Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy:
What age children do you treat ?
Where do therapy sessions take place?
What is your approach to therapy?
How do I get started?
Will my insurance pay for therapy services?
What services do you offer?
Where do therapy sessions take place?
What is your approach to therapy?
How do I get started?
Will my insurance pay for therapy services?
What services do you offer?
What age children do you treat?
I work with children of all ages.
Speech and language development begins during the earliest stages of a child's life. Babies who coo in response to interaction from us or to get our attention, laugh when they are happy, cry when they are sad, or turn toward their parent's voice are expressing themselves and practicing the fundamental building blocks of speech and language.
As they grow, babies and children develop speech and language skills. Some figure this complicated communication system out on their own, and others need help. As a speech-language pathologist, I can assist your child with needs at any stage.
Starting in infancy, I can provide oral motor and feeding therapy. I enjoy providing consultations to new parents who are just beginning their journey with their child with special needs. Introducing sign language to babies is a great way to help encourage communication and reduce frustration. (Here's a great article about baby signs). Infant massage is another great tool I can help you learn to use with your little ones.
Many children come to me first as toddlers, preschoolers, or young elementary children. Together with their parents, I design a treatment plan that specifically targets their needs in areas including articulation, understanding language (receptive), using language (expressive), and social language (pragmatic), as well as phonemic awareness skills for older children.
I work with children using a combination of approaches to meet whatever needs they might have. My therapy approach includes an eclectic mix of aspects of a variety of methods and programs. Methods I often incorporate include Hanen program , American Sign Language(ASL), Picture Exchange (PECS), and PROMPT (Level 2 trained).
I have worked with children with a wide variety of disablities, including children with: Apraxia, Auditory Processing Disorders, Developmental Delays, Down syndrome, Cognitive Delays, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Receptive and Expressive Language Delays, Cerebral Palsy, Oral Motor/Feeding Difficulties, and tongue thrust/swallowing difficulties.
Speech and language development begins during the earliest stages of a child's life. Babies who coo in response to interaction from us or to get our attention, laugh when they are happy, cry when they are sad, or turn toward their parent's voice are expressing themselves and practicing the fundamental building blocks of speech and language.
As they grow, babies and children develop speech and language skills. Some figure this complicated communication system out on their own, and others need help. As a speech-language pathologist, I can assist your child with needs at any stage.
Starting in infancy, I can provide oral motor and feeding therapy. I enjoy providing consultations to new parents who are just beginning their journey with their child with special needs. Introducing sign language to babies is a great way to help encourage communication and reduce frustration. (Here's a great article about baby signs). Infant massage is another great tool I can help you learn to use with your little ones.
Many children come to me first as toddlers, preschoolers, or young elementary children. Together with their parents, I design a treatment plan that specifically targets their needs in areas including articulation, understanding language (receptive), using language (expressive), and social language (pragmatic), as well as phonemic awareness skills for older children.
I work with children using a combination of approaches to meet whatever needs they might have. My therapy approach includes an eclectic mix of aspects of a variety of methods and programs. Methods I often incorporate include Hanen program , American Sign Language(ASL), Picture Exchange (PECS), and PROMPT (Level 2 trained).
I have worked with children with a wide variety of disablities, including children with: Apraxia, Auditory Processing Disorders, Developmental Delays, Down syndrome, Cognitive Delays, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Receptive and Expressive Language Delays, Cerebral Palsy, Oral Motor/Feeding Difficulties, and tongue thrust/swallowing difficulties.
Where do therapy sessions take place?
For most little ones, my sessions take place in their homes or daycares. I find that young children do better in their natural everyday environment where they are most comfortable, making therapy as effective and functional as possible.
I have worked with some kids in their bedroom sitting at a little table, others at their dining room table, still others on the floor in their living room, I once even held therapy on a backyard trampoline! It all depends on the needs and comfort of each child.
If your child is in school, either preschool or private elementary school, I am often able to arrange for therapy sessions to take place in their school. Most schools are happy to welcome me in the classroom to help with carryover of skills as well. I have led small groups for toddlers and in preschool settings as well as provided consultation to teachers to help accomodate children's needs and improve their daily school experience.
I have worked with some kids in their bedroom sitting at a little table, others at their dining room table, still others on the floor in their living room, I once even held therapy on a backyard trampoline! It all depends on the needs and comfort of each child.
If your child is in school, either preschool or private elementary school, I am often able to arrange for therapy sessions to take place in their school. Most schools are happy to welcome me in the classroom to help with carryover of skills as well. I have led small groups for toddlers and in preschool settings as well as provided consultation to teachers to help accomodate children's needs and improve their daily school experience.
What is your approach to therapy?
My approach to therapy is best described as child- directed. That doesn't always mean I do exactly what the child wants, but rather each session is tailored to the individual child's interest and specific needs. My therapy is very play-based and fun following the principles from both Hannen and Dr. Greenspan's Dir/Floortime model. As much as possible I follow the child's lead while gently guiding them in my direction and constantly bombarding them with speech and language addressing their needs.
My general approach is quite eclectic pulling things from many different models to best fit each child. Sessions often include oral motor activities, literature activities, multi-sensory activities (such as bean box, massage, or textured blocks), games, hands on activities, songs, puzzles, crafts, and phonemic awareness activities, just to name a few things. It is amazing how much speech and language can be addressed just with a little playdoh or a few puppets (or through a game of Connect Four or Jenga for the older kids)!
My general approach is quite eclectic pulling things from many different models to best fit each child. Sessions often include oral motor activities, literature activities, multi-sensory activities (such as bean box, massage, or textured blocks), games, hands on activities, songs, puzzles, crafts, and phonemic awareness activities, just to name a few things. It is amazing how much speech and language can be addressed just with a little playdoh or a few puppets (or through a game of Connect Four or Jenga for the older kids)!
How do I get started?
The first step towards private therapy often depends on where you are in the journey already.
If you are at the very beginning stages, the first real step is a phone call or email. (For contact info, click here). I'll chat with you a little to learn more about your child and if we agree, set up a time to meet for an initial consultation. At that meeting, I'll collect more information from you, observe and interact with your child, and administer an informal screening to help get an idea of what needs your child may have. After our initial meeting, I may simply leave you with suggestions of ways to work with your child, or, if need exists, we would set up a time for a complete assessment and evaluation.
Many families come to me having been referred from the county's infants and toddlers program or from the school system. If your child already has an IEP or IFSP in place, I am often able to review the county's assessment information and goals and (after meeting with your child) am able to use that information to put our own treatment plan together.
If you are coming from another therapist, I am happy to look over their assessments and goals and use them as a stepping stone to our own treatment plan.
If you are at the very beginning stages, the first real step is a phone call or email. (For contact info, click here). I'll chat with you a little to learn more about your child and if we agree, set up a time to meet for an initial consultation. At that meeting, I'll collect more information from you, observe and interact with your child, and administer an informal screening to help get an idea of what needs your child may have. After our initial meeting, I may simply leave you with suggestions of ways to work with your child, or, if need exists, we would set up a time for a complete assessment and evaluation.
Many families come to me having been referred from the county's infants and toddlers program or from the school system. If your child already has an IEP or IFSP in place, I am often able to review the county's assessment information and goals and (after meeting with your child) am able to use that information to put our own treatment plan together.
If you are coming from another therapist, I am happy to look over their assessments and goals and use them as a stepping stone to our own treatment plan.
Will my insurance pay for therapy services?
Coverage of speech pathology services varies widely among insurance companies. Some insurance carriers will cover speech therapy for a limited amount of time. Some insurance companies provide coverage for a communication disorder that is rehabilitative (i.e., associated with illnesses or accidents), but unfortunately exclude disorders that have are developmental in nature. It is important that you check with your carrier to determine coverage.
I am not an in-network provider for any insurance carriers and do not accept direct payment from any insurance companies. I provide you with appropriate documentation in the form of itemized bills with diagnosis and procedural codes that are required by insurance companies for reimbursement.
Many families have a PPO or Open Acess plan that allows them to go out of network for services and receive reimbursement for a negotiated percentage of the cost. Speech-Language therapy is also an eligible expense for Medical Flexible Spending accounts as well as Health Savings Accounts.
I am not an in-network provider for any insurance carriers and do not accept direct payment from any insurance companies. I provide you with appropriate documentation in the form of itemized bills with diagnosis and procedural codes that are required by insurance companies for reimbursement.
Many families have a PPO or Open Acess plan that allows them to go out of network for services and receive reimbursement for a negotiated percentage of the cost. Speech-Language therapy is also an eligible expense for Medical Flexible Spending accounts as well as Health Savings Accounts.
What Services do you offer?
I offer a wide range of speech and language services to both individuals and schools including:
Speech and Language Screenings
Screenings are often the first step in the process. Screenings are available to individuals or to preschools and private schools that are interested in offering this service to their students. A screening usually lasts 20 minutes.
Speech and Language Evaluations
A speech and language evaluation assesses a child's speech, language, and communication abilities. Information is obtained information from a variety of sources including parent interview, record review, clinical observations, standardized tests, and play-based assessments. Following the evaluation, families are provided with a written report detailing the results, diagnosis and treatment plan for an articulation, language, voice, or fluency disorder.
Speech and Language Therapy
I provide speech and language therapy services to children in their natural environment, such as homes, daycares, schools, or my home office setting. Therapy is both child-directed, play-based, and goal-oriented. Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long with the last 5 minutes spent writing a summary of the session and providing the parent with follow-up suggestions.
Speech and Language Screenings
Screenings are often the first step in the process. Screenings are available to individuals or to preschools and private schools that are interested in offering this service to their students. A screening usually lasts 20 minutes.
Speech and Language Evaluations
A speech and language evaluation assesses a child's speech, language, and communication abilities. Information is obtained information from a variety of sources including parent interview, record review, clinical observations, standardized tests, and play-based assessments. Following the evaluation, families are provided with a written report detailing the results, diagnosis and treatment plan for an articulation, language, voice, or fluency disorder.
Speech and Language Therapy
I provide speech and language therapy services to children in their natural environment, such as homes, daycares, schools, or my home office setting. Therapy is both child-directed, play-based, and goal-oriented. Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long with the last 5 minutes spent writing a summary of the session and providing the parent with follow-up suggestions.