Chatterboks Speech Therapy -

About Us

Our therapists provide useful home activity information and communicate frequently with parents to assure active participation in their child's success. We believe in a team approach to learning.

Our Staff

Kristin, TherapistAbout Kristin

M.S. CCC-SLP
ASHA License #12096645

Oregon State License #12695

I grew up in the Central Valley of California and graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Linguistics with a minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences. While in Santa Barbara, I had the opportunity to volunteer for a family using the Son‐Rise Program® in their home. While with this family, I learned the value of home‐based, child‐centered therapy that not only benefited the child, but all those who worked with him. I was also blessed with the opportunity to work in the Speech and Hearing Sciences department as an assistant in stuttering research, which was fascinating! After graduation, I moved here to Oregon to pursue a master's degree to become a speech‐language pathologist. I attended University of Oregon for my graduate work in Communication Disorders and Sciences.

In 2005, I graduated and began working at Mighty Oaks Children's Therapy Center in Albany, OR, a non‐ profit center providing speech, occupational and physical therapy services. While there, I learned a vast amount working with children of all abilities and enjoyed teaming with knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists to maximize treatment benefits. After almost two years with Mighty Oaks, I decided to get back to home‐based, child‐centered therapy by working privately. So here I am!

I truly enjoy working with children with special needs. They have a beautiful way of looking at and interacting with the world around them. Each child I treat is unique and amazing in their own way. My main goal for all of my clients is that they can more independently communicate their wants and needs to others, using augmentative, sign and verbal methods. Knowing that children learn best when they are happy and socially motivated, I use a play‐based approach and positively encourage all my clients to learn and grow in new ways. I bring a loving and supportive outlook to all my treatment sessions and look forward to working with more amazing children and their families!

I believe that clear communication with parents and the child about treatment methods and goals is very important. Treatment is more beneficial when families work with me to encourage carryover of skills into a child's daily life, including home, school and community environments. Repetition is key to learning, so daily practice is essential. I greatly appreciate inquisitive parents who want to learn how they can incorporate communication goals into a variety of contexts.

Melinda, TherapistAbout Melinda

M.S. CCC-SLP

ASHA License #01088607

Oregon State License #010990

I’m a true Oregonian! I grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon and moved to the Willamette Valley for college, so I have never left

“home”. I have been a practicing Speech Language Pathologist for over 30 years. I attended Western Oregon State College

(University) in Monmouth, Oregon for both undergraduate and post graduate programs. In graduate school, I was one of ten

students that was granted a full ride scholarship that focused on “Severely Handicapped Learners”. Most of my career was

spent with Salem Keizer Public Schools and earlier, with Willamette ESD Early Intervention and Early Childhood programs. The

latter part of my career, I provided speech and language/augmentative communication services to students in specialized

classrooms – kindergarten through 5 th grade. I have extensive experience working with students with Autism, Down Syndrome,

Intellectual Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Delays. I especially love consulting with parents and caregivers so

working with Chatterboks Speech Therapy is a perfect fit for me! I feel successful when I can help caregivers add more “tools”

to their toolbox that will encourage daily practice for their child. When families participate, they get to see the progress too.

My strengths include using Structured Play (PRT therapy) as a therapy technique and I can “switch gears” quickly to meet the

needs of my students. Although I’m very goal oriented, I am skilled at addressing a child’s speech and language needs without

them even knowing they are “working”. I have worked alongside Occupational and Physical Therapists, so I have a good grasp

of motor activities that encourage more language skills. I have a passion for literacy and have a large selection of children’s

books in my home library. Sometimes when students are just having “one of those days”, a book can be a calming way to

interact, ask and answer questions, practice speech sounds, play I Spy, socialize and learn new vocabulary. At that moment, it

removes the demands placed and provides a nice distraction so learning can continue. I enjoy incorporating music, sign

language and picture communication into my sessions to keep things moving.

One more thing you should know about me. I LOVE old metal lunchboxes and use them in my therapy - Superheroes, Disney,

Sesame Street, etc. Sometimes, a lunchbox becomes a “Mystery Box”, and students have to ask questions to figure out what’s

inside. I use a visual chart as a prompt to help them through the activity, so all students verbal and non-verbal, can participate.

Other times, I will load it with small toys or picture cards that can encourage talk time and opportunities to practice target

sounds. It’s a fan favorite activity. The possibilities are endless! Can you tell I love what I do?

Kayleen A., Office ManagerAbout Kayleen

Kayleen is our Office Manager (AKA the glue of Chatterboks Speech Therapy).

She…

is usually the first person to contact you from our office.
will email you intake documents and create your medical record.
is the one who handles insurance billing.
is the one who collects and processes patient payments.

While Kayleen cannot answer any education-related questions about Speech Therapy, she can answer and research most insurance questions. Kayleen holds an Associate of General Studies Degree and has taken many college courses in business administration, medical office, and accounting.

When Kayleen is not working at Chatterboks ST, she enjoys spending time with her immediate and extended family, her friends, and her two cats. She enjoys running 5Ks, 10Ks, half and full marathons, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, snow skiing, mountain biking, riding ATVs, camping (pretty much anything outdoors), traveling to new places, and playing board games. She is an Oregon native, but waits VERY IMPATIENTLY for Summertime in Oregon. She loves warm oceans/beaches (so this excludes Oregon). She loves to decorate for holidays. Her favorite holiday is Independence Day.