Sophie Schauermann, MSW, LCSW | Founder and Clinical Director
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, EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy, and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. 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.
Connect directly with Sophie for child therapy, parent coaching, and other potential collaborations by booking a consultation here.
Melissa Schneider, MSc | Chief Executive Officer and Therapist
With personal roots in Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, and London, Melissa Schneider brings both vast life experience and specialized education to supporting families in true growth and healing. Melissa’s undergraduate study in business adminstration and following experience in this area offers meaningful support to our staff.
Melissa holds a Masters degree in neuroscience from Kings College, with a specialization in learning disorders, ADHD, and epilepsy. She also has specialized training in supporting women with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to address treatment-resistant anxiety and depression.
She focuses on helping children age 2-9 manage anxiety as well as attention and self esteem issues (particularly related to bullying) Melissa especially strives to support children by honoring their uniqueness, particularly when they feel they don’t belong. She also has a strong heart for supporting adolescent and adult females in transforming their perception of life into stories of empowerment.
Joel Ciarochi, MD, MBA | Chief of Operations
Joel, who is a board-certified anesthesiologist and MBA-holding serial entrepreneur, brings a new level of clinical excellence, compliance, and oversight to the talented and dedicated Rooted Rhythm team. He has served in many executive and advisory roles in such companies and helped bring them to greater levels of community impact.
Assisting with Rooted Rhythm's mission to support therapeutic healing for adults through the use of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Joel brings deep medical knowledge of and significant experience in this approach. His background ranges from ketamine's use for general anesthesia and sedation to its administration for mental health treatment, including methods as complex as electroconvulsive shock therapy for major depression. As a father of three grown children, Joel brings both life experience and genuine care to Rooted Rhythm's work with families.
Joel's education includes Rice University (BA), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (MD), University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Parkland Memorial Hospital (Anesthesiology), and Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (EMBA).
Kendall Schauermann, MA, LPCC | Head of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program
Kendall specializes in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), psychedelic integration, 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.
Kendall has a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology program at Naropa University. He has completed several Psychedelic Assisted Therapy trainings including the Transpersonal Research Institute of Psychotherapeutic Psychedelics KAP Clinician Training and Beyond the Mind’s Integrated Somatic Interventions Program.
Kate Hirsch, MSW, CSWC | Lead Therapist (Denver, CO)
Kate’s emphasis and dedication to promoting a therapeutic relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and safety are the foundation of her practice with children and their families. By honoring the child’s pace and sense of autonomy, she creates an environment where processing and healing can occur.
Drawing from over a decade of experience working with children in both clinical and non-clinical settings, Kate is an attuned and empathetic therapist who relies on her creativity to implement engaging and healing interventions. Most recently, she worked as an early childhood therapist, predominantly serving children with ADHD, anxiety, and trauma from ages 2 to 12.
Kate graduated from both Elon University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and New York University, where she earned her Masters degree in Social Work. Kate understands and believes in the importance of play as a means of communication for kiddos, and predominantly implements tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) into her practice.
Nicole Soto, MSW, LMSW | Therapist (Atlanta, GA)
Dedicated to effectively supporting sensitive children and their families, Nicole offers a grounded and healing presence for parents and their children to experience enlightening transformations towards their highest potential.
Nicole graduated from Adelphi University with a masters in social work and holds a Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) certification in both the states of New York and Georgia. She has specialized training and experience in Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness Based Interventions. Nicole has provided individual, group, and family therapy for children, teens, families, and young adults in nonprofits and outpatient settings.
She has a heart for working with children, adolescents, and young adults who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, stress, anger, and who may be experiencing difficulty adjusting to various life transitions. Nicole’s expertise also supports parents and children in improving communication, resolving conflicts, and helping each family member better understand one another.
Erin Clack Nora, LMSW | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Erin recently returned to clinical work after moving to Denver from Taos, then taking a maternity leave. Erin earned a Master of Social Work in direct practice mental health at the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas, where her coursework included cognitive-behavioral intervention; treatment of addictive behaviors; social policy; stress, crisis and coping; and intimate partner violence. Her undergraduate degree is a BA in Literary Studies and in Sociology from the University of Denver.
Following her practicum experiences at family therapy centers during graduate school, Erin spent 5 years as director of a child therapy program in Taos, utilizing DBT, CBT, mindfulness, play therapy, trauma therapy and EMDR.
Erin has in depth knowledge of and experience in supporting trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral struggles, family relationships, gender identity, & grief. She enjoys working with children, teens, and adults.
Olivia Smith, MDiv, LMSW | Therapist (Dallas, TX)
Olivia graduated from Baylor University with her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and her Master’s degree in Social Work. She is also a graduate of Truett Seminary, where she earned her Master’s of Divinity. She is trained in various therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Somatic Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
Focusing on relationship and developmentally appropriate practice, Olivia has worked in both clinical and non-clinical contexts where she has strived to create safe spaces for children and teenagers to grow and learn about themselves in a creative and curious way. She has a particularly special place in her heart for preschool aged children learning how to manage big emotions, as well as pre-teens and teens working with anxiety and self esteem issues.
Victoria Mancinelli, MSW | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Drawing on years of working in both the non-profit sector and in the school setting, Victoria values connecting with young people and parents exactly where they are. Victoria has spent years in practice with neuro and cognitive diverse individuals - and supports them in authentically celebrating their uniqueness.
Victoria graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in psychology and concentrations Women and Gender Studies, and African American Studies. She applies tenets of trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFI-CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy( DBT), solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), somatic therapy, and relational understanding to her practice.
As a mother of two, Victoria offers life experience (in addition to her clinical expertise) to parents.
Sara Galaso, MSW, LMSW | Therapist (Dallas, TX)
Providing a safe space to process big emotions, Sara empowers clients in effectively developing their connection to themselves and strengthening bonds with others.
After years of intensively supporting (migrant and refugee) families, Sara obtained her graduate degree in social work from the University of Texas in Arlington specializing in children and families. She has specialized training and experience in navigating grief and loss due to major life changes, such as death, divorce, infertility and faith deconstruction.
She is trained in play therapy and ketamine assisted psychotherapy to support children and women in connecting more deeply to their wellness.
Sara’s three teenage daughters have been her greatest teachers, and she loves witnessing them develop their talents and explore their own sense of identity in the world.
Sara is also fluent in Spanish and able to offer culturally responsive services to Spanish speaking families.
Nicole Butler | Therapist (Denver, CO)
Nicole Butler holds a post-graduate certificate in world religion and diplomacy from George Mason University and a bachelor of fine arts from Otterbein University, Westerville, OH. She is the vice-president of the Online Social Work Student Association and an interdisciplinary social justice fellow.
Nicole brings a wealth of professional experience in NGO program design and monitoring, non- profit development, international conflict cessation practices, conflict impact studies, and peer counseling to her clinical practice. She applies her knowledge of macro systems and treatment modalities to understand how children and adults move through their lives. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, rock climber, drummer, and singer.