Our Team

Dr. Michelle Robertson

Executive Director

Dr. Michelle Robertson has spent her 25+ year professional career helping others improve their lives. A Texas native, Dr. Robertson moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 2003 to become a full-time faculty member in the Master of Science in Family Therapy (MSFT) program at Friends University, where she is now tenured.

When introduced to the Brain Balance program in 2014, she was impressed with how well it aligned with her own training, education, and experience, and worked to bring the program to Wichita. She was thrilled to expand her Brain Balance influence into both the Nashville and Minneapolis metro areas in the years following. Brain Balance has greatly enhanced her professional development, and she has even co-authored a study on the influence of the program on increased emotional functioning and anxiety reduction in children.

Dr. Robertson earned a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Louisiana at Monroe, a master’s degree from Abilene Christian University, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Psychology from Midwestern State University. She practices as a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT #303) in Kansas and regularly delivers presentations and workshops on a variety of topics including parenting, relational health, ethical practice, and family dynamics. In addition to her private therapy practice, her work as a tenured professor, and her involvement with Brain Balance, Dr. Robertson is a member of the Wichita Junior League and a member of The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She and her husband have two children, both of whom have successfully completed the Brain Balance program.

Amy Downing

Director of Operations

Amy has been part of Brain Balance since September 2016. She has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. She was instrumental in bringing Brain Balance to Wichita, KS. Amy acted as the Center Director for the Wichita center from 2018-2022 before transitioning to the Director of Operations for Brain Balance of Nashville, Wichita, and Minneapolis. She is a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist through IBCCES earned Dec. 2019, a certified Functional Medicine coach Aug. 2021, and has over 6+ yrs experience supporting families and students through their Brain Balance journey. Having an autistic son herself, she saw him make tremendous gains behaviorally, socially, and academically through completing the Brain Balance program in Kansas City. Amy’s passion is to bring hope and healing to parents of struggling children through the groundbreaking approach that makes up the Brain Balance program.

Marissa Jesko

Center Director

Marissa Jesko is the Center Director of Brain Balance in Woodbury, Minnesota. From a young age, her passion has been to help people, even more specifically children, reach their full potential. This led her to obtain her undergraduate degree in Child Psychology and Elementary Education and a graduate degree in Education both from the University of Minnesota. Before coming to Brain Balance, Marissa was a classroom teacher for students from second through eighth grades. She found even though she had passion for helping people grow, overseeing an entire classroom did not give her the opportunity to meet each child where they were and address the underlying causes behind the struggles she was seeing. Instead, she would watch her students continue to falter in the classroom and fall further behind. This pushed her to take a step back and really evaluate how she could achieve her goal of helping people reach their full potential, which is what led her to Brain Balance.

Marissa says working with students of all ages, each with their own individual history, strengths and set of skills, has been so fulfilling. For her, there is nothing more rewarding than helping people improve cognitively and watching how that positively affects so many distinct aspects of their daily lives.

Bri Pomonis

Assistant Program Director

Bri loves working at Brain Balance because she thrives in a passionate, high-energy environment that uses evidence-based approaches in unique ways to change the lives of children and adults. She is passionate about using science to understand the world, ourselves, and each other. Bri’s strengths include creativity, adaptability, sense of humor, communication and work ethic. Bri has a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience degree from Bucknell University and a Master of Science in Psychoactive Pharmaceuticals Investigation degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy.

Madelyn Dick

Lead Assessor & Coach Specialist

Madelyn has been with Brain Balance since October of 2022 and is the most highly trained performance and exercise coach and the lead assessor at Brain Balance of Woodbury. She came to Brain Balance because of her continued desire to work with children and families. She believes in the Brain Balance mission and has a heart for helping children while meeting them where they are at. Helping children achieve their goals to reach their full potential in a fun environment is something she is passionate about. Madelyn loves working with our students and is looking forward to continuing to watch them grow here at Brain Balance. Madelyn completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2024. She is currently working towards her master's degree in occupational therapy. 

Brittany Pfeffer

Performance and Exercise Coach

Brittany is a Marine Corps veteran and Performance Coach at Brain Balance of Woodbury where she empowers children and adolescents to build essential cognitive skills for personal growth and resilience. Brittany believes that with the right support, every person can unlock their full potential and build a foundation for lifelong resilience and success. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently completing a master’s degree in child and adolescent development, with a focus on executive function, growth mindset development, and identity development. Prioritizing an empathetic approach, adaptability, and evidence-based strategies, Brittany is committed to providing each student with personalized coaching to foster meaningful progress.

Natalie Parent

Performance and Exercise Coach

Natalie is a Performance and Exercise Coach for Brain Balance of Woodbury and has prior experience working as a camp counselor and a direct support professional for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. Natalie is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and has been admitted into Carroll University’s Master’s of Athletic Training program. With a background in exercise science, and belief in the benefits of exercise, Natalie desires to utilize her degree to make exercise available to everyone, and help individuals achieve their physical and health goals. She is also committed to helping others develop and sharpen their cognitive and social skills. Natalie’s strengths compromise of a friendly and kind demeanor, patient and compassionate character, and a driven and hard-working nature. Natalie is also quick thinking and possesses the ability to be adaptable when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Alyssa Jansen

Office Manager

Alyssa is a dedicated office manager with a robust background in exercise science, who combines her expertise in organizational management with a passion for promoting health and wellness among children. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and hopes to continue her education by getting a master’s degree in occupational therapy. By fostering partnerships within the community, she aims to create a holistic support system that empowers children to thrive physically and emotionally. As she continues to blend her expertise with her passion for youth wellness, Alyssa is poised to make lasting contributions to both her workplace and the outside community.

Allison Cook

Evening Front Desk Receptionist

Allison Cook is the Evening Receptionist for Brain Balance of Woodbury with seven years of experience working in customer service and supporting office staff. Allison believes in empathetic communication and building a strong sense of community. She graduated high school in Des Moines, Iowa in 2021 and plans to pursue a degree in environmental science. With a passion for connecting with others, Allison has an ability to find common ground between others. Additionally, she excels in organization and multitasking.

Theri Edwards

Executive Administrator

Theri has been with Brain Balance since October of 2022 and is serving as the Executive Administrator for Brain Balance of Woodbury, Wichita, and Nashville. Theri has 30+ years in an Office Administration environment. Her work journey has always been in the technical field so working at Brain Balance is a dream come true for her, she finds working in the rich environment of changing lives is where she was always meant to be. Because she has spent many years learning how to navigate PTSD from past trauma and walking the very rocky path of self discovery she has enormous compassion for those that Brain Balance helps.
Theri is also certified as therapeutic coach graduating from the Meta academy in 2007 as well as a certified Reflexologist graduating from the Community College of Southern Nevada in 2000. She is an avid reader and will read just about anything she can get her hands on. She believes that one should never stop learning and striving to explore themselves and the world around them. When time allows she loves traveling and finding the path less traveled in whatever country or state she is in. Finding that out of the way, hole in the wall family restaurant in the middle of Italy, Greece or middle of nowhere Kentucky is always a thrill for her.

Deanna Mosher

Client Relations Manager

Deanna has been working at Brain Balance since September of 2022, using her wide range of skills in the role of Client Relations Manager. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wichita State University, and she earned her Master of Science in Family Therapy degree from Friends University. She had several years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist prior to joining the Brain Balance team. Her strong listening skills and empathy allow her to connect on a deep level with families who are exploring options for various struggles and/or to improve their overall functioning and well-being.

Christina Wankum

Client Relations

Christina has been with Brain Balance since August of 2022 and assists with new inquiries and assessment appointments. Because of her personal journey in learning to manage her ADHD, she has a passion for service and believes in the Brain Balance mission of helping anyone who is struggling with the hard emotions that often accompany behavioral and learning challenges.
Christina received her bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Public Relations Communication in 2020 from Emporia State University and is currently working on her Master of Science in Family Therapy degree at Friends University. The desire to foster compassion-driven growth amidst hard places in life, inspires her in her work with those who come to Brain Balance.

Talia Bauchmoyer

Virtual Program Director & Coach

Talia has been with Brain Balance since July of 2022. Talia heard about Brain Balance five years prior while she was working in a daycare and was inspired to hear about the impacts Brain Balance has on kids and adults. Talia has been working with our virtual program, coaching and offering those big impacts that initially drew her in. She graduated from Emporia State University in December of 2022 with a double major in Psychology and Business and loves applying her knowledge of human behavior into her work with our enrollees.
Talia’s down to earth and energetic personality give her the ability to meet students where they are at and encourage them to work hard for their changes. She loves working with the kids and adults and being able to walk with them on their journey through the program.