About Us

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Roles: 

· Founding Director of TLC

· Head of Speech-Language 

  Pathology Department

· Supervisor for SLPAs & Interns

Degree: 

· Master of Science in Speech-Language 

  Pathology & Audiology from CSU 

  Sacramento, 2007

CA License: 

· Speech-Language Pathologist - 

  SP 16820

Certifications: 

· American Speech & Hearing Association 

  (ASHA) #12141821

Experience: 

· 25+ years working with neurodivergent 

  individuals with complex disabilities in 

  private practice

· Worked in the behavioral field from 

  1997-2007 (overlapping with speech 

  therapy from 2000-2007)

· Daughter of Paul Smith, PhD, founder of 

  the world’s first Professional Assault 

  Response Training (now branded as 

  Pro-ACT), teaching professionals 

  to safely deescalate aggressive 

  client behavior.

Focus Areas:

· Augmentative & alternative 

  communication (AAC)

· Complex communication disorders

· Social-emotional skills

· Self-advocacy

Therapeutic Style:

· Heartfelt, holistic, family-

  centered approach

· Uses Floortime/DIR therapy and 

  extensive training to tailor support

· Dives deep into intrinsic motivation and 

  correlations between communication 

  and behavior

Personal Interests: 

· Art

· Yoga

· Gardening

· Chickens

· Continued learning

Described as: 

· Creative

· Compassionate

· Energetic

· Insightful

· Out-of-the-box thinker

Roles:

· Founding Administrator of TLC

· Master Scheduler

· Billing Specialist

Degree: 

· Bachelor of Arts in Child Education from 

  CSU Sacramento, 2001

Experience: 

· Founding contributor to the business

· Over 20 years in administration of a 

  private clinical practice

· Former preschool teacher

Focus Areas:

· Facilitating schedules which work for 

  the family

· Bilingual communication (Spanish-

  English) between parents and clinicians

· Supporting therapeutic 

  goal generalization

Communication Style:

· Helpful, collaborative and family-focused

Personal Interests: 

· Spending time outdoors with her 

  husband and dogs

Described as: 

· Dependable

· Organized

· Caring

· Listener

· Persistent

Roles: 

- Head of SOS-based Feeding 

  Therapy Department

- Speech-Language Pathologist

Degree: 

- Master of Arts in Communication 

  Sciences and Disorders from CSU 

  Chico, 2013

CA License: 

- Speech-Language Pathologist - 

  SP 22358

Certifications: 

- American Speech & Hearing Association 

  (ASHA) # 14037258

Experience: 

- Over 13 years working with a wide range 

  of ages, disorders and funding formats 

Focus Areas:

- Childhood Apraxia of Speech

- Swallowing and feeding disorders

- Oral motor difficulties

- Language delays

- Early intervention

Therapeutic Style:

- Resourceful and imaginative

- Creates engaging activities to maximize 

  client progress

Personal Interests: 

- Family time

- Traveling

- Playing games

- Dancing

- Goats

Described as: 

- Motivated

- Inquisitive

- Energetic

- Kind

- Imaginative

Roles: 

· Head of the Occupational Therapy 

  (OT) Department

· SOS-trained Feeding Therapist

Degree: 

· Master of Science in Occupational 

  Therapy from CSU, San Jose, 2001

· Bachelor of Science in Psychology from 

  UC Davis, 1999

CA License:

· Occupational Therapist # 3816

Certifications:

· National Board for Certification 

  in Occupational Therapy 

  (NBCOT) #1057364

· Autism Micro-credential ID# iwe4ms3f

Experience: 

· Over 20 years helping children, teens 

  and young adults overcome obstacles to 

  gain independence 

Focus Areas:

· Fine motor and self-help goals

· Postural control strategies

· Daily living skills

· Handwriting

Therapeutic Style:

· Knowledgeable and supportive

· Integrates postural control into routines 

  to build foundational skills

Personal Interests: 

· Spending time with family and pets

· Hiking

· Yoga

· Facilitating fun activities with 

  her daughter

Described as: 

· Hard-working

· Intelligent

· Consistent

· Calm

· Articulate

Roles: 

· Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 

· Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Degrees: 

· Bachelor of Science in Speech 

  Pathology and Audiology from CSU 

  Sacramento, 2007 

· Master of Science in Counseling from 

  Divine Mercy University, 2020

CA Licenses: 

· Speech Language Pathology Assistant - 

  SPA 760

· Associate Marriage Family Therapist - 

  AMFT 121301

· Associate Professional Clinical 

  Counselor - APCC 46865

Certifications:

· Nurtured Heart Approach Trainer

Experience: 

· Nearly 20 years working with 

  individuals with special needs across 

  the developmental span from 1 to 82 

  years old.

Focus Areas:

· Emotional regulation

· Behavior support

· Working with introverted personalities

Therapeutic Style:

· Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

· Play-based and client led

· Deeply compassionate and 

  understanding

· Builds strong connections with clients 

  and families

Personal Interests: 

· Working with clients

· Expanding personal knowledge through 

  books and audiobooks

Described as: 

· Compassionate

· Kind

· Understanding

· Empathetic

· Listener
 

Roles: 

· Head of Literacy Academy

· AAC Trainer

· Assistive Technology Professional

Degree: 

· Master of Arts in Special Education from 

  CSU Sacramento, 2009

Credential: 

· Education Specialist Instruction 

  Credential, Moderate/Severe Disabilities 

Certification: 

· Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive 

  Technology Society of North America 

  (RESNA ATP)

Experience: 

· Almost 20 years working with the 

  developmentally disabled community

· Skilled in Assistive Technology with an 

  emphasis in AAC and educational 

  material development for users and their 

  communication partners

Focus Areas:

· Direct support for AAC modeling and 

  literacy instruction

· Customization of Augmentative 

  and Alternative Communication 

  Vocabulary Systems

· AAC coaching of 

  communication partners

· Assistive Technology with alternative 

  access methods for individuals with 

  significant disabilities

Therapeutic Style:

· Passionate about enhancing 

  quality of life through communication 

  and technology

· Creates tailored educational tools for 

  diverse needs

Personal Interests: 

· Spending time with her dog, Pretzel

· Hanging out with her three adult children

Described as: 

· Intelligent

· Resourceful

· Helpful

· Kind

· Determined

Role: 

· Speech-Language Pathologist – 

  Clinical Fellow

Degree:

· Bachelor of Science in Speech 

  Language Pathology & Audiology from 

  CSU Sacramento, 2017

· Master of Science in Communication 

  Sciences and Disorders from CSU 

  Sacramento, 2022

License:

· Speech Language Pathologist – Clinical 

  Fellow SP 20204

Experience: 

· 8 years in private practice and 

  school settings

· Inspired by her parents’ work in 

  special education

Focus Areas:

· Functional communication

· Total communication with AAC

· Gestalt communication

· Building connection and engagement 

  through play

· Receptive and expressive language

· Social language

· Self-advocacy

Therapeutic Style:

· Builds strong communication skills to 

  support identity and life success

· Neurodiversity-affirming 

  and empowering 

Personal Interests: 

· Cooking

· Hiking

· Spending time with her pets

Described as: 

· Warm

· Empathetic

· Bubbly

· Curious

· Encouraging

Role: 

· Administrative Assistant

Experience: 

· Mother

· Volunteered at preschool and 

  elementary schools

· Yard duty at elementary school

Focus Areas:

· Helping therapists

· Supporting team projects

Communicative Style:

· Empathetic and calm

Personal Interests: 

· Watching movies

· Hanging with her family

· Hiking, camping, traveling

· Arts & crafts, learning how to knit

Described as:

· Quick learner

· Efficient

· Creative

· Silly & corny

· Loyal

Role: 

· TLC’s beloved therapy dog

Experience: 

· Over 2 years participating in team meetings and clinical sessions & offering emotional support

Focus Areas:

· Providing calming energy

· Helping clients overcome fears

Therapeutic Style:

· Gentle presence with a soothing effect

Personal Interests: 

· Asking for treats

· Spending time with his favorite humans

Described as: 

· Sweet

· Gentle

· Patient

· Calm

· Soft