michelle and I am originally from Boston, MA! I have always had a passion for working with children and was drawn to this field because of my interest in supporting the development of children simply through play! I seek to bring a compassionate, play-based approach to therapy that fosters confidence, independence, and joy in every session. I absolutely love connecting with my clients and their families and building strong lasting relationships! I have completed continuing education such as Autism Spectrum Disorder microcredentialing and Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues. Outside of work I love exploring Charleston and spending most of my time outside either at the beach, pool, or walking with my dogs.

PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM

  • Jessie Owens

    Bio coming soon!!