Year One Wellness
Your Child Matters, WE’RE HERE TO HELP THEM GROW!
We are infant specialty practitioners with extensive experience and post-graduate continuing education in infant development and feeding. Our goal is to help your baby achieve comfort and solid foundational skills, and teach you how to support their ongoing development.
Trust us. We got you.
About Us
Years of Practice
60+
Therapists
5
Hours of Therapy
∞
Happy Families
1,200+
Now serving Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Round Rock, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, Pflugerville, Hutto, and other surrounding areas.
Our Team
Dr. Kristi Hammerle, PT, DPT, CBS
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While practicing traditional pediatric physical therapy, she quickly came to love working with babies and their parents. She has a true passion for helping parents realize what their babies are capable of. Kristi has over 400 hours in postdoctoral continuing education related to infant development, making her a specialist in this area.
Kristi received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She has a post-graduate specialty in infant development with a focus on torticollis, body tension, plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome), motor milestone delay, challenges related to tethered oral tissues (tongue/lip ties), oral motor dysfunction, and breastfeeding difficulties.
Kristi is passionate about promoting the physical therapy profession and has spent time advocating for the rights of physical therapists and their patients at the Texas State Capitol and United States Capitol. She also educates providers and students at the community, state, and national levels about the importance of physical therapy services for infants and children. She enjoys teaching lectures at Texas Woman's University for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, presenting at professional conferences on the physical therapist's role in breastfeeding, and running her clinical & business infant mentoring program.
Both of her parents were teachers, and she’s worked with children and families her entire adult life as a nanny, daycare teacher, elementary school tutor, camp counselor, and now a physical therapist. As a PT, she prioritizes what is important to the family to help babies achieve a strong foundation for successful life-long development.
Catherine Lawson, OTD, OTR, SWC, CBS
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Catherine is an Occupational Therapist with over 7 years experience specializing in infants and young children, dedicated to fostering optimal development and well-being for her young clients and their families. She holds a unique background, beginning with an undergraduate degree in Theater from Ball State University in Indiana, where she developed strong communication and empathy skills that inform her therapeutic practice.
Continuing her education at the University of Southern California, Catherine earned both her Master’s and Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Her advanced training has equipped her with a deep understanding of pediatric development, a variety of treatment approaches including a strong DIR Floortime background, and she has developed specialized skills in feeding and swallowing. She holds advanced practice certifications in this area, including the SOS Feeding Approach, which focuses on helping children overcome feeding challenges through a supportive, play-based method, and her Certified Breastfeeding Specialist certification.
In addition to her feeding and swallowing qualifications, Catherine is certified in Infant Massage, which she integrates into her practice to enhance bonding and communication between infants and their caregivers. Her holistic approach emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships and active family involvement in the therapeutic process.
Recently relocated to the Austin area, Catherine is excited to explore the vibrant city with her family and their dog. She enjoys spending quality time playing with her 4-year-old, hiking the scenic trails, and curling up with a good book. With a passion for working with infants and young children, she is committed to creating a warm, engaging environment where families feel not only supported but empowered.
Dr. Ariel Day,
PT, DPT, CBS, CPST
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Ariel received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Abilene Christian University, then her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Hardin-Simmons University. She has been working in pediatrics ever since with experience in outpatient and home health settings. She has additional experience working with adults in acute care. In her time working in pediatrics with all types of diagnoses and age groups, she has found her passion is with infants and their families. She loves being able to step into such a sacred time of a family’s life to encourage and assist families in achieving all their goals. She has furthered her pediatric education and knowledge with courses on infant positioning and handling, infant massage, Torticollis and plagiocephaly, the effects of vision on infant development, oral motor impairment, and feeding.
Ariel and her husband, Josh, have lived in the Austin area since 2019 with their two dogs (Boots & Stella) and welcomed their daughter in Summer 2022. Having a daughter of her own recently has opened her eyes more personally to the demands of being a new mom, taking care of a new baby, challenges with breastfeeding, and more. She loves being able to celebrate small wins as well as huge dreams attained with the families and babies she works with. Outside of work, Ariel loves to play board games, experience escape rooms, do CrossFit, and explore new coffee shops in and around Austin.
Dr. Katie O'Neill,
PT, DPT, CBS
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Katie has been drawn to babies since she was practically a baby herself. Throughout her young adult life, she worked with children of various ages with babysitting, numerous sport camps, and coaching athletics. Katie also shares a love to study the movement of the human body, how it develops movement patterns, and how to fix an issue. This led her to complete her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and then pursued Physical Therapy school. She completed her DPT at University of Northern Arizona. While in PT school, Katie found an incredible excitement to learn her passion for kids and physical therapy could come together to lead into an exciting career as a pediatric physical therapist.
Katie has 12 years of pediatric experience in a variety of settings treating ages 0-21 years. This experience ranges from developmental, neurological, oncology, and orthopedics. She has worked in inpatient, outpatient, and home health settings. She has pursued additional training in neurodevelopmental handling, infant massage, and torticollis.
Katie feels it is a sincere privilege to work with young babies and their families which led her to become a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. Being able to guide, support and encourage families with their gift of a child is an honor and joy to her.
In her free time, she stays busy with her three young children and husband, enjoys staying active, and spending as much outdoor time as she can get.
Dr. Jessica Tonismae, PT, DPT, NTMTC, CBS
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Jess is a physical therapist with over 10 years experience working with the pediatric population. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Duke University. Prior to physical therapy school, she earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science with an emphasis in motor development.
Jess has always found a special interest in child and early motor skill development. She has worked in a variety of pediatric physical therapy settings including early intervention, outpatient, acute care, and the neonatal intensive care unit. Jess quickly found a passion for treating babies and gained valuable experience treating infants as early as in prematurity while in the NICU. She developed specialized skills in handling and positioning of premature infants, including receiving her neonatal touch and massage certification.
This time in the NICU has strengthened her understanding of how important early positive touch and neuromotor experiences are for an infant. She loves helping families and their babies during their first year from birth and beyond.
Outside of work, Jess enjoys exploring the trails around Austin with her Australian shepherd, paddle boarding, reading, and seeing live music.
Maya Lozada
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Maya is a native Austinite who began her career in early childhood STEAM education after graduating from Rice University with a double major in Biochemistry and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. She worked with AmeriCorps, the Austin Nature & Science Center, and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where she enjoyed sharing her love of conservation, sustainability, and the natural sciences with young students.
Maya spent the past eight years working as a Product Manager, focusing on creating thoughtful, user-centered experiences for clients and customers. Becoming a new mom sparked a meaningful career shift, inspiring her to focus on supporting other mothers and their little ones during such a transformative time. She brings empathy, organization, and a calm, thoughtful approach to her role to ensure every patient feels comfortable, supported, and cared for throughout their journey.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing board games, taking family walks with her husband, pups (Ori and Appa) and 2-year-old, and watching musicals.
Careers
Join Our Team
Year One Wellness is a private pediatric therapy and wellness practice specializing in infant and early development. We recognize the value of our team members. We provide a supportive environment and encourage professional growth, creativity, and autonomy. If you want to join a company that is growing and modernizing the approach to pediatric therapy practice to make it fun and rewarding then consider joining our team!
