Brain Balance of Northern Virginia – Meet Our Staff

Taylor

Center Director

Taylor Austin is the Center Director at Brain Balance of Northern Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from James Madison University, where she was a Division I student-athlete and captain of the JMU Women's Volleyball team.

Taylor's connection to Brain Balance is deeply personal. Growing up, she struggled with comprehension and often had to work much harder and use different strategies to succeed academically. Later, after sustaining five concussions through volleyball and car accidents, she spent years navigating challenges that affected everything from reading, memory, and focus to balance, movement, and how connected she felt to everyday life.

Her own experience with a customized, integrated functional neurology approach gave Taylor a firsthand appreciation for looking at how different areas of the brain work together and addressing foundational gaps rather than viewing challenges in isolation. That experience is a major part of why Brain Balance's philosophy resonated so strongly with her.

Today, Taylor is passionate about helping individuals and families feel understood, supported, and empowered as they work toward greater confidence, stronger skills, and getting back to doing the things they love.

Outside of Brain Balance, Taylor enjoys hiking, biking, watching sunsets, spending time with her dog and family, and staying active. She is also a twin and can juggle!

Michael

Program Director

Michael Janak studied Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science at James Madison University. His early career began with a focus on fitness, but his passion for nutrition, wellness, and lifelong learning quickly expanded his interests and opened the door to opportunities to help others make meaningful changes in their lives.

When Michael discovered Brain Balance, he found a program that brought together many of his passions and areas of knowledge. He was drawn to the opportunity to work with both children and adults while helping individuals reach their full potential. Most importantly, Michael finds it incredibly rewarding to create meaningful, lasting change for individuals and their families.

Outside of Brain Balance, Michael enjoys staying active through working out, hiking, and participating in sports. He is recently engaged and is also a proud pet parent to one dog and two kittens.

Raymond

Assistant Director

Raymond Cagnina is the Assistant Director at Brain Balance of Northern Virginia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business & Marketing from George Mason University.

Before joining Brain Balance, Raymond worked as a substitute teacher, where he had the opportunity to work with students across a wide range of grade levels and backgrounds. Through that experience, he saw firsthand how many children struggle with attention, focus, and academic challenges—and how those struggles can impact their confidence and success in the classroom.

That experience ultimately led Raymond to Brain Balance, where he found an opportunity to combine his passion for helping others with his professional background. Today, he is proud to be part of a team dedicated to helping children, teens, and families reach their full potential.

“Every day, I have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a child’s life, and that is what makes working at Brain Balance so rewarding.”

Chase

Lead Coach

Chase graduated from The New School of Northern Virginia in 2019 and attended Virginia Military Institute where he studied Electrical and Computer Engineering. After a slight change in direction, he began his career as a Cognitive Coach for Brain Balance of Glen Allen in Richmond, VA. Shortly thereafter, he took the opportunity to relocate in order to assist with opening and operating the first Brain Balance in the Greater Washington Region.

Chase’s introduction to Brain Balance occurred more than a decade ago, when he was a teenager going through the program himself. He began his Brain Balance program with many acquaintances and friends in his life, but he lacked the tools needed to socially thrive and, in 2017, he graduated from Brain Balance with the confidence and commitment to make lifelong lasting relationships that not only his family wanted, but he wanted. With his somewhat unique understanding of both sides of the Brain Balance program, coupled with his passion for helping young people, Chase found himself drawn to giving back to the community and participating in the Brain Balance mission that he lives.

Chase is the “Coach Extraordinaire” . . . Lead Coach for Brain Balance of Northern Virginia.