Westchester Speech Language Therapy

Mary Bell graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communicative Disorders. She received her Master’s of Science degree in Speech Pathology from Boston University. She is certified by the state of New York and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associate (ASHA). She is also a level one PROMPT-trained therapist.

Mary has spent the majority of her eleven years in the field working with the pediatric population in private practices or in-home as a private speech and language pathologist. Her career has afforded her previous opportunities to work with children and adults of all ages and disabilities in Boston, Los Angeles, and abroad in Kuwait. Her therapy emphasis has been in the areas of articulation, processing disorders, language development, social-pragmatic skills, and fluency. She also has experience developing and running toddler/parent groups, social skills groups, and giving parent workshops. She believes strongly in educating parents to become facilitators of their children’s skills at home and using a playful, child-centered approach to reach children.

Mary is an energetic and enthusiastic professional who enjoys helping people and improving others’ lives. She forms relationships easily and always has the patients’ and families’ needs foremost in her mind.

LOCATION: Rye, Port Chester, Harrison and Mamaroneck
TYPE OF SERVICES: Individual therapy, speech-language evaluations, parent consultations, parent training
EXPERTISE: Early language development, articulation and phonology, Speech-language delays, Receptive/Expressive language delays, auditory processing, language processing, and social-pragmatic language skills.
AGES: Infants through 21 years of age

Karen is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is certified as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She holds state licenses for Speech-Language Pathology in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, and Washington. She received her B.A. and M.A. in Communication Disorders from California State University at Long Beach. Since that time, she has been a 3-time recipient of the ASHA Award for Continuing Education. She is an experienced telepractioner, having worked exclusively in telepractice since 2011. She is passionate about telepractice as a therapy model that is engaging and immensely effective. She has provided speech and language services to children from birth through preschool utilizing telepractice (last 9 years) and in-person (over 20 years).

She values building impactful relationships with families to achieve their goals. Additionally, her experience includes working with school-aged children with a broad range of speech-language difficulties, including autism spectrum disorders, social/pragmatic delays/disorders, articulation/phonological delays, and receptive/expressive language delays/disorders.

She is resolute that learning should be rewarding and engaging and works to make each session effective and gratifying for the child. If you assist a child to love to learn, you set them up for a life of success. Build new skills from a place of strength and interest, rewarding success along the way.

Beginning in 2000, Karen expanded her scope of practice to work with adult professional voices to improve voice quality and remediate vocal dysfunction including vocal nodules.

LOCATION: Katonah, Somers, Golden’s Bridge, Bedford Hills and North Salem
TYPE OF SERVICES: Speech and language individual therapy, group (2 children), speech-language evaluations, parent consultations.
EXPERTISE: Speech-language delays, autism spectrum disorders, early intervention, adult voice disorders.
AGES: Birth to 21, adult voice disorder, and services for individuals.

Kathryn is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also certified as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Sciences in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University. Kathryn is level one PROMPT trained and has received extensive training in multi-sensory reading instruction.

Kathryn serves as a speech-language pathologist for public schools. She works with a diverse population of students from Pre-K through Eighth grade. Kathryn has worked in a range of settings, including private practice, early intervention, and home care. She has extensive experience in the treatment and evaluation of children with Developmental Delays, Autism, Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Apraxia, Language-Based Literacy Disorders, Fluency Disorders, ADHD, and Speech Sound Disorders-Articulation/Phonology.

Kathryn is level one trained in PROMPT therapy which is a treatment approach for speech sound disorders. Kathryn has a literacy background and has taken courses from the Institute for Multisensory Education and Reading with TLC. She believes in providing students with Multisensory experiences based on Orton Gillingham to effectively teach reading skills and meet each student’s individual learning needs. Kathryn has a strong interest in helping students develop phonological and phonemic awareness skills to build foundational skills for reading. Kathryn aims to support struggling readers and build their confidence and comprehension skills. When working with students with receptive/expressive language disorders, Kathryn believes in collaborating with parents/caregivers and teachers to incorporate spoken language that a child needs through activities and play. She uses a variety of age-appropriate treatment methods to help children with language and communication.

Kathryn prides herself on creating individualized plans for each child to ensure success at home, school, and in the community. Kathryn believes in working as part of an interdisciplinary team to help each child reach his or her full potential. She strives to create a rewarding and engaging environment by incorporating your child’s preferred activities and interests into his or her sessions.

LOCATION: Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Eastchester, Ardsley, Scarsdale (lower Westchester)
TYPE OF SERVICES: Individual therapy, group (2-3 children), speech-language evaluations, parent consultations
EXPERTISE: early/school-age language development, developmental delays, speech sound disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, phonological awareness, dyslexia, reading instruction, reading comprehension, and literacy
AGES: All ages

Mindie is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and a certified Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Mindie completed an MA in Speech-Language Pathology at Hofstra University and a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Syracuse University. Mindie has over 13 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist.
Mindie has experience evaluating and providing therapy for children and adults with language learning disabilities, speech disorders, fluency disorders, hearing impairment and autism. She has attended numerous continuing education seminars on a variety of topics including: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), intervention for Central Auditory processing Disorder (CAPD), improving pragmatic/social language skills in children, vocabulary strategies and interventions to improve reading fluency. In addition, Mindie has received 30 credits above her M.A. degree in issues pertaining to school aged children such as aiding students with learning disabilities, preparing for high stakes exams and collaborating with parents to improve student outcomes.

Mindie is passionate about understanding her client’s needs and creating individualized goals that allow for successful communication. She strongly believes in collaborating with parents and other professionals in order to help her client’s reach their full potential.

LOCATION: Westchester
TYPE OF SERVICES: i.e. Individual therapy, group (2-3 children), speech-language evaluations, parent consultations
EXPERTISE: Speech-language delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Literacy
AGES: pre k- high school

Francine is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and is licensed in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. She is a certified Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped and holds supervisory certification. She received her masters degree at Herbert H. Lehman College and her undergraduate degree at SUNY New Paltz. Francine has over four decades of experience working in public schools, out-patient clinics, and teletherapy. She is a consultant to area preschools and presents workshops on Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Early Language Development.

Over the years, Francine has kept abreast of current trends and completed multiple advanced training courses which enables her to incorporate new, evidenced-based therapies into each session. She is recognized by Apraxia Kids as an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of CAS. Francine has received extensive training in techniques proven effective for treating CAS including Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) and Rapid Syllable Transition Training (ReST). She has also received training in PROMPT and the Cycles Approach for the treatment of phonological disorders. With a large array of methods at her disposal, Francine is able to design personalized therapy plans to meet the individual needs of each child. A comprehensive speech and language evaluation is often the first step in the therapy process. It helps identify the challenges, highlight strengths, and set the parameters for intervention. Francine’s dynamic assessments focus less on standardized test scores and more on what the child is able to do as a communicator. Local school districts have used her services to conduct evaluations for some of their most complex cases. Francine is child-centered and family-focused. As the preschool team leader for New Canaan, Connecticut, she stressed the importance of parents as collaborative partners. Caretakers are given regular home practice to maximize the child’s progress. Therapy is hard work for little ones and demanding for their caregivers but Francine makes it playful with high interest, motivational activities.

Francine has devoted her life to giving others a voice. She is driven to provide outstanding services to children and adolescents and compassionate support to their caregivers. She specializes in motor-based speech disorders (CAS), moderate-severe speech sound disorders, early speech and language development, auditory and language processing disorders, expressive language delays, and cluttering. She has extensive experience with autism related speech disorders and the assessment and treatment of children with comorbidities.

LOCATIONS:
In New York:
Westchester County: Bedford, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Cross River, Croton Falls, Golden’s Bridge, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Purdys, Somers, South Salem, Waccabuc
Putnam County: Brewster, Carmel
In Connecticut:
Fairfield County: Danbury, New Canaan, North Stamford, Ridgefield, Wilton
In New Jersey:
Teletherapy only
TYPES OF SERVICE: Evaluations, individual therapy, teletherapy
EXPERTISE: Motor-based speech disorders (CAS), mild-severe speech sound disorders, early speech and language development, auditory and language processing disorders, expressive language delays, cluttering, autism, and children with comorbidities.
AGES: Toddlers-adolescents (2-16)

Diahann is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Diahann currently works as an acute care speech-language pathologist in a New York City hospital where she specializes in evaluating and treating neonates and young children with feeding and swallowing disorders in addition to speech and language delays within the pediatric population. She also works collaboratively in interdisciplinary outpatient clinics and performs hospital-based videofluoroscopic swallow evaluations.

Throughout her career, Diahann has worked in a variety of settings ranging from children’s hospitals to outpatient, private home care, elementary schools, and even long-term rehabilitation centers for adults.

Areas of experience include pediatric/school-aged children with speech/language and articulation disorders, developmental delays, feeding and communication-based difficulties in the setting of medically complex diagnoses including craniofacial anomalies (cleft lip and palate), aerodigestive diseases, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary involvement.

Diahann has a strong interest in providing speech and feeding interventions that address the whole child. She utilizes child-led approaches to minimize patient and family-related stress and offers strategies that can be incorporated into everyday activities. Close collaboration with family and interdisciplinary team members including doctors, dietitians, teachers, and other therapists is implemented to ensure success across all domains of development.

When not working, Diahann loves to go on outdoor adventures with her dog Luna, read and travel!

LOCATION: Westchester County, NY
TYPE OF SERVICES: Evaluation and treatment of infant and pediatric feeding/swallowing disorders; evaluation and treatment of speech/language/articulation and communication disorders. Individual therapy, group (2-3 children) therapy, evaluations, parent consultations, and communication with other important members of your child’s team.
EXPERTISE: Infant, newborn, and pediatric feeding/swallowing disorders. Speech and expressive/receptive language delays, articulation disorders in the toddler and school-aged population.

Andrea has been a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2006 and is currently licensed in New York and Connecticut. She also maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a Certificate for Teaching Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD) from the New York State Department of Education. Andrea received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University Maryland in 2004 and a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia University in 2006.

Andrea has worked for The New York City Department of Education since 2006 and has provided Speech & Language intervention services to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade for students with various language and learning needs. Andrea also provided Early Intervention services to children ages birth to 3 in New York City. She is experienced in early language development and acquisition, receptive and expressive language intervention, school-based language interventions, reading and listening comprehension, treatment of articulation, pragmatics and social language, organization, and executive functioning skills, writing strategies, and vocabulary development. Andrea is also trained in The REWARDS reading program to target reading and vocabulary skills for middle and high school students.

Andrea uses a variety of data-driven and engaging language interventions for all ages and is passionate about helping each client to reach their communication and academic language goals. She selects therapy materials based on the age level, abilities, interests, and needs of her clients to make their speech therapy experience both engaging and practical. She also enjoys connecting with clients and their families to assure that she is meeting their needs and working as a collaborative partner to provide strategies and ultimately foster independence.

LOCATIONS: Westchester County, NY & Fairfield County, CT
EXPERTISE: Language development and intervention including speaking, articulation, listening, writing, vocabulary, comprehension, pragmatic language skills, executive functioning, and organizational skills from ages birth through 12th grade.
AGES: Birth through 12th Grade

Ashley is a New York State licensed Speech Language Pathologist and certified Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Iona College, New York. In 2017, she received her Master of Arts Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Long Island University Post, New York. During her professional career, Ashley has gained therapeutic and diagnostic experiences in a range of diagnoses and disorders. She considers it a privilege to have such a dynamic career that allows children to help find their voice through various modalities of language.

Ashley has worked with children from early intervention to young adulthood (birth-21 years of age). She has serviced these children in a range of settings which include schools, specialized clinics, and private homes. Ashley takes pride in conducting differentiated speech-language therapy based on a child’s needs and interests. The diverse diagnosis that Ashley addresses includes expressive and receptive language delays, executive functioning skills, reading comprehension, articulation delays, fluency, phonological awareness, auditory processing, language processing, and social/pragmatic communication. Ashley has experience working with children without learning differences in addition to children with Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

She also has promoted communication to non-verbal and minimally verbal populations through the use of augmentative communication systems which include Proloquo2go and Touch Chat. For children who are verbal but have trouble generating and using language appropriately, Ashley utilizes a multidisciplinary approach (ie: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile) to facilitate successful communication. Ashley is experienced with the reading and phonemic initiative Fundations and trained in Lively Letters.

Currently, Ashley is employed by the New York City Department of Education working with students in preschool up to 5th grade. Ashley has the privilege of working closely with students on the Autism Spectrum Disorder Horizon program. She works vigorously to enhance pragmatic language with this population and provides therapy promoting conversational skills, expressing emotions, role playing scenarios, and flexible thinking. Ashley has developed and implemented functional life skills therapy which aids individuals in everyday tasks such as cooking, folding clothing, categorizing kitchen items and applying for jobs. Ashley believes in collaboration with other specialists and open communication with parents to promote success. She strives for an engaging and fun environment that allows a child to thrive.

LOCATION: WESTCHESTER: Bronxsville, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, Rye
TYPE OF SERVICES: Individual therapy, group therapy(2-4 children), speech-language evaluations, parent consultation, parent training
EXPERTISE: Early Language Development, Speech-Language Delays, Articulation and Phonology, Receptive/Expressive Language Delays, Auditory Processing, Language Processing, Social/Pragmatic Language Skills, Executive Functioning Skills, Reading Comprehension, Fluency, Autism Spectrum Disorder
AGES: Birth through 21 years of age

Gabriela S. is a NYS-licensed speech-language pathologist and certified Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities working with mono- and bilingual children and adults in Westchester County and the Bronx. She holds her Certificate of Bilingual Extension from Columbia University Teachers College. Gabriela completed her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from NY Medical College and her Juris Doctor from Cardozo School of Law.

Originally from Argentina, Gabriela is a native Spanish speaker who personally experienced language-based educational challenges in elementary school, which fuels her empathy for families needing speech and language support. She also draws upon her training and work as a musician and lawyer. Music, in particular, has been a powerful teaching tool for language elicitation, for adults with aphasia, and for all ages who are pre- or non verbal. Specifically, the temporal and pitch aspects of music often nudge the brain to compensate for difficulties speaking, by using songs, rhythm work, and coordination of movements to help elicit communication.

Gabriela s varied experiences allows her to identify and address challenges in skill areas such as pragmatic/social language, expressive-receptive language delays, narrative development, articulation, and developing executive functioning skills to set the stage for successful academics and learning. In addition to an emphasis on evidence based practice, her therapy philosophy includes increasing her clients motivations (such as a child’s wants and needs) to get the most interest and progress from every client she works with. She also has extensive experience training families with embedded coaching for her clients goals to increase carryover of all skills targeted during sessions.

LOCATION: Westchester County (southern), Bronx (case-by-case basis)
TYPES OF SERVICES: individual therapy, group therapy, consultations, evaluations, family training (embedded coaching)
EXPERTISE: Autism Spectrum Disorder, expressive-receptive language delays, narrative development, pragmatic/social skills, articulation/phonological disorders, behavioral challenges
AGES: birth adults