Meet Our Therapists
Brent Dunbar, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Physical Therapist, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Co-Owner
Plans to bring Orthopedic PT Specialization
Brent graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Genetics in 1993 and a Masters degree in Nutrition in 2001. He continued his education at Southwest Texas State University, obtaining a Masters degree in Physical Therapy in 2003. Since then, he has achieved a Specialist Certification in Clinical Orthopedics. He has completed a clinical Manual Therapy Orthopedic Fellowship Program. He then completed a Doctorate in Physical Therapy with Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Brent is native to Gatesville, Texas and currently resides there with his wife and two children.
I enjoy serving the doctors and patients in the Central Texas area. I take pride in working with challenging orthopedic cases involving the spine, shoulder, hips, knees, and ankles using an evidenced based approach supported by research. My forte is identifying and working at restoration of normal joint movements to decrease localized pain, reduce muscle spasms to improve circulation, improve movement impairments, and calm irritable nervous tissue to restore function in the individual patient with one on one customized therapy programs. Often, we can centralize spinal radicular symptoms in patients in order to delay or eliminate the need for surgery. In patients that still require surgery, improved tissue vascularization from exercises typically improve post-operative outcomes. I rely on support from my referring physicians to allow for time to work on the biomechanical dysfunctions that lead to pain and functional deficits.
As a previous sufferer of vertigo myself, I understand the helplessness and fear associated with vertigo dysfunction. Disorientation associated with this mechanical dysfunction is totally debilitating and has known to effect individuals of all ages. I have taken additional coursework on helping others restore normal vestibular function associated with Vertigo and enable them to discontinue the medications primarily used to treat the nausea symptoms.
George Becerra, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, Co-Owner
George Becerra was born in San Antonio Tx. He served in the United States Army from 1993-2001. He served on active duty as a medic from 1993-1999 then, in August of 1999 he obtained his Occupational Therapy Assistant certification. He was assigned to Ft. Hood where he assisted in the care of soldiers and their family members. At the time his active duty ended in 2001, he was given an opportunity to return as a civilian employee. He served at Darnall Army Hospital from 2001 to 2011 where he provided care to soldiers injured during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Over the past 9 years, George has added pediatric care to his extensive set of clinical skills. Throughout his career, George has had experience working in the acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. George is a member of the Texas occupational Therapy Association (TOTA). He has extended his knowledge base by taking continuing education courses on topics such as behavioral modification and feeding.
Kelly Mullins, SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kelly Mullins is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist originally from Pennsylvania. She received her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Hearing Science from Temple University in 2005 and has a background in psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Kelly has experience in a number of settings to include private school, acute care hospital, and outpatient settings. She has extensive experience with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Apraxia and is trained in the DuBard Association Method. Most recently, she has worked in Skilled Nursing Facilities where she developed interest in Dysphagia treatment. She has gone on to become certified in Ampcare’s Effective Swallowing Protocol and the McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program. Kelly works extensively with individuals and their families to develop individualize treatment plans to maximize patient outcomes and to improve quality of life.
Betina Garcia, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Betina Garcia was born in Dallas, Tx. She served in the United States Army from 2000-2013. She served on active duty as a medic from 2000-2006 then, in April of 2006 she obtained her Occupational Therapy Assistant certification. Upon honorable discharge in 2013, she began her education journey in Exercise Physiology, obtaining both a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Throughout her career, Betina has had experience working in the acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. She enjoys combining her knowledge from her experiences as a COTA with her education as an Exercise Physiologist. Betina is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Texas occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) and is nationally certified by NBCOT.
Aaronda-Kay Mayo, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist, Doctorate of Physical Therapy
Dr. Aaronda Mayo has 35 years of experience in physical therapy and comes from a family of medical professionals. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy at Texas Tech University and worked in therapy for many years prior to pursuing her Doctorate from Bastyr University.
She has worked in orthopedic physician-owned clinics as well as hospitals, home health, and SNF. She uses multiple techniques to restore function, including dry needling and manual therapy. She enjoys assisting clients on their journey to restore optimal health. Dr. Mayo was raised on a ranch in Texas and loves being outdoors, riding horses, playing basketball, and downhill skiing.
Michele Wentrcek, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist, Doctorate of Physical Therapy
Michelle grew up in Florence, Texas and graduated from Liberty Hill in 2014, which instilled an enjoyment of being in the country. She graduated from Concordia University Texas with her Bachelors of Kinesiology in December 2017, and was awarded her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Texas State University in May 2021. She was a student at Allied on one of her clinical rotations in 2020 and was quickly won over by the unique level of care Allied exemplifies. She aims to complete an orthopedic/manual therapy fellowship to further refine her skill set and feed her hunger for knowledge. She is a member of the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Michelle had been searching for a career path that would allow her to be active while also sharpening her mind. Fatefully, she suffered an injury as a hurdler on her high school track team, made a recovery after attending physical therapy as a patient herself, and the rest is history. She has also overcome countless other injuries from cross-country and obstacle course racing. She uses these experiences to empathize with patients and to collaborate with them to balance the healing process while finding modifications for the activities they love. She has since discovered her enjoyment of weightlifting, boxing, axe throwing, and shooting, while appreciating the benefits of yoga and meditation.
Crystal Ignacio, PT
Physical Therapist
Crystal grew up moving every few years as a military child with a father in the Army but eventually settled down in central Texas, where she graduated from Copperas Cove High School. Crystal graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2003. After graduation, Crystal earned certifications in dry needling, kinesiotaping, and the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.
In her free time, Crystal enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two young children. Her goal is to help patients return to activities they enjoy and improve their quality of life.
Elizabeth Bonorden, OT
Occupational Therapist
Liz is an occupational therapist born and raised in a small town near Corpus Christi, Texas. She graduated cum laude from Texas Lutheran University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and worked for a short time in mental health settings before she was drawn to further her education as an occupational therapist. She continued her education after relocating to the Midwest, where she graduated cum laude with master’s degree in occupational therapy and rehabilitative science from the College of Saint Mary.
After graduating, Liz was blessed to work in a rural critical access hospital in Iowa. It was there that she was able to work the outpatient, acute care, home health and skilled nursing settings the hospital was able to provide, and she took great pride in building a diverse caseload for her and the rest of the occupational therapy staff. She relocated back to central Texas in 2020, and joined the Allied Therapies team in 2021, where she continues to build a diverse caseload consisting of orthopedic, neurological, lymphatic, developmental and visual dysfunctions.
Like her caseload, Liz enjoys participating in a variety of hobbies in her free time, including needlecrafts of any and all kinds, hiking, camping, binge watching scary movies on the weekends and spending time with her partner and fur baby.
Jessica Kassise, OT
Occupational Therapist
Jessica is an occupational therapist born and raised in north central Texas. She earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Texas Woman’s University in 2018, and most of her work experience has been in the hospital helping patients with orthopedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and surgical conditions. Jessica additionally received training in outpatient pediatric sensory integration and adult inpatient rehabilitation.
Jessica is passionate about helping people engage in the activities most important to them, and she is excited to serve Copperas Cove and the surrounding area. When Jessica isn’t at Allied Therapies of Texas, she can be found working in the hospital or spending time with her family in Georgetown.
Frank Head III, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Frank Head III was born in Thomasville, Ga. He served in the United States Army from 1992 to 2006. He served on active duty as a combat medic from 1992 to 1999. In December of 1999, he obtained his Occupational Therapy Assistant certification. He was assigned to Ft. Hood where he assisted in the care of soldiers and their family members.
At the time his active duty ended in 2006, he was given an opportunity to return as a civilian employee. He served at Darnall Army Hospital from 2006 to 2008 where he provided care to soldiers injured during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. After 2 years in the Occupational Therapy clinic, Frank was asked to go to a start-up section of Darnall to set up the Warrior Transition Unit Occupational Therapy Department where they prepared soldiers for life after the Army. He worked in that section from 2008 to 2020.
Throughout his career, Frank has had experience working in the acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Frank is a member of the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA). He has extended his knowledge base by taking continuing education courses on topics such as behavioral modification.
Sue Ann Wacker, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Sue Ann attended Denver Institute of Technology and graduated with an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Occupational Therapy in 1995. She completed the two-year program in eighteen months. She has over 15 years of experience in adult rehabilitation and 10 years of experience in pediatric rehabilitation.
Her career includes work experience in acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and home health. Sue Ann enjoys working with both adults and in pediatrics as well as the neurological and orthopedic population. Continuing education helps to increase her knowledge and benefit her patients. She has a level 1 Certification in Ergonomics Assessment and is a member of the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy.
Lauren Lightfoot, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Lauren grew up in Victoria, Tx and graduated from Victoria College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program in May 2022. She has two children, Brantley and Elizabeth (EJay), who her life revolves around. Lauren chose to pursue Physical Therapy after going to therapy herself for her shoulders, as she participated in competitive swimming throughout her childhood and adolescence. Lauren is new to Copperas Cove but not new to the hill country area and plans to settle down in the surrounding area and raise her family here. She enjoys joking around and making her patients laugh during treatment to make treatment sessions enjoyable.
In her leisure, Lauren enjoys hunting, fishing, swimming, going to the beach/lake, driving around back country roads, live music, working out and anything involving horses.
She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and enjoys attending conferences as she can to learn new therapeutic interventions and network with therapist around the country. Her favorite quote to tell patients during treatment that she learned from a household favorite movie “Boss Baby” is “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”.
Melissa Jass, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Melissa is an Army Brat, whose family landed near Ft Hood when she was 4. She grew up in Central Texas and graduated from Lampasas High School in 2001, before going on to Southwestern Assemblies of God University for Elementary Education. She ultimately went back to school in 2009 and earned her AAS in Physical Therapy from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2012. She practiced for 10 years in skilled nursing and home health settings with pediatric and adult populations. When the decision was made to return to the area to be close to family in May 2022, she was drawn to the unique experience that Allied Therapies of Texas embodies.
Melissa began to fall in love with therapy in January 2008 when she was stayed in long term acute care with her grandmother after a tragic car accident. This experience with a PT her ‘Gram’ still lovingly refers to as ‘Sarge’ was the beginning of Melissa following the path to where she was meant to be.
In her free time Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, their dogs, and their massive extended family.