Three years old. That’s the age I was when I knew I wanted to be a speech-language pathologist. That’s also how old I was when I started speech therapy. My sessions with my speech pathologist were so memorable, I never doubted I wanted to make it my career.

My career started at Illinois State University where I received my bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I then worked at a therapeutic day school with children ages 6-13 with a wide range of communication disorders such as articulation, language, social language, stuttering, high-tech and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Several of the techniques my childhood speech pathologist used with me, such as finding out my unique interests and working that into my therapy, have influenced the play-based approach I take with my clients. Finding what brings a smile to their face helps keep them engaged during therapy and makes our child-led sessions more successful.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, gardening, running, reading, and serving in the nursery at church.