Not the Right Mom

Megan Dolan is a Long Beach based writer | actor | storyteller with over 30 years experience. She has a BA in Theater Arts from CSULB and was a founding member of the acclaimed Elephant Theatre Company which built a reputation for championing new American plays from 1995-2015. For 17 years, Megan facilitated Playfair, the most popular campus attraction for new student orientation, performing for collegiate audiences around the country. She has performed at the Moth, Hollywood Fringe Festival, and Expressing Motherhood as well as many other LA based storytelling shows and her TEDx talk entitled, Messy Mommy: A Slob in the Shadows can be seen on YouTube. Megan has written and performed three solo shows, the latest of which, the award-winning, Not the Right Mom (formerly titled Lemur Mom), played at many theaters throughout Southern California and beyond and was selected as "Best of Fest" for the Whitefire Solo Fest and chosen to be part of the Amplify series for marginalized voices at the Curtis Theater in Brea, CA. Megan is a frequent guest artist at USC, Cal State Northridge, and Long Beach City College and she was recently a judge for the South Bay's Got Talent competition at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Her written work has been published in L.A. Parent Magazine and the anthology, Becoming Brave Together heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight.

I am an occupational therapist, yoga teacher, and ADHDer, who is passionate about connecting with people to facilitate their engagement in meaningful life activities that support their autonomy, confidence, and goals. I use various techniques tailored to meet your needs, including (but not limited to) sensory, motor, nature-based, and activity-based. I am consistently learning and self-reflecting to ensure quality and compassionate services. I look forward to a collaborative therapeutic experience, that is genuine to you or your child.

Kristine Haertl, Ph.D., ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been with St. Catherine University since 1997. She loves teaching and outside of the department has taught additional courses in the psychology department and in the CORE. She too has served for a number of years on the CORE Lead committee.Within the department, Kristi has taught masters and doctoral courses related to foundations of occupational science, educational methods and practice, sensory-perceptual-cognitive processing, and introductory and advanced mental health practice.Kristi has been active in mental health research related to peer-supported mental health housing models and exploration of the nature and efficacy of services at a free standing psychiatric occupational therapy clinic. Kristi's research has lead to legislative changes regarding evidenced based mental health practice in Minnesota and has helped secure funding for the development of Fairweather housing units in Pennsylvania. In addition to full time faculty work, Kristi has served as the Chair of a large mental health board in Minnesota, is currently the President of the Tasks Unlimited Training Center board and on the Executive board for Tasks Inc., and maintains a private practice serving persons with psychiatric disorders and developmental disabilities. Kristi was honored to receive the St. Catherine University Faculty of the Year Teaching and Advising Award in 2008, she was Awarded a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) in 2012, she was inducted into the founding members of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Leaders and Legacy Society in 2015 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Tasks Unlimited in 2019 and life time achievement awards from additional organizations. Kristi has over 50 publications, 3 books, and 175 national and international presentations. Outside of occupational therapy, Kristi taught group fitness/ aerobics for over 35 years and enjoys activities related to sports and exercise, church, and outdoors. Kristi loves teaching in all venues and in addition to her 2008 Teaching Advising award at St. Catherine University she received Group Fitness Instructor of the Year Awards (2003) on a local, regional and national level.

I'm an Autistic and otherwise Neurodivergent Occupational Therapist who parents a neurodivergent child. I've been a therapist for 14 years, working with people of all ages. I became involved in the disability community a few years ago and through listening to diverse voices, I've learned to more deeply appreciate the differences that naturally exist in humanity. Learning is a process that never ends, and it leads us to places we may not have expected. True growth is never easy but is always worth it. As I listen and learn from you, we can create supports and services that promote your well-being, as you become more autonomous and authentic in yourself.