Stepping Stones is Family-Owned and Operated

Stepping Stones was created by our founder and director Lindsay Cavner in 2004. Lindsay has worked as an Occupational Therapist specializing in pediatric therapy in several different environments including homes, schools, clinics, and hospitals.  She realized her passion was in making a difference by working with clients and families in their natural home and community environments alongside other team members.  This natural environment has allowed her clients the best integration of newly acquired skills into their daily lives due to the support from the caregiver/family unit in the natural environment.  Lindsay also enjoys mentoring and collaborating with therapists, supporting them as they develop their skills and as they progress in their career interests.  Stepping Stones works with those living with disabilities such as autism, developmental delays, learning disabilities, communication delays, sensory integration or processing dysfunction, orthopedic and neurological impairment and other special needs.

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Meet Our Team

Lindsay Cavner, (MS OTR/L, CHHC, AADP)

Founder and Director of Therapy

Lindsay grew up with a passion to help people.  While in high school, she discovered Occupational Therapy when working with elderly residents in the activities department at a nursing home. She went on to receive her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University in 1997 and her MS in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University in 2000. Her career as an OT includes over 21 years in a variety of settings, including adult acute care hospital setting, pediatric and geriatric home-based therapy, pediatric out-patient clinics, preschool, elementary school, and most recently in home-based private practice as owner and Therapy Director of Stepping Stones Pediatric Therapy, LLC, founded in 2004. As a seasoned therapist, Lindsay enjoys supporting therapists in their career development through mentoring and supervision. She specializes in family coaching in the areas of sensory and motor integration, nutrition, and feeding disorders within the birth to 26 population.  She places high priority on supporting therapists and families through culturally appropriate services with DEI principles at the heart and vision for her company.

Although OT allowed her to follow her dream of helping people, she also fell in love with being a mom.  Her daughter Avery was born in 2007, and 2 years later was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This diagnosis led her to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2013 where she received a certification in Holistic Health Coaching so she could help her daughter and her clients better address their nutritional and lifestyle needs. Lindsay relates with families that are navigating a new diagnosis and doing their best to support their children to be successful in every way possible! When she is not working, Lindsay loves spending time in the outdoors with her family and friends and two dogs.  She loves mountain running, enjoying nature and hiking, as well as cooking, singing and playing guitar.

Deanne - Office Manager

Deanne received her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Colorado State Univerisity in Ft. Collins, CO.  She has been employed in the medical field ever since with her experience ranging from geriatric social work to managing customer service and accounts receivable staffs for medical providers to working on the health insurance company side.  She has worked closely with Lindsay shortly after the opening of Stepping Stones and then as the Office Manager for almost 16 years.  She collaborates closely with our therapists on a daily basis and is passionate about supporting them, so they are able to provide their full potential for our clients.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, music, and loves spending time with her husband Chris and Golden Retriever, Cooper.

Melissa Hanawalt - Referral Coordinator

Melissa has over 20 years of experience in the medical field working alongside medical professionals and their clients in a variety of front office capacities.  She enjoys coordinating schedules with the therapists and families and is committed to providing the therapists and families the best customer experience possible.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 37 years, her two children, and playing with her grandchildren.  You may also find her hiking, working out at the gym, skiing, and playing billiards.