Areas of Expertise

Articulation

An articulation disorder is when speech sound errors persist beyond what is developmentally appropriate. These children are typically mild to moderately unintelligible. Children with an articulation disorder typically respond well to a traditional articulation therapy approach where one sound is targeted at a time. During articulation therapy sound errors will be addressed through a hierarchy of levels, beginning with accurate production of the sound in isolation and moving through all levels until the sound is considered mastered. A speech sound is mastered when a child is able to accurately produce it in conversational speech.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

AAC is used to describe various methods of communication that can help people who are unable to use verbal speech to communicate. AAC methods vary and will be personalized to meet each individual’s needs. Speech-language therapy helps develop and increase their communication skills. Therapy will be provided in naturally occurring contexts across a wide variety of communicative settings and exchanges. Consultation services will also be available for the child’s teachers and other professionals that may be working with your child. This support helps provide consistency of use and further the success of the child’s device usage across all settings.

Phonological Delays & Disorders

Phonological processes are considered normal unless they persist beyond the age when most typically developing children have stopped using them or when a phonological process is used that is not seen in typical development. These children are highly unintelligible due to the excessive use of phonological processes. Remediation for kids with phonological disorders usually involves targeting the phonological processes in error as determined by the speech language pathologist. Targeting the phonological processes, as opposed to targeting each error sound by sound as you would in a traditional articulation approach, usually improves speech intelligibility at a faster rate for kids with phonological disorders.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

CAS is a speech sound disorder which is neurologically based. There is no presence of muscle weakness or decreased tone. There are some key characteristics of CAS that differentiate it from other articulation disorders such as motor difficulties, speech sound errors, prosody, speech perception, and often more than not language delays are also present. Therapy, in general, is more intense (more and/or longer sessions) when compared to typical articulation therapy. This can vary depending on how frequently a parent is able to complete the activities at home. Therapy needs to have a motor learning approach that utilizes verbal, visual, and tactile cueing.

Natural Language Acquisition (NLA)

We specialize in working with children who use echolalia and scripting to communicate. During child-led play activities, we acknowledge and honor scripts while modeling new language to help children move through the NLA stages - from echolalia to original language. Speech therapy will help your child feel affirmed and connected when communicating, express themselves clearly in their own words, and use language that is better understood by others. Parent involvement is key in gestalt language therapy. We love for our parents to be present!

Receptive & Expressive Language

A language delay can be receptive, expressive, or a combination of both. A receptive language deficit happens when your child has difficulty understanding language. An expressive language disorder happens when your child has difficulty communicating verbally. Intervention for language addresses receptive and expressive language delays and disorders. The interventions will help your child develop an effective means to communicate wants and needs, expand phrase length and vocabulary, follow directions, ask and answer questions, improve syntax structure, and use descriptive language for story retell. Language therapy will support your child's skill development across all environments.

Social Skills

A diagnosis of social (pragmatic) communication disorder applies when a child has difficulty using language in social situations. Therapy for social communication addresses: joint attention, increasing and expanding play skills, developing strategies for navigating social interactions at home, school, and in the community, turn-taking and back-and-forth interactions, social-emotional awareness, self-advocacy skills, and developing an understanding of non-verbal and non-literal communication. Social skills therapy honors neurodiversity while also supporting the development of skills that are meaningful and important to you and your child.

Developmental Norms for Speech and Language (asha.org)

Stages-of-GLP

My Approach

Our Mission Statement

We believe strongly in empowering families with tools and strategies to support ongoing practice at home and dedicate time during the session for parent education and home practice tips. Cherry Tree Therapy is also committed to being a trusted resource for families, and whenever necessary, we are available to answer questions and provide guidance.

Our Approach

Our child-centered and individualized services begin with an evaluation that allows us to develop a comprehensive picture of your child's abilities, challenges, and preferences. We also dedicate time to understanding family goals and values to ensure our therapy is meaningful and aligns with each family's preferences and needs. Once therapy begins, every session combines evidence-based therapy approaches with engaging and interactive activities.