Isn't speech-language therapy only for kids working on their /r/ sounds?

Nope. I have worked with younger students but I now focus my practice with school-aged students and adults. While I can provide support to students with mild articulation and fluency needs, it is not the focus of my work. I specialize in high-level language areas associated with social competence and executive function.

How are your services different from other therapies, like counseling?

While there is a significant counseling component to my work, I am not a licensed mental health counselor or psychologist. I have collaborated extensively with counselors and occupational therapists throughout my career. This good fortune has heavily influenced my approach as I aim to incorporate principles of CBT and interoception into my treatment. However, my language-based background uniquely positions me to “translate” abstract concepts for students who may need a more nuanced approach than traditional talk therapy. In addition, my intervention places greater emphasis on social competence (i.e., interpersonal skills) and executive function. Often, my clients have complex backgrounds with unique learning profiles (e.g., ADHD, ASD) and benefit from highly individualized, multiple-modality supports. I believe my work complements counseling, however, receiving that level of support may not be practical for various reasons. I would be glad to consult on the best plan for you.

How do your evaluations differ from neuropsychological assessments?

Neuropsychological evaluations are extensive and the gold standard for learning profile. The assessments I provide are less in-depth and more focused on particular skill areas. Perhaps your student completed a neuropsych, but needs more in-depth information about their language profile. Or, your family is not ready to pursue a neuropsych, but would like more information to guide your understanding of the way your student learns. Maybe, you need updated information about your learning profile without the commitment to a full neuropsychological assessment. I can offer recommendations and referrals to other providers. During a consultation, we can discuss the pros and cons of an assessment.

What does speech-language therapy have to do with social competence?

What doesn’t it have to do with social competence? We navigate our social worlds through verbal and non-verbal interactions with others. We must discern the subtleties of voice tone and the nuances of a change in facial expression layered with the history of past interactions and complexity of group dynamics. People are fascinating puzzles! If it’s not clear, I do NOT work on social skills with pictures of faces and rote scripts. Social is seeing all the shades of grey. It’s riding the roller coaster of life with friends and family!

What does speech-language therapy have to do with executive functions?

A lot. Although I will give a nod to occupational therapists here with their fine motor and organization work, speech-language pathologists have a unique lens for executive functions from a language-based/cognitive load perspective. If you have had any testing that indicates a need for executive function support I would encourage you to investigate speech-language therapy as an option. In the medical world, SLP’s work with patients that have traumatic brain injuries and strokes that require extensive executive function work. There are executive function coaches but many are unlicensed or don’t have graduate training. They can still be helpful but you’ll want to weigh the costs and benefits!

Can you be more specific about your client’s diagnoses?

In the medical model and educational systems, diagnoses can be helpful for accessing services. The landscape is much more complicated from a social, emotional, and cultural perspective. Many of my clients have a history of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders. I also work with students who present with mild fluency and articulation challenges, though I would refer you to another speech-language pathologist if this is the primary area of concern.

Tell me more about your approach...

It is very important to me to re-calibrate often in order to ensure I am providing neurodivergent-affirming care. I am eager to learn from my work with students, caregivers, other professionals, and continuing education. My work with my clients is my biggest source of inspiration and that is typically how I develop new treatment methods and discover avenues for professional development.