Speech Therapy

Choosing a speech therapist can be a daunting task. After all, the field of speech-language pathology is wide, and there are vastly different areas of knowledge and specialization under its broad scope.   Brightspot is a great fit for your family if you're looking for a provider who:

  • uses a child-led, play-based approach to speech therapy because the brain learns best through play (an added benefit: your child will think speech is FUN!) 
  • will help you understand WHY your toddler isn't talking much, and what to do about it
  • has years of experience with autistic communicators and loves getting to know each child's unique personality, interests, and strengths
  • can make quick and meaningful change with speech sounds of all types, allowing your child to be understood by others
  • has invested time, energy, and professional development hours in understanding and treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech
  • has a neurodiversity-affirming lens and will see and honor your child's strengths while building their communication skills
  • is experienced in using and programming a variety of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices, including a uniquely-designed pageset for non-speaking or minimally-speaking gestalt language processors
  • is a parent & step-parent of four, and will support your parenting choices with openness, affirmation, and non-judgment*

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*About Rachel

Hi, I'm Rachel! I've been a pediatric speech-language pathologist for eleven years, practicing in a variety of settings from the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, from home-based services to private clinics to the public schools.  I started Westbound Speech because I wanted to create a place for children to thrive through child-led, family-centered practices with a strong emphasis on supporting neurodivergent communicators.

I work with children of all ages, from infancy to young adulthood, and I have years of experience providing speech therapy to address expressive and receptive language, articulation and phonology, apraxia of speech, and assistive & augmentative communication (AAC).  As a mom of littles myself, early intervention has a special place in my heart, but I also absolutely love working with older learners - especially those who haven't made much progress with outdated speech therapy approaches.  For this reason, I've developed specializations in executive functioning, gestalt language processing, and difficult-to-remediate speech sounds. I also have extensive experience with childhood apraxia of speech.

I fell in love with speech-language pathology early, earning both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field. I hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, am a licensed provider in Washington State, and have built on my knowledge and skills with my love of ongoing education.  I am committed to providing services that are neurodiversity- and gender-affirming from a multiculturally humble place.

In addition to being a speech therapist and small business owner, I'm a distance runner and aspiring gardener.  I love the Pacific Northwest and can cheer at a rainy Saturday morning soccer game with the best of them!  In my free time, I love coffee, curling up with a good book, and spontaneous adventures.