The Sunrise Therapies team, a passionate and skilled group of women occupational therapists, smiling together outdoors on a sunny day with clear blue skies and trees in the background.

The Sunrise Team

PASSIONATE. SKILLED. HERE FOR YOU.

A powerhouse team of women who are redefining apraxia care through connection, movement, and a deep belief in presuming competence.

Learn more about our values, approach, and why we’re so passionate about this work.

Get to know the passionate therapists who are here to support you with care, expertise, and heart.

“Each morning, we are born again. What we do today matters most.” 

– BUDDHA

OUR VALUES

Curiosity

Courage

Compassion

Collaboration

At Sunrise, we are on a mission to include ALL individuals in our world and make sure they are seen as valuable. We believe in fostering connection, confidence, and independence. That’s why we support parents and caregivers in building meaningful relationships with their child, teen, or adult, helping them navigate motor planning, sensory integration, and functional movement with compassion and understanding.

EVERYONE deserves to engage in what they love—free from stigma, judgment, or barriers. Through our training and educational courses, we help you reclaim your power from a system that too often falls short.

Together, we work to become our best individual selves and rise—as a community—to make the world a better place.

Our Mission Statement

About Sunrise

For far too long, autistic individuals with apraxia have been misunderstood because their bodies do not always respond in ways that match what they intend to communicate. When the motor piece is missed, families are often given strategies that do not fit what is actually happening—and caregivers are left trying to make sense of it on their own.

We saw a system that was failing families, where caregivers felt dismissed, and apraxic individuals were asked to conform instead of being celebrated. Traditional methods weren’t cutting it—they were too rigid, too clinical, too disconnected from everyday life.

We knew there had to be a better way.

So, we set out to redefine what support could look like- more connected, more natural, more you. Here’s how we do it.

Meet Our Team

Your Apraxia Informed Support Team

Angelica Smith, MS, OTR/L, smiling outdoors in a yellow blouse, occupational therapist at SUNRISE Therapies specializing in neurodiversity-affirming care

Angelica Smith,
MS, OTR/L

  • Children & Teens

  • Bonita

    Lemon Grove

    North Park

    Del Cerro

    Mission Valley

    La Mesa

    • Neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Sensory Integration

    • Co-regulation Strategies

    • Parent & caregiver education

    • Advocacy

Amy Williams, MS, OTR/L, smiling in butterfly tee and sweater, occupational therapist supporting autistic individuals at SUNRISE Therapies

Amy Williams,
MS, OTR/L

  • Children & Teens

  • Pacific Beach

    Bird Rock

    La Jolla

    Mission Beach

    Mission Bay Park

    Clairemont

    Carmel Valley

    Sorrento Valley

    Mira Mesa

    Linda Vista

    • Neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Self-regulation

    • Sensory Integration

    • Augmentative & alternate communication

    • Yoga & mindfulness /meditation

Erin Clarelli, MS, OTR/L, founder and occupational therapist at SUNRISE Therapies, leading neurodiversity-affirming care for autistic and apraxic individuals.

Erin Clarelli,
MS, OTR/L

  • Teens & Adults

  • I am currently only offering the following virtual options:
    - Intentional Motor Sessions
    - 1:1 Parent Coaching
    - Occupational Therapist Mentorship
    - Team Trainings
    - Speaking Engagements/Presentations
    - Online Coursework Offerings

    I am available for in person presentations & trainings as well.

    • Neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Autistic Teens & Adults

    • Non-speaking or unreliably speaking community

    • Spelling community

    • Sensory Processing

    • Mind-body connection

    • Polyvagal Theory

    • Intentional Motor

Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L, occupational therapist at SUNRISE Therapies, supporting autistic and apraxic individuals with compassion and expertise

Jessica Jordan,
MS, OTR/L

  • Adults, Teens, & Children

  • Long Beach

    Seal Beach

    Los Alamitos

    Westminster

    Select Areas in OC/LA

    • Neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Co-regulation strategies

    • Motor coaching

    • Mind-body disconnect

    • Pre-writing exposure & fine/visual motor skills

    • Sensory processing skills

Minji Lee,
MS, OTR/L

  • Infants, Children, Teens, Adults

  • Valley Center

    Fallbrook

    Vista

    Escondido

    San Marcos

    Carlsbad

    • Neurodiversity-affirming care

    • Co-regulation strategies

    • Motor coaching

    • Mind-body disconnect

    • Sensory processing skills

    • Inclusion

    • Advocacy

    • Culturally-affirming care

“The knowledge, patience, professionalism, and passion for what they do is unmatched.”

- A SUNRISE PARENT

Meet Our behind-the-scenes Support Team

  • Ashley Riecken, Sunrise Therapies' amazing virtual assistant, smiling outdoors in natural light.

    Ashley Riecken

    Very Amazing VA
    aka Virtual Assistant

  • A woman with long brown hair, smiling, holding a book depicting people sitting around a table outdoors.

    Jennifer Corn

    Chief Sunshine Spreader
    aka Marketing Strategist

  • Erin Clarelli's (CEO & Founder) husband and behind-the-scenes support for Sunrise Therapies.

    Vinny Clarelli

    Primary Co-Regulator
    aka CFO & COO

  • Sunrise Therapies’ furry and fabulous moral support team— Puddles, Bepe, and Kali Clarelli.

    Puddles, Bepe, & Kali

    Presence Regulators
    aka Emotional Support

We believe apraxic individuals are much more intelligent, capable, and resilient than our society gives credit for.

We see you. The whole you.

At Sunrise, you’re not a time slot to be shuffled through, a diagnosis, or a list of “challenges” to work through. We see beyond labels to the unique, incredible individual that you are.

We know that even though your body and speech are unreliable, you have so much to say, create, contribute, and share with the world. You have stories to tell, opinions to voice, music to make, questions to ask, and a life you want to take part in.

That’s why we offer apraxia-informed, holistic support with a focus on motor planning, sensorimotor, and regulation.

The world needs more connection, more understanding, & more respect. And that’s exactly what you get when you work with Sunrise!

Connect with Us

Work with us in person, virtually, or through our courses— we're excited to connect and support you!