Not Just Words, Mobile SLP

01/10/2026

01/08/2026

One thing parents tell me all the time is that their child shuts down when speech starts to feel like pressure.

That’s why I don’t teach sounds at a table with drills.
I teach them through play.

Cars become sound practice.
Games turn into repetition.
Movement helps the body feel ready to talk.

When kids feel regulated and connected, their speech comes more easily. That’s where real progress happens.

If articulation has felt like a battle at home, send me a message and let’s talk about a different way to support your child 💛

01/07/2026

When a child gets stuck repeating a word or sound, the instinct is often to correct or rush them.
But what usually helps more is slowing things down and giving them a gentle model instead.

Try this:
💬 Repeat the word back calmly
💬 Add one extra word
💬 Keep the moment relaxed and connected

It takes pressure off and shows their brain an easier path forward.

I use this approach all the time in therapy because communication grows best when kids feel safe, not rushed.

What does your child usually do when they get stuck mid-word or mid-sentence?

01/06/2026

One thing I love about working with homeschool families is this: language is already happening all day long.

It shows up while you’re cooking lunch, building with blocks, reading together, or talking through a tough moment. Those real-life moments are where communication grows best, not during forced drills.

That’s exactly how I work at Not Just Words. I step into your child’s natural routines and help turn everyday moments into meaningful communication support.

And for many Ohio homeschool families, this support can be fully covered through state scholarships.

Send me a message if you want to see whether your homeschooler qualifies for free speech therapy.

01/01/2026

Staying on topic is not about telling them to slow down or pay attention harder. It is about helping their brain organize ideas in a way that feels doable.

In sessions, I focus on things like:
💬 learning how to pause and come back to a thought
🎲 practicing conversation through play instead of pressure
🧠 supporting regulation first, so their body is ready to communicate

When kids feel regulated and understood, conversations start to flow more naturally. That is where real social communication grows.

If this sounds like your child, message me, and we can talk about how I can support this in therapy.

Message me

12/30/2025

One thing I see a lot is kids who know exactly what they want to say, but their voice just fades out halfway through.

That is usually not a motivation issue. It is breath support.

Strong speech needs steady air. Not pushing. Not yelling. Just learning how to use the body to support the voice.

A few things I focus on in sessions:
🌬 blowing bubbles or pinwheels to build steady airflow
🧸 talking during movement and play instead of sitting still
🎶 stretching sounds while breathing out slowly

When breathing feels organized, speech sounds clearer, and volume feels easier. That is why I never separate speech from the body. It all works together.

Save this post if your child struggles with volume or sounds breathy when they talk.

12/29/2025

One thing I notice again and again is how much easier communication can be when a child feels truly safe. For a lot of neurodivergent kids, homeschooling creates that space. Fewer transitions. Less pressure. More room to follow their own rhythm.

When therapy is child-led and happens right inside that environment, kids often show us more. More connection. More attempts. More trust. That is where real communication starts to grow.

This is exactly how I work at Not Just Words. And for many Ohio homeschool families, this support is fully covered through state scholarships.
If you homeschool and want to know if your child qualifies for free speech therapy, send me a message, and I will walk you through it.

12/26/2025

Kids with low muscle tone often work twice as hard just to coordinate the muscles needed for speech. And honestly, I see how exhausting that can feel for them.

What actually helps is not endless oral drills. It is movement. Play. Breath support. Posture. Sensory input that helps their little bodies feel steady so their mouths can do the job they are trying to do.

Inside my sessions, I build these supports into play so it feels natural and doable. When their body gets the stability it needs, their speech becomes clearer, and their confidence grows right along with it.

If your child struggles with low muscle tone and you want support that fits who they are, message me, and I’ll walk you through how our services can help.

12/24/2025

One thing I pay close attention to in sessions is a child’s facial expressions. Sometimes those tiny shifts tell me more than the words ever could.

Kids use their faces to show excitement, frustration, confusion, and connection. And when a child struggles with speech, those expressions become even more important. I look for the moments where their eyes brighten, their brows lift, or their smile softens because those are the clues that help me shape our next step together.

Here, communication is a whole-body experience. When kids feel safe and understood, their faces relax, their bodies settle, and their words start to come forward in their own time.

If you want support that looks at the whole child and not just the sound they are trying to make, message me, and I’ll help you see what this approach could look like for your family.

Message me to learn how we support communication beyond words.

12/22/2025

As a neuroaffirming therapist, I never use eye contact as a measure of connection. So many autistic kids communicate beautifully while looking at a toy, the floor, or the wall. And that’s valid.

I’m watching for something completely different. Shared moments. Interest. Joy. Touch. Movement. The small cues that say I’m here with you, without forcing a behavior that feels uncomfortable or unnatural.

In our sessions, your child gets to communicate in the way that feels safest for them. And that’s where the real progress starts.
If you want support that honors your child’s natural communication style, send me a message, and I’ll walk you through how our services or scholarships can help your homeschooler get started.

12/19/2025

Scripting is one of the first things I pay attention to in therapy, because it usually tells me so much more than the words themselves. Kids use lines from shows for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it helps them regulate. Sometimes it's how they practice language. Sometimes it's their safest way to communicate a need.

In my sessions, I look at the purpose behind the script and use it to build a connection, not stop it. This is a huge part of our neuroaffirming, child-led approach at Not Just Words.

If you want support understanding your child’s communication style, reach out, and I’ll walk you through what this can look like in therapy.

Send me a message if you want help figuring out what your child’s scripts might be telling us.

12/17/2025

I teach parents these swaps all the time, because the truth is our wording matters more than we realize. Kids pick up on tone, pressure, and how safe it feels to share their needs.

When we shift our language, kids usually move right along with us. I see it every single day.
Sometimes all it takes is making the moment feel safer, slower, and more connected.

If you want more small changes that make big communication wins, follow along for daily tips just like this.
Save this post so you can try these swaps the next time things feel tough at home.