Physical Therapy
Our Team
Jessica Erickson-Michels, DPT
Jessica is the owner of STAR Therapy Services, LLC. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The College of St. Scholastica. Jessica specializes in pediatrics including Birth to Three and school-based PT services. She also specializes in orthopedics, neuro, and pelvic health. Jessica is certified in dry needling. Outside of work Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and caring for all of her animals (goats, chickens, dogs, and cats) on her family’s crazy funny farm.
Shannon Birkholz, DPT
Shannon received her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from UW La Crosse. Shannon specializes in both pediatric and adult physical therapy including early intervention, neurological habilitation and rehabilitation, functional dry needling, and vestibular therapy. Outside of work she loves animals, gardening, boating, kayaking, snowshoeing, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Samantha Albrecht, DPT
Dr. Samantha Albrecht, DPT, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in 2012 and brings over a decade of experience in outpatient rehabilitation. She holds certifications in dry needling and lymphedema therapy and has specialized training in vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Albrecht is passionate about helping patients regain confidence and movement through personalized, compassionate care.
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Sarah Nystrom, PTA
We are fortunate to have Sarah on our team. With a strong background in working with pediatric patients both in clinic and outpatient settings, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to our team. Her dedication to providing quality care is evident in her approach with patients of all ages. Clients will benefit from Sarah's expertise and compassionate care.
Kaitlyn Anibas, DPT
Kaitlyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Carroll University. She is passionate about helping children build confidence through movement and supporting them and their families as they work toward their goals. She looks forward to helping each child discover what they are capable of and celebrating their progress along the way. Kaitlyn enjoys making therapy a fun and positive experience while getting to know each child and their unique personality. Outside of work, she loves spending time at the lake, going on runs and walks, and exploring the outdoors. She also enjoys playing piano, making scrapbook cards, and spending time with family and friends. Kaitlyn is excited to be part of each child’s journey and all the fun milestones along the way!
Occupational Therapy
Breanna Zahurones, OTR
Breanna received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology; Human Performance from UW Eau Claire and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from UW La Crosse. Breanna specializes in both adult and pediatric occupational therapy and her specialty areas include neurorehabilitation and fine motor skills. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and being outdoors.
Emily Feiten, COTA
Emily received her Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistance from Western Tech College in La Crosse, WI. Emily specializes in pediatric therapy with experience in both outpatient and school related settings. Her speciality areas include autism and sensory processing. Outside of work she enjoys doing anything active including running, hiking, soccer, and camping, as well as spending time with her family.
Deborah Hebert, OT
Deborah received her degree in Occupational Therapy at California State University. She has been supporting children for over 20 years in various settings including clinic and school-based therapy. Her areas of specialty include building confidence in fine motor activities, visual-motor skills, strength and coordination, handwriting, as well as sensory integration needs and self-regulation. Outside of work she enjoys gardening, time with family and supporting her children in their various activities.
Speech Therapy
Kate French, SLP
Kate received her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from UW-Eau Claire. She has worked with patients across the lifespan, primarily in outpatient and school-based settings. She is passionate about early childhood intervention, play-based approaches, and providing neurodiversity affirming services. Specialty areas include: Language disorders and delays, Gestalt language processing, speech sound disorders, Assistive and Augmentative Communication (AAC), and Neurodiversity affirming social support. Outside of work she enjoys coaching diving, reading a good book, frisbee golfing with her husband, and doting on her chihuahua, Chichi.
Kayley Eslinger, SLP
Kayley received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UW-Eau Claire. She specializes in pediatric speech-language therapy bringing experience in both outpatient and school settings. She has a passion for facilitating communication to help children socially, emotionally, and academically by making connections to their interests and tying in literacy. She supports children in the areas of speech sound disorders, language delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental disorders, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, relaxing with a good book, and going on long walks with her family and their energetic dog.
Sydnea Berg, SLP
Sydnea Berg received her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. For STAR Therapy Services, she is currently providing services in both outpatient and school settings. She is excited to work with the kids and is looking forward to building meaningful relationships while supporting their growth and development. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and making the most of the outdoors. She loves hiking, playing pickleball, and exploring new places.
Office & Support Team
Kathryn Wurzer, Office/Media Specialist
Kathryn is our talented Office and Media Specialist. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI. With a keen eye for detail and a creative touch, Kathryn plays a key role in keeping our office running smoothly and our media looking its best.
Outside of work, Kathryn stays busy with her husband and their four energetic kids. She loves spending time outdoors with her family, hunting, watching hockey, and diving into all things arts and crafts.
Heidi Zakrzewski, Administrative Assistant
Heidi is a dedicated Administrative Assistant with a strong background in organization and support. After spending five years traveling the United States with her family while her husband worked across various states, she has returned to her home state of Wisconsin to put down roots and grow her farm. Heidi manages a lively homestead filled with milking goats, cows, chickens, quail, ducks, turkeys, sheep, rabbits, cats, and a house full of schnauzers. Her passion for animals and country living keeps her busy, and she’s always looking for new ways to expand her farm. Heidi brings that same energy and commitment to her role, supporting the team with reliability, warmth, and a can-do attitude.
Kass Lofthus, Patient Services Representative
After 15 years in administration at Anderson, Kass brings her experience and warmth to her new role at STAR Therapies. A dedicated team member and natural problem solver, she’s known for her steady presence and can-do attitude. Outside of work, Kass enjoys life on the farm, where she spends time gardening and working outdoors. She’s also a proud mother of three and values time with her family and the simple joys of country living.