Background
& Philosophy
Welcome! I am Chantal, a registered Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and holder of a TSSLD (Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities) in the state of New York. After receiving a Masters in Science from Southern Connecticut State University, I began a career working with students in the school setting, in both push-in and pull-out models. During these years, I found myself specializing in the areas of language development and early literacy. After many years working as an SLP in the world of students with language-based learning impairments, I now balance my time between serving as an Emergent Literacy Specialist in a school and working with clients privately. This unique schedule allows me to fulfill my goal of supporting a wider set of NYC's youngest learners and their families both in the school setting in small groups, and on an individual basis.
The majority of my career has been spent working with children with the following diagnoses: expressive/receptive language delay/impairment, dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function delay/deficit. For students with individualized sensory needs, I provide sensory stimulation to make learning accessible during the duration of sessions, as well as supports and compensatory strategies to help improve their skills and overall communication abilities.
As a language therapist, I strive to fill identified gaps in students’ expressive or receptive language skills with tailored, evidence-based strategies. Language sessions for children in grades K-2 are provided in explicit and systematic ways that are approachable, enjoyable and effective. Language therapy for children from 1 y.o through PreK is provided in a more student-centered and play-based approach, using the child's interests as a guide. This supports a child's natural language development process and ensures that probes are functional and motivating for each individual. Sessions for these youngest children also encourage caregiver participation, with education included on how adults can provide stronger language models for continued growth in the home.
When it comes to reading development, providing children with a strong foundation in phonics is vital to ensure literacy success throughout their educational career. With over 10 years of literacy experience in the field, I have been trained in and have implemented phonics programs including The PAF Program, an Orton Gillingham based multisensory reading program, Fundations, and Lindamood Bell in small group and one-on-one settings. In addition to these letter-based programs, I am also trained in and have implemented Heggerty, an oral pre-literacy phonological awareness program. To address writing skills, my practice uses a combination of phonics and The Writing Revolution program to teach students how to strengthen their linguistic skills before applying them to complex sentence and paragraph writing.
While focusing on both language and literacy, I am deeply committed to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for every child I work with. My approach is empathy-forward and confidence-boosting, ensuring that each child feels valued and empowered on their educational journey. My therapy space embraces diversity, is gender-affirming, and treats each human as their own individual. I value meaningful connections, and strive to help each child gain skills needed to connect deeper with their loved ones and with the world around them. As a dedicated member of the NYC community, it is a privilege to work with our youngest learners and partner with their boundless energy, curiosity, and potential and make a positive impact on our greater community.