Meet The Rooted Rhythm Team
We are a community of heart-centered, holistic therapists who believe in the healing power of connection, safety, and play.
We support children, teens, adults, and families, creating spaces where clients feel safe to express themselves, explore emotions, and grow.
Our clinicians offer therapy for children, teens, and adults across Denver, Arvada, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Dallas, and Atlanta.
Our mission is to help children find their voice through play, to help teens and adults reconnect with their inner strength, and to help parents raise grounded, empowered, and happy kids.
Our Founders
Sophie Schauermann, MSW, LCSW | Co-founder and CEO
With an undergraduate degree in child development and clinical psychology from Tufts University and a graduate degree in social work from the University of Denver, Sophie founded Rooted Rhythm to provide mental health support that children and parents can trust.
Sophie is studied and experienced in play therapy, and EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy. She has 12 years of experience working closely with children and families in many settings, including the Harvard Medical School's laboratory for youth mental health, the public school system, and community based mental health programs.
Sophie is a licensed clinical social worker in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, and Texas. She also conducts court ordered parent responsibility evaluations in Colorado.
Kendall Schauermann, MA, LPCC | Co-founder, CFO, & Therapist
Kendall specializes in, supporting fathers of young children, grief and loss, and healthy masculinity. He often supports men who have been living in anxiety or depression, and who are ready to find meaning and purpose in their lives. Kendall has experience with individuals in hospice care and people with dementia, as well as supporting their families.
When working with children and teens, Kendall specializes in supporting individuals ages 5-17 with feelings of anger, depression, and anxiety. He also specializes in helping families navigate life transitions, such as divorce or processing grief.
Kendall has a Bachelors in finance from University of Colorado Boulder and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology program at Naropa University.
Leadership Team
Click our images to read our bios!
Joel Ciarochi, MD, MBA | Chief of Operations
Katie Pendergast | Practice Director
Kate Schramm, MSW, LCSW | National Clinical Director & Therapist
Matthew Robb, MS, LPC, CCSP | Atlanta Clinic Director & Therapist
Clinical Supervisors
Maggie McEachern, LCSW | Clinical Supervisor
Amy Harmon, MA, LCSW, RPT, ACS | Clinical Supervisor
Elana Cohen, MSW, LCSW | Therapist & Clinical Supervisor (Denver, CO)
Colorado Therapists
Kate Schramm, MSW, LCSW | National Clinical Director & Therapist (Denver, CO)
Kate builds therapeutic relationships rooted in trust, respect, and safety, creating space for children to process emotions, grow, and heal at their own pace. With over a decade of experience supporting children ages 2–10 through ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and caregiver-child challenges, she brings creativity, curiosity, and playfulness to her work. As Clinical Director, Kate provides leadership and mentorship while integrating Child-Centered Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, and CBT into her relational, developmentally attuned approach. Read full bio here.
Elana Cohen, MSW, LCSW | Therapist & Clinical Supervisor (Denver, CO)
Elana is a licensed therapist with over a decade of experience supporting children, teens, adults, and families. She blends trauma-informed care, CBT, play therapy, positive psychology, and experiential approaches to help clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, addiction, and family challenges. Read full bio here.
Alena Brocker, MSW, CSWC | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Alena offers a warm, child-led approach rooted in strengths-based and non-directive play therapy, helping children safely express emotions and build resilience. Drawing from movement, mindfulness, and creative arts, she partners with caregivers to support each child’s natural growth and self-direction. Read full bio here.
Victoria Mancinelli, MSW | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Victoria brings extensive experience in nonprofit and school settings, meeting young people and parents exactly where they are and celebrating neurodiverse strengths with authenticity and care. Drawing from trauma-focused CBT, DBT, SFBT, somatic, and relational approaches—along with her lived experience as a mother of two—she offers both clinical expertise and real-world understanding to the families she supports. Read full bio here.
Nicole Butler, MSW, SWC | Therapist (Colorado Springs, CO)
Nicole supports highly sensitive and gifted children, teens and adults using a compassionate, play-based approach, integrating play therapy, CBT and EMDR to help them process emotions and build regulation skills. She partners closely with parents, offering coaching and a holistic perspective that considers both family dynamics and the broader systems shaping a child’s world. Read full bio here.
Sofia Panzenhagen, MEd | Parent Coach
Sofia empowers parents to understand and support the unique strengths of highly sensitive children, providing practical tools to foster strong, positive family relationships. Drawing on over a decade of experience in education and mental health—and her own experience as a mother—she offers compassionate, insightful guidance that helps families build resilience and thrive. Read full bio here.
Erin Wheatley, MSW, LCSW | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Erin creates a safe, supportive space where children and families can explore emotions and build social-emotional skills, using a trauma-informed approach that blends play, movement, mindfulness, and reflection. She integrates attachment, systems theory, and CBT, drawing on her experience as a social worker, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, and Registered Yoga Teacher to provide a holistic, grounded approach to therapy. Read full bio here.
Marietta DeFreese, MS, LPC, NCC | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Marietta provides a warm, supportive space where youth and families can explore emotions and grow, using a person-centered, strength-based approach. With experience in community and school settings, she tailors her care to each client’s needs, helping them navigate life’s challenges with empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Read full bio here.
Morgan Friedman, MA | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Morgan brings a strengths-based, child-centered approach to supporting children’s emotional well-being, helping them feel seen, safe, and supported through play and connection. With over nine years in early childhood education and ongoing clinical training, she partners with families to nurture resilience and honor each child’s unique story. Read full bio here.
Maggie Rosen, MA, LPCC | Therapist (Denver & Arvada, CO)
Maggie Rosen supports children, teens, and families in building emotional understanding, regulation, and secure connections. Drawing on play, creativity, and attachment-based approaches, she partners with parents and caregivers to navigate challenges with empathy and clarity. Read full bio here.
Shelly Murphy, MA, NCC, LPCC | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Shelly is a trauma-informed, attachment-focused therapist who supports highly sensitive children, teens, and parents. With a background in early childhood education and Human Development and Family Studies, she blends professional training with lived parenting experience to help families better understand big emotions, regulate their nervous systems, and strengthen connection. Shelly offers a steady, compassionate presence and integrates person-centered, evidence-based approaches to ensure children and parents feel seen, supported, and empowered. Read full bio here.
Ellie Kayyem, MSW, LSW | Therapist (Arvada, CO)
Ellie is a warm, relational therapist who supports children, adolescents, and families in building resilience, emotional regulation, and connection. Trained in EMDR and Synergetic Play Therapy, she blends trauma-informed, holistic, and developmentally attuned approaches to help clients navigate challenges with compassion and clarity. Read full bio here.
Madeline Hulbert, MSW, LSW | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Madeline is a compassionate therapist who supports children and families through play, connection, and collaboration, helping kids feel seen, heard, and empowered. She integrates trauma-informed practices, play therapy, mindfulness, and CBT, partnering closely with parents to foster healing, resilience, and strong family connections. Read full bio here.
Sonya Zielinski, MSW, SWC | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Sonny offers a gentle, relational space for sensitive children, adult women, and families seeking understanding, stability, and connection. Using trauma-informed, developmentally attuned, and play-based approaches, Sonny supports children in regulating emotions and building confidence while helping adults explore patterns, strengthen coping skills, and reconnect with inner wisdom. Drawing on experience with neurodivergence, life transitions, and experiential education, Sonny partners with families to create more ease, clarity, and compassion in everyday life. Read full bio here.
Heather Stanley, MA, LPCC, NCC | Therapist (Arvada, CO)
I believe in the resilience of the human spirit and create a compassionate, person-centered space where children, adolescents, and parents feel seen, heard, and supported. Drawing on DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed care, I help clients build emotional regulation, executive functioning, and connection skills, blending clinical expertise with creativity and lived experience to foster growth and resilience. Read full bio here.
Erica Lazarus, MSW, LSW | Therapist (Arvada, CO)
Erica supports highly sensitive children, teens, and adults in reconnecting with their inner brilliance and navigating life with authenticity. Trained in EMDR and play therapy, and drawing on somatic practices, mindfulness, and trauma-informed, culturally attuned approaches, she helps clients cultivate self-trust, resilience, and a sense of wholeness. Read full bio here.
Lila Coil, MA, LPCC, ATR-P| Therapist (Arvada, CO)
Lila supports children and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, identity exploration, and life transitions, offering an affirming space for neurodivergent, sensitive, and LGBTQ+ clients. Using DBT-informed art therapy, talk therapy, somatic, mindfulness, play therapy, and dream exploration, she helps clients build confidence, develop meaningful skills, and feel empowered to create a life aligned with their authentic selves. Read full bio here.
Colette Franz, LCSW | Therapist (Lakewood, CO)
Colette supports neurodiverse and highly sensitive children in navigating emotions, regulation, and behavioral challenges, while creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. Trained in Synergetic Play Therapy, TF-CBT, attachment-based, and other evidence-based approaches, she partners with parents to integrate therapy into daily life and school settings, fostering holistic growth and resilience. Read full bio here.
Chrissy Andreasen, MSW| Therapist (Lakewood, CO)
Chrissy brings warmth, authenticity, and a heart-centered presence to therapy, helping children, caregivers, and families navigate life’s challenges with patience, humor, and trust. She integrates trauma-informed care, play therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and relational approaches, honoring each client’s emotions, cultural context, and unique story to foster healing, growth, and resilience. Read full bio here.
Claire Byrnes, MA, LPCC, NCC | Therapist (Lakewood, CO & Denver, CO)
Claire is a warm, empathetic therapist who supports children, teens, adults, and families in healing through connection, play, and authentic expression. Trained in EMDR and Theraplay, she blends play therapy, expressive arts, and trauma- and attachment-informed approaches to help clients feel seen, build resilience, and foster strong family relationships. Read full bio here.
Mary Grace Reeves, MSW, SWC | Therapist (Lakewood, CO & Denver, CO)
Mary Grace is a compassionate, down-to-earth psychotherapist who supports children, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, self-esteem concerns, and life transitions. Using a person-centered, strengths-based approach and incorporating somatic practices, she honors the deep connection between mind and body while helping clients build on the strengths they already hold. Mary Grace creates a warm, judgment-free space where you can feel truly seen, supported, and empowered to move toward meaningful change. Read full bio here.
Dallas, TX Therapists
Sara Galaso, MSW, LMSW | Therapist (Dallas, TX)
Sara provides a safe, supportive space for clients to process big emotions, build self-connection, and strengthen relationships with others. Trained in play therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, she draws on trauma-informed, family-centered, and culturally responsive approaches—offering services in both English and Spanish—to support children and women navigating grief, life transitions, and personal growth. Read full bio here.
Briyona Benjamin, MSW, LMSW | Therapist (Dallas, TX)
Briyona is dedicated to helping highly sensitive individuals and families thrive, integrating play therapy with mindfulness and somatic practices as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200). With experience in intensive outpatient therapy, family and group work, and behavior interventions, she blends developmental, cultural, and holistic approaches to support clients in building resilience, connection, and well-being. Read full bio here.
Atlanta, GA Therapists
Matt Robb, MS, LPC, CCSP | Atlanta Director & Therapist (Atlanta, GA)
Matt is a warm and engaging therapist who supports children, adolescents, and families in building coping skills, self-confidence, and resilience. Trained in cognitive-behavioral and motivational approaches, he specializes in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and life transitions, blending evidence-based practices with creativity and family collaboration to make therapy both effective and engaging. Read full bio here.
Sundi Crosswhite Shelton, MSW, LMSW | Therapist (Atlanta, GA)
Sundi is an empathetic therapist who supports individuals and families in building resilience, healing from trauma, and managing anxiety or depression. Trained in CBT, EMDR, Integrative Somatic Parts Work, and SPACE, and as a certified yoga instructor, she combines evidence-based and mind–body approaches to create holistic, personalized, and compassionate care. Read full bio here.
Jamie Lee Ward, LMSW, RBT | Therapist (Atlanta, GA)
Jamie supports sensitive and neurodiverse children in expressing themselves, regulating emotions, and building resilience. Drawing on play-based, somatic, and relational approaches, she partners with families and care teams to create consistent, strengths-based support that honors each child’s unique pace, personality, and needs. Read full bio here.
Admin Team
Rita Rossi | Client Care Manager
Allen Lingensjo | Intake Coordinator
Katie Gallagher | Billing Specialist
