About my Speech Language Pathology Career:
One of my most significant journeys began 14 years ago when I began coursework in Social Work Practicum at Florida State University. I quickly found that I enjoyed learning about families, individuals across the lifespan, and ultimately, the development of children. The more I began to understand growth and development, the more I was drawn toward helping children have a "voice" in their families, schools, and natural environments. I had to make a change and dive into a more specialized field in order to accomplish my goal to help little ones reach their maximum potential.
I made the decision to enter the Communication Sciences and Disorders field at The University of Florida (gasp! now I'm a Gator!) in 2004. The decision proved to go well with me. I learned much more than I imagined I ever would but saw that there was so much more to accomplish. The field required a Masters degree so I eventually ended up at Florida State University again.
While obtaining my Masters degree, I simultaneously worked in a FL school district providing speech and language services to elementary age children. I was fortunate to be able to attend a training for the Lindamood Phonological Sequencing Program (LiPS) during my tenure there and implemented a specialized therapy setting for students who struggled with reading. It was a privilege to teach and an honor to observe those who initially couldn't sound out words begin to read grade level and age appropriate material based on the skills they learned. While in the school district, I provided articulation and language therapy to groups, reading skills to individuals, worked with a multi-disciplinary team (OT, PT, SLP, Guidance, etc.) and began the roll-out of Response to Intervention (RTI) as it was in the early stages at that time. I was also able to work part time in a private practice clinic providing services to children one on one. It wasn't long before I realized that's where my passion lied.
Upon obtaining my Masters degree, I had the opportunity to leave the school setting and work in a brand new facility - a private practice clinic. It was there that I refined my skills in working with pediatrics who presented with a multitude of diagnoses. I enjoyed working with children as young as 18 months old to those 18 years old. With my co-workers, I provided social skills training to school age children in groups, which provided the opportunity for them to gain knowledge and skills for interacting with peers and adults in their own natural settings. I worked with children who demonstrated only minor needs for treatment and with those who required intense intervention. I have worked with many children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have seen children utter their first words and progress all the way to communicating using sentences and language concepts appropriate for their age. I have corrected articulation and phonological disorders from the easiest to the hardest sound, worked with oral myofunctional disorders, oral motor planning for children with apraxia of speech, the understanding and use of language, stuttering, social/pragmatic language, etc.
Over the last 15 years, I have enjoyed every minute of my "job". I also became a mom to a wonderful little girl and little boy which halted my ability to return to work. While on leave, my family and I made the decision for me to be a stay at home mom. I also love that "job". During the time I have been at home with my own children, I have come to realize that I miss giving to the lives of others. Out of that desire came Small Talk Pediatric SLP, LLC and I am so, so excited to be working with families again!
Please contact me at [email protected] if you're interested in consultation services or direct therapy with your child!
I made the decision to enter the Communication Sciences and Disorders field at The University of Florida (gasp! now I'm a Gator!) in 2004. The decision proved to go well with me. I learned much more than I imagined I ever would but saw that there was so much more to accomplish. The field required a Masters degree so I eventually ended up at Florida State University again.
While obtaining my Masters degree, I simultaneously worked in a FL school district providing speech and language services to elementary age children. I was fortunate to be able to attend a training for the Lindamood Phonological Sequencing Program (LiPS) during my tenure there and implemented a specialized therapy setting for students who struggled with reading. It was a privilege to teach and an honor to observe those who initially couldn't sound out words begin to read grade level and age appropriate material based on the skills they learned. While in the school district, I provided articulation and language therapy to groups, reading skills to individuals, worked with a multi-disciplinary team (OT, PT, SLP, Guidance, etc.) and began the roll-out of Response to Intervention (RTI) as it was in the early stages at that time. I was also able to work part time in a private practice clinic providing services to children one on one. It wasn't long before I realized that's where my passion lied.
Upon obtaining my Masters degree, I had the opportunity to leave the school setting and work in a brand new facility - a private practice clinic. It was there that I refined my skills in working with pediatrics who presented with a multitude of diagnoses. I enjoyed working with children as young as 18 months old to those 18 years old. With my co-workers, I provided social skills training to school age children in groups, which provided the opportunity for them to gain knowledge and skills for interacting with peers and adults in their own natural settings. I worked with children who demonstrated only minor needs for treatment and with those who required intense intervention. I have worked with many children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have seen children utter their first words and progress all the way to communicating using sentences and language concepts appropriate for their age. I have corrected articulation and phonological disorders from the easiest to the hardest sound, worked with oral myofunctional disorders, oral motor planning for children with apraxia of speech, the understanding and use of language, stuttering, social/pragmatic language, etc.
Over the last 15 years, I have enjoyed every minute of my "job". I also became a mom to a wonderful little girl and little boy which halted my ability to return to work. While on leave, my family and I made the decision for me to be a stay at home mom. I also love that "job". During the time I have been at home with my own children, I have come to realize that I miss giving to the lives of others. Out of that desire came Small Talk Pediatric SLP, LLC and I am so, so excited to be working with families again!
Please contact me at [email protected] if you're interested in consultation services or direct therapy with your child!
