Our Educational Therapy Philosophy

Educational Therapists on the Kapp Educational Therapy team.Group photo of some Educational Therapists on the Kapp Educational Therapy Team.

Kapp Educational Therapy Group believes that every student can be taught how to learn in a way that works for them. With the right "tool box," every student can learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their learning. The goal of our educational therapist team is for every client to become a successful, independent and autonomous learner. We love working with learners and families of varying learning profiles including executive functioning support, ADHD, reading and writing remediation, dyscalculia, and processing disorders.  Our approach is fun, engaging, and focused on the individualized needs of each learner.

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Meet The Educational Therapist Team

Our team is eager to help you through the initial planning stages, all the way through to the development stage. Ready to get started?

Rachel Kapp

M.Ed., BCET, Owner
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Rachel Kapp

Rachel grew up in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Sociology and minored in Jewish Studies. Rachel began tutoring students in high school, eventually choosing to pursue a career in education. For over six years, Rachel was a lead preschool teacher where she gained a firm foundation in explicit teaching. Rachel has been a tutor in private practice since 2004, working with students in a variety of subjects including all levels of math, reading, history and writing. After working with so many types of students over the years and realizing she was passionate about building relationships with and helping students who learn differently, Rachel decided to become an educational therapist. She completed her coursework at the California State University, Northridge in December 2015 and Masters degree in December 2016. In her free time, Rachel loves spending time with her husband, Adam, her two sons, Elliot and Owen, and their dog, Fritzy, watching Cal Football, cooking for friends, and spinning. ​ Rachel is a Board Certified Member of the Association of Educational Therapists, an active participant in ongoing education through the International Dyslexia Association, and a member of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Rachel is also trained in Wilson Reading Systems.

Amour Elliott

Learning Specialist
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Amour Elliott

Amour was born in Fayetteville, NC, and grew up moving all around the country as an Air Force kid. He earned his Bachelor's of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry from Howard University, in Washington, D.C. During his time living in D.C., Amour traveled with nonprofits to inner city schools in both Detroit, MI and Houston, TX to work with teams on establishing strong educational foundations for students within communities that lacked proper resources. When still in D.C., Amour served as a Lead Student Success Coordinator for Columbia Heights Educational Campus, one of the leading language immersion charter schools in the entire District of Columbia. Following his time in D.C., Amour worked as an educator for Harvard Innovation's AppBuddy Inc., Elite Tutoring Inc., and served as a Student Success Clinician for Lindamood-Bell Learning Center in Westwood, CA. It was in Westwood where Amour served countless students who experienced challenges with dyslexia, dyscalculia, as well as ADHD. To this day, the impact he had on these students (and the impact they had on him) is something he always carries with him. Throughout his time teaching, Amour has served learners from all different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. He often acknowledges that in his time serving students as an educator, he himself has learned valuable lessons just as the students themselves have. He believes that every single student, regardless of their unique challenges or circumstances, are deserving of a quality education, and makes it his ongoing mission to help students in need. When he's not working with students, Amour likes to play his violin, go bike riding by the beach, and spend time with his family.

Deanna Tayag

Learning Specialist, M.S. Ed.
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Deanna Tayag

Deanna was born in Okinawa, Japan (#NavyBrat). She spent her childhood in Kapolei, Hawai’i and then moved to Orange County, California in the fourth grade. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Literary Journalism with a minor in English from the University of California, Irvine and her Master’s of Science in Education from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Deanna is a proud Teach for America alumna (2018). During her time in the corps, she served indigenous students in Wai’anae, Hawai’i as a 7th grade English teacher. She is now entering her fourth year of teaching in Huntington Park, California, where she also leads a Journalism Club and works as a Social Emotional Coach. Deanna has taught and supported middle school and university students in understanding various academic content and developing their executive functioning skills. She acknowledges and embraces the unique experiences and needs of every individual and strongly believes in differentiated instruction that is data-driven and culturally-relevant. Deanna believes in inclusive practices so that every child may access a rigorous education. When she is not working with students or listening to educational podcasts, you can find Deanna at the dog beach with her three dogs (Yogi, Apollo, and Sheba), exploring different cafés, or watching anime, Marvel movies, or sitcoms.

Elizabeth "EB" Meerson

Learning Specialist, M.A.
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Elizabeth "EB" Meerson

Originally from Washington, D.C., EB moved to Los Angeles in 2011 after graduating from Georgetown University with a major in Linguistics and a minor in French & Russian. She earned her M.Ed from Loyola Marymount University in 2013 before going back to for her M.A. in English from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English. EB has taught high school students since 2011, from 9th to 12th grade English, Leadership, French, and Debate. She’s taught in many different environments including Independent and Urban schools, from Pasadena to West Adams and West L.A. Currently, EB teaches literature at an Independent School in Los Angeles. EB encourages her students to understand writing through revision, peer review, and critical self-assessment. Above all, she encourages her students to think of the writing process as an editing process, to embrace that writing isn’t about perfection, but about the process. This is especially powerful for students with dyslexia or dysgraphia (both written expression disorders) as it prioritizes the process of writing over the result, just like Educational Therapy. Together with students, EB tailors each session to develop their executive functioning skills, helping them revisit and build upon their organization and self-reflection, all while teaching self-advocacy in their own learning. In her free time, EB loves exploring fashion and art, enjoying live music, and finding hidden restaurant gems all around Los Angeles, from the San Gabriel Valley to the South Bay.

Jose Valle

Learning Specialist
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Jose Valle

Jose has lived his whole life in Southern California within the Greater Los Angeles. area. He has always had a curiosity and a passion for understanding human behavior and social interactions. This led him to Westmont College, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology. Jose found his opportunity to be in the classroom after he earned his teaching credential and Master’s in Education and Teaching from Alder Graduate School of Education. He has been teaching in Huntington Park, CA since 2021. Jose’s teaching philosophy centers around creating a supportive, culturally-relevant, and engaging learning environment where every student feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. He is also a dedicated educator with a passion for empowering students to become successful and independent learners by equipping students with the essential skills they need for lifelong success. In his free time, you can find Jose taking weekend trips to San Diego, trying out new restaurants or spending time at home with his partner and cat, Mila.

Katrina Gonzalez

Educational Therapist/Operations Director
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Katrina Gonzalez

Katrina is a lifelong Californian who has lived in every area of the state. She earned her B.A. at St. Mary's College of California in performing arts with an emphasis in dance. After completing her teaching credential at California State University, Sacramento, she went on to teach for several years at Bay Area independent schools and ultimately completed her Masters Degree in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University. Katrina has always been passionate about education, and she began her career while she was a high school student tutoring younger children after school in her mom's classroom. Since then, she has worked as an English teacher, SAT Writing and Grammar instructor, special education instructional assistant, dance teacher, and even a director of a tutoring center. She has years of experience helping to cultivate the strengths of diverse learners while encouraging autonomy for each individual. Katrina is also a certified instructor of Autism Movement Therapy and brings her passion for movement to her educational approach for all learners. In her free time, Katrina can be found spending time with her husband and their three children. She loves to dance, read, and spend time outside.

Mickaëlle Xavir-Navilys

Learning Specialist
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Mickaëlle Xavir-Navilys

Mickaëlle was born on the beautiful French Caribbean island, Martinique. At the age of two, her family moved to the mainland where she grew up; Paris, France. After two years studying English at Université La Sorbonne, Paris, Mickaëlle moved to the US. She landed in Boston, Massachusetts where she became the live-in au pair to a formidable family of 4 whose father had just been awarded Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and was one of the four finalists for the title of National Teacher of the Year. Living in a household where learning was at the forefront, Mickaëlle caught the bug. She decided to stay in the US and start her college education all over again, from scratch. She earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology/Sociology from Quincy College, then pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and French Literature at UMass Boston. Over the span of twenty years, Mickaëlle built extensive experience as a K-12 teacher. Mickaëlle’s main educational philosophy revolves around the belief that it’s not about WHAT you learn, it’s about HOW you learn.

Terumi Beppu

Learning Specialist, M.A.
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Terumi Beppu

Terumi was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She discovered an early passion for understanding human development and nurturing young minds. This journey led her to UC San Diego, where she earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Developmental Psychology with a Minor in Science Education. Immediately after college, Terumi worked as an Instructional Assistant in a kindergarten classroom in Compton, CA. She then went on to earn her Teaching Credential and Master's of Art in Education and Teaching from the University of the Pacific. Terumi is now entering her fifth year of teaching in Huntington Park, CA. At the heart of her teaching philosophy lies a firm belief that all students are capable of greatness and deserving of individualized support and attention. She is dedicated to empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey, embrace challenges, and achieve their full potential by explicitly teaching executive function skills and building self- confidence. In her free time, Terumi loves filling her calendar with camping, hiking, or backpacking trips. You can also find her trying out new restaurants or spending time with her fiancé and 2 cats, Enzo and Opal.

Testimonials

See what our clients have to say about our clinicians!

We have been very pleased with Katie.  Our son loves her and feels very accountable to her. His grades are all A’s and most importantly his confidence is up. Katie has been an excellent choice.

Happy Parents

Many thanks for getting him to a point where he was ready to take full ownership and make his own system that worked best for him. We are grateful for your process that led him to this understanding of himself.

Parents of a High Schooler

Our son actually looked forward to his twice weekly sessions with Rachel. Within a very short time, we could see he was learning useful strategies to master his school subjects. Today our son is excelling in all his subjects and has the organizational skills that will serve him for the rest of his academic career and beyond.

Parents of a 7th Grader

Frequently Asked Questions

To hear more about the educational therapy process, visit Learn Smarter: The Educational Podcast: Episode 37 - How Educational Therapy Works

How long does educational therapy take?

Educational therapy is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. There is no true time table. Goals, motivation, strategies and willingness to partner all factor in determining the efficacy of educational therapy.

Our commitment to you: we will "kick you out" of educational therapy when your child is ready. Most students and parents are actually ready to graduate from educational therapy before they realize--we will make sure to tell you!

We LOVE getting to tell you that your student is now an independent and autonomous learner and we're graduating them from working with us.

Is my FAMILY a good fit?

We will discuss this further on our phone call, but if your learner is struggling or anxious about school, yes, they are a great fit. If YOU are struggling, noticing gaps and worried about your learner's academic performance then yes, they are a good fit!

You are a great fit for Kapp Educational Therapy Group if you want to see your learner thrive with decreased parental support and are open to feedback and collaboration.

What is a typical session like?

Typical sessions vary in accordance with the individual psychoeducational goals established for your learner. For students who are younger (elementary-aged), remediation often occurs through gameplay, homework, and individualized projects that are appropriate for their psychoeducational goals.

For students who are in middle school and high school, remediation always involves updating their systems for managing themselves digitally, physically, and time-wise as well as addressing homework that aligns with their psychoeducational goals.

All work conducted within sessions will be aligned with the specific goals of your learner. Each learner is very different and as a result, the strategies and remediation provided will be specific to your individual learner.

How is it different from tutoring?

To learn more about the differences between educational therapy and tutoring, visit: Ep 07: (Educational Therapy Series) Educational Therapy vs Tutoring

Can you bill my insurance?

Educational therapy is not covered by insurance. We are happy to provide a superbill to you. Educational therapists do not have licensure in the state of California and therefore, we have no insurance codes to give you. We are able to provide a superbill to you but we've never had a client be able to figure out how to get insurance to reimburse them--if you are the unicorn that figures it out, PLEASE let us know!

What ages do you work with?

We serve students of all ages. We have educational therapists and specialists who specialize in different areas--this will be something we discuss on our phone call.