Education

Born in Scotland and raised in the Midwestern United States, I came to the East Coast in 1991 when I attended Bryn Mawr College. After obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr in 1995, I went on to work with children with autism for several years as a Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS), then as a behavioral consultant. I received my behavioral training through several different companies, including Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center and Douglass Outreach in Rutgers, NJ.

I received my Master's Degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing from Temple University in 2004, where I was voted to receive NSSLHA Honors as a promising clinician by my colleagues. 

Professional Work Experience

I completed my speech and language clinical fellowship training in 2004-2005 with Theraplay, a pediatric outpatient clinic located in West Chester, Horsham, and Drexel Hill, PA, gaining valuable skills as an early practicing clinician.

I spent the next 8 years working for A Total Approach, in Glen Mills, PA; evaluating and treating a variety of speech and language disorders in the pediatric population, with a strong focus on a team approach; and receiving valuable training in DIR/floortime and sensory integration from skilled occupational therapists. One of my mentors, the very well-known and successful occupational therapist, Maude le Roux, helped shape my ideas and philosophies in working with children on the Autism Spectrum. 

I have had many years of experience working privately and in the school setting with children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and am PROMPT Level II trained. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Sue Caspari, MA, CCC/SLP of Swarthmore, PA, in five-week summer intensive treatment programs for children with CAS over the past several summers. I also work as part of the team at The Focus Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to provided services to children and families with X and Y chromosomal variations- http://thefocusfoundation.org/. I have had experience in the school setting, home and community settings and clinic settings; with children of all ages.  

I have received further continuing education coursework and training in the following areas: treatment and diagnosis of CAS; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); sensory integration and motor planning; emotional processing; accent reduction; nonverbal language; melodic intonation therapy; delivering therapy in the classroom; Michelle Garcia Winner’s social thinking; Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol. 

In my spare time, I spend time with my husband and two young children, am very active within my church and enjoy watching movies and journaling. I am in the midst of writing a book and looking forward to publishing!