About me

I live in Lake Forest Park with my two daughters and husband. My only sister lives close by in Bellingham and my parents now permanent reside in Florida. Family and friends drive my core values and provide the framework for my private practice.

I graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology in 1996. Upon graduation I was hired my Nola Marriner at Talk, Learn & Communicate (TLC). As a life long learner, Nola provided me with a variety of learning opportunities, from AAC to ABA intensive programming to Child lead/relationship building learning in DIR/Floortime, and, in addition, I focused a great deal of my professional development in the areas of sensory motor processing and motor speech disorders.  I gained a great deal of experience and perspective as her clinic grew over the 8 years I was employed at TLC. In 2004 I went to work for Carla Brooks and Associates. Carla graciously shared her commitment to the nurturing heart and functional communication...always searching  for that  window into communication, particularly for the hard to reach. I strongly value the mentoring process in our field as we support one another professionally to grow and provide the highest level of treatment our clients and family need.

After my second child was born in 2007 and I spent the next 2 years focusing on being a full time mom. In 2009 with the support and mentoring from my friend and colleague, Heather Schuman, Occupational Therapist, I opened my private practice and began treating children in their home or any location deemed appropriate to support speech, language and social communication development.

In the summer of 2014 Laura Worthen, SLP, and I rolled up our sleeves and jumped into a new adventure with opening Under the Umbrella: a therapy and learning collective. As like minded therapists, with family and play at the heart of our treatment philosophy, we created a space resembling more of a home than a clinic. Our intent is to provide a space that welcomes all and provides natural social engagement across a diverse group of learners. 

Professional Development

  • SCERTS: Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Support

  • Social Thinking Training/Michelle Garcia Winner

  • DIR (completed level b training/Floortime Clinician)

  • SPACE trained (Eli Lebowitz/)

  • PROMPT level II Certified

  • SIPT Certified (Sensory Integration Processing Test)

  • Visualizing and Verbalizing/Lindamood Bell

  • LiPS/Lindamood Bell

  • Bechman Oral Motor training

  • Language Processing/Gail Richards

  • Promoting First Relationships