Consulting. Speaking. Coaching.
I am a bilingual speech-language pathologist, lactation mentor, caregiver coach, and feeding specialist. I have 15+ years of experience combining academic, clinical, and professional worlds to provide culturally-appropriate support for hundreds of families across education, non-profit, and private practice settings in the Bay area. Supporting infants and young children under the age of 5 is my specialty, particularly during the first 6 months of life. Working with nontraditional caregivers such as single parents, grandparents, and foster parents has helped me develop a judgment-free and compassionate approach. My overall mission is to give caregivers and clinicians the support they need we can end to womb-to-prison pipeline for Latinx families. I am of Nicaraguan descent, born and raised in San Francisco. I am a proud mami to my college-going son, an amateur succulent gardner, and a dancer and musician in practice. My pronouns are she/her/ella.
Previous Clients Include
Why I do What I do
As a young child, my first word was “LALA.” “LALA” meant I was ready to breastfeed, and I did so until I was more than 2 years old. Within those first years of life, my mom noticed my language development was delayed and sought support. I was fortunate enough to receive appropriate medical intervention and speech-language therapeutic support. By 2.5 years old, I was finally able to more effectively communicate, interact and grow in English and Spanish.
As a parent myself, I value the unique personalities and characteristics within each child. My child-centered therapy approach creates intrinsic motivation and authentic interaction, creating a foundation of trust to navigate more challenging tasks. Whether my therapeutic services are in the pool (aquatic therapy), on a horse (hippotherapy), at home/community, at a clinic, or online (tele-therapy and consultation), my clients see it as “just play.” Not only do I strive to target specific goals during our therapeutic “play,” my goal is to keep them doing so with a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye.
Education
Master of Science: Communicative Disorders (SLP)
State of CA Credential: Clinical Rehabilitative Services in Speech Language Hearing
Certificate of Completion: Collaborative Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Services in Inclusive Early Intervention
San Francisco State University, May 2006
Memberships
American Speech-Hearing Association (ASHA)
California Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA)
Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association (NDTA)
Speech Language Pathologists of Color
Bay Area Lactation Associates (BALA)
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