Clinic Staff
Clinic Staff Biographies
Social Thinking® Santana Row
Michelle Garcia Winner, M.A., CCC-SLP, Social Cognitive Specialist
Michelle Garcia Winner specializes in working with students with social learning challenges. She runs a clinic, has authored numerous books and speaks internationally. She coined the term Social Thinking and pioneered the related treatment approach. She was awarded a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition in 2008.
Pamela Crooke, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Social Cognitive Specialist
Dr. Pamela Crooke is part of the clinical team at Social Thinking Santana Row as well as a faculty member of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. She served as a clinical faculty member at the University of Arizona's Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences for a number of years where she taught in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorders and management of pediatric communication disorders. She most recently coordinated the interdisciplinary clinical services at the Autism Extension Clinic within the Tucson Alliance for Autism. Her area of research interest is treatment efficacy in social and relational therapies for individuals with Autism, specifically Asperger Syndrome. Dr. Crooke has remained a direct service provider for children and adults with autism in the school for the past 16 years and has presented her work on a regional and national level.
Stephanie Madrigal, M.S., CCC-SLP Social Cognitive Specialist
Stephanie Madrigal received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from San Jose State University. She has worked as part of the team at Michelle G. Winner’s Center For Social Thinking Inc., in San Jose, for over seven years.
She is currently the lead therapist and clinical manager with her responsibilities including: leading many of the social thinking groups, scheduling groups at the clinic, school observations and consultations, school district trainings in the Northern CA area, social-cognitive assessments, conducting full-day workshops on various topics related to social thinking and trainer to other professionals that participate in the Mentorship Program at the Center. She is a very creative therapist incorporating her broad knowledge of therapeutic processes with humor and fun to impart information to her students. She is innovative in creating new materials for use in therapy and creating a warm and friendly rapport with her students and their families.
Stephanie’s role has also recently expanded to product development. In January 2008, her curriculum entitled, Superflex- A Social Thinking Superhero Curriculum will be released! The story and curriculum is much anticipated and will provide students and therapists fun and motivating lessons to explore social expectations, behaviors and ways to develop strategies to help Superflex defeat the ever-present Team of Unthinkables (Rock Brain, Topic Twister Meister, Mean Jean etc.). The Team of Unthinkables represent the challenging behaviors these students typically struggle with.
Social Thinking® Stevens Creek
Randi Dodge, M.S., CCC-SLP Director - Therapy Services
Randi received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from California State University, Northridge. She became a part of the team at Michelle G. Winner’s Center For Social Thinking Inc. in 2003. Prior to working at for Social Thinking she worked for 3 years for the San Leandro Unified School District. Her caseload at SLUSD included working with students on the autism spectrum, including those with Asperger Syndrome, students with speech and language and learning disabilities. Her responsibilities include: overseeing and managing the talented Social Thinking therapy team, running social thinking groups, staff training, school observations & consultations, school district trainings on various topics related to social thinking and co-trainer to other professionals that participate in the Mentorship Program at the clinic. Randi specializes in the complexities of anxiety and social deficits. She is a passionate and dynamic therapist who has a real gift for breaking down and explaining complex concepts to students, parents, staff and professionals. Her dynamic smile and wealth of creativity are a tremendous asset to the clinic.
Deborah Hoffman, M.A., CCC-SLP Director - Purposeful Play Program (PPP)
Deborah (Debby) Hoffman began her journey to TSSV in the late 70's training with Dr. Ivar Lovaas in the autism project at UCLA. Following her BA in Psychology from UCLA, she completed her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology, from California State University at Northridge; thus combining social knowledge with speech and language development. Now, more than 20 years later, Debby is always excited to come to work at Teach SOCIAL, Silicon Valley. Debby has worked in private practice and the public school system; she has presented at workshops and has been a mentor to new speech language pathologists. Debby brings tremendous knowledge and experience to the clinic. Debby's first love continues to be working with young children who struggle with social cognitive deficits. She loves engaging children in purposeful play and watching their faces light up with the fun of positive playful interaction with others; while at the same time, educating and supporting their parents. Debby’s experience as a preschool teacher and parent, her warmth and enthusiasm, her knowledge of social skill development and experience working with children with social cognitive deficits is a winning combination. Debby makes therapy fun and engaging for children and their parents. Debby believes that “as long as you laugh at least once, your day is not wasted.” Debby never wastes a day, she gets to spend her day doing what she loves best, playing with great kids and their parents.
Susan Day, M.A., CCC-SLP
“It felt like home”, says Sue Day after having the privilege of working for Michelle Winner at the Center for Social Thinking in 2003. Now, 8 years later, she feels thankful to be able to continue working with this special population of individuals having social – cognitive challenges. This tremendous staff of “dedicated, talented and wonderful professionals” continues to create an atmosphere which provides services to children and adults having such deficits. Sue obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech and Language Pathology in 1976 and 1978, respectively. The Bachelor’s was obtained in her “hometown” of New Orleans, Louisiana and Master’s at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. After working in the public school system for 2½ years, she entered private practice - and never left. She has worked in and with a variety of public and private schools in the Bay Area since moving to California in 1984. Sue’s professional strengths are her extensive experience with language and related learning problems of all types in children and adults as well as her ability to work with families and other professionals to incorporate methods and strategies into the “real life” environments of home, school and community. Immersion into the world of social – cognition at this clinic is considered to be the apex of her career.
Ryan Hendrix, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ryan received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in art therapy and master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Arizona. While at the U of A, Ryan met Dr. Pam Crooke, who introduced her to the unpredictable, quirky world of social thinking. Having grown up with a close family friend with Asperger Syndrome, the lessons resonated strongly with her. Ryan led social cognitive groups throughout graduate school, and together with Pam, authored a published journal article discussing results of a pilot study examining the efficacy of social thinking therapy. Following graduation, Ryan continued implementing social thinking principles in the Tucson community with preschoolers through adolescents. When opportunity knocked, she followed Pam west to the Center for Social Thinking in December of 2007. Ryan's artistic and creative talents allow her to present lessons in a visual, fun, and engaging manner. She spends her free time reading, thinking about practicing yoga, and exploring the bay area and has an unexplainable affinity for elephants, especially pink ones!
Lisa Mazariego, M.A., SLP
Lisa was born and raised in the Bay Area. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and graduated from San Jose State University with a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology. During graduate school, her professor Dr. Pamela Crooke, presented her an offer she could not pass up. She was given the rare opportunity of interning with the Social Thinking staff as a student. Lisa was trained extensively under the Dr. Pamela Crooke, Ryan Hendrix, and Stephanie Madrigal and has continued her training here at Social Thinking Stevens Creek. Working with these talented women exposed her to an eclectic social thinking therapy style. Upon completion of her internship, she was offered a position as a full-time social cognitive therapist. Lisa is known around the office as “lightening,” due to her quick ability to adapt and adjust to various situations. She has been an integral part of our team for the past 2 years. When Lisa is not working, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, their dogs, playing sports, and being outdoors.
Allison King MS, CCC-SLP
Allison came to Social Thinking Stevens Creek from Tucson, AZ after a nomadic childhood that included living in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the West Indies, and Canada. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Anthropology, and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arizona. During that time, Allison was introduced to Social Thinking by Dr. Pam Crooke. Although after graduation, she went on to work with the geriatric population in the hospital setting, Allison later returned to the intriguing world of Social Thinking. In Tucson, she worked for Chapel Haven West, a residential transition program for young adults focusing on independent living and social communication skills, and the Tucson Alliance for Autism, where she facilitated the Life Skills and Social Communication program for adolescents and young adults. The stars aligned in 2012 when Allison had the opportunity to move to San Jose and once again work with Pam Crooke and fellow UA grad school survivor Ryan Hendrix and the team at Social Thinking Stevens Creek. Allison is able to use her knowledge and experience with life skills and transition programs to develop functional, individualized strategies for the real world. After 12 years in the Sonoran desert, she spends her free time outside appreciating the temperate bay area climate.
Janie Lai MA, CCC-SLP
Janie came to Social Thinking-Steven’s Creek from Southern California. She received a Bachelor's degree in Psychobiology from UCLA, and a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from San Diego State University. She was introduced to the world of social communication when a close relative was diagnosed with high functioning autism. Interning with ABA and DTT therapists, she began to use behavioral-based methods but soon felt limited by the constraints of these methods for higher-functioning children. After hearing one of Michelle Winner’s talks in 2003, Janie immediately became intrigued with the concept of social cognition. Since then, she has continued to follow the Social Thinking curriculum. After graduating, she worked for the San Diego Unified School District and Social Communication Specialists, leading social cognitive groups for middle and high school students. When a position opened at Social Thinking in 2012, she jumped at the opportunity. Janie is passionate about helping her students to understand and navigate the social world around them. She spends her free time taking advantage of the outdoor adventures that the bay area has to offer.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Karla Rich, Office Manager
Chris Brown, Front Desk Administrative Support
Mimi Pauline, Controller