Speech Therapy in New Carrollton, MD

Kristin Dattoria is extremely passionate about speech-language pathology. She grew up in Valencia, CA, and attended Utah State University and University of California at Irvine for her Bachelor's degrees and Utah State University for her Master's degree in English. She received her Master's degree in Speech Pathology from California State University, Northridge. She moved to Maryland in 2020 with her husband, Kevin. Kristin loves seeing clients progress over the course of the year and connecting with their families. In speech therapy, she works hard to accomplish her clients' speech and language goals, but she also loves to keep things fun and personalized. She especially loves working on strengthening vocabulary, visual and working memory, executive functioning skills, stuttering, and symptoms of aphasia. In her free time, Kristin enjoys running after and playing with her son, playing board games, dancing hula, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. **My Approach to Speech Therapy** I am a big believer in motivating clients/students to meet goals and new challenges through evidence-based practice, relating to them through their interests and personal goals, providing opportunities for making autonomous choices, and supporting a feeling of accomplishment and competency in their skills. We can do this together! **What a Therapy Session Looks Like With Kristin** In my therapy sessions, I start with a check-in to see how you're doing and if you have any new information to share with me. Then, we jump into "the work." That can look like working on word and memory associations, visualization tasks, articulation practice...the goals and session are tailored to your unique needs and goals. I will help create those goals and make each session enjoyable, but I always see us as a team, working toward each goal together. **Fun Facts About Kristin** - I am a Hula and salsa dancer - I speak Spanish and English, but I'm half-Japanese, part-German, and part-English - I enjoy the outdoors, especially the ocean and mountains, so I love to hike and camp or glamp! - I played the piano and cello when I was younger

Julie Meyerowitz is a speech-language pathologist with more than a decade and a half of experience. She has been helping adults and children reach their communication goals since graduating with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia University in 2008. Julie is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds state licenses to provide services to clients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and California. Additionally, Julie has earned specialized certification in Accent Modification from Lorna D. Sikorski & Associates and in Autism as a Relationship Development Intervention Consultant. **My Approach to Therapy** Speech Therapy focuses on creating a supportive and engaging environment tailored to each individual’s goals. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques with creativity to make therapy effective, enjoyable, and client-centered. **What a Session Looks Like With Julie** I provide virtual speech therapy sessions where we address your personal goals by building skills through targeted activities. Sessions are structured yet flexible, progressing while adapting to the client’s unique goals and interests.

Alexa is a AuDHD speech-language pathologist based in the Atlanta area. She has expertise in trauma-informed care, person-centered care, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. She is a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) and is trained in Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) theory. Her passion is teaching her clients the skills necessary to be the best self-advocates they can be. **My Approach To Therapy** My approach to speech therapy incorporates a holistic, trauma-informed perspective. I recognize that neurodiverse individuals have a history of trauma to some extent, which can have a negative impact on communication skills and overall quality of life. I address the trauma response and how this integrates into communicative functions. **What a Therapy Session Looks Like With Me** A therapy session with me is a very relaxed and low-pressure environment. Consent is key, so rather than me telling you what needs to be done, we collaborate on what we think is best for your given situation. I also advocate for what makes you feel the most comfortable in our sessions, so that can be wearing your PJs, having your camera turned off for virtual appointments, whatever helps you function at your best! My structure for sessions typically involves self-reflection while we practice functional communication goals. Sessions always end on a discussion regarding a home exercise program (HEP) that will help you generalize what you've learned into your everyday routine. **Fun Facts About Alexa** I spend my spare time doing various things in my free time that keep my body and brain regulated. This often entails reading, knitting/crocheting, watching my favorite TV shows, and playing video games. Don't be afraid to bring these activities up in our sessions, I love talking about my special interests!**

Kelly Blickenstaff, MS, CCC-SLP, is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist with over 13 years of experience working with children and families across a wide range of settings. She is the founder of Little Latch & Lingo, a specialized practice dedicated to assessing, consulting, and treating feeding, myofunctional, and speech/language disorders in children from birth through age 10, as well as supporting postpartum women and new mothers navigating early feeding challenges. Kelly brings a unique, family-centered approach to therapy — one grounded in connection, empowerment, and practical support. She is passionate about helping parents overcome early feeding difficulties, placing a strong emphasis on parent-child bonding, relationship-building, and reducing mealtime stress. Her goal is to support functional therapy progress that often falls outside the scope of schools or larger clinical systems. She has developed and led a feeding and orofacial myofunctional clinic, provided ongoing training and mentorship to SLPs and OTs, and has taught at the collegiate level. Kelly is trained in Feed the Peds, Simon Says, and IAOM Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, and uses a collaborative and evidence-based framework to guide treatment. She also offers mentorship and advanced clinical training for fellow SLPs, helping elevate care across the field. Inspired by both her professional journey and her personal experience as a mother of children with feeding and myofunctional needs, Kelly created Little Latch & Lingo to offer a different kind of support—one that digs deeper to address root causes and delivers personalized, compassionate care that meets families exactly where they are. **My Approach To Speech Therapy** Warm, approachable, and deeply knowledgeable, Kelly empowers parents with confidence and hope - transforming stress into connection and helping every child find joy in feeding, communicating, and growing. **What A Session Looks Like With Kelly** Sessions are client specific but typically range from 30 to 60 minutes depending upon the goals and family availability. Sessions are fun and interactive and most of the time kids are not even aware they are working. Sessions will conclude with a brief overview of what was worked on and any additional exercises or home activities to help with carryover will be handed to the parent. Parents are welcome to sit in the room and watch/participate or wait in the quiet waiting room right outside the therapy door. Teletherapy is offered if conducive to client needs. **Fun Facts About Kelly** When I am not providing therapy, I am chasing after my two toddlers, ages 1 and 3, and soaking up every second of them at this age! My husband and I are both business owners who love nothing more than the freedom and flexibility it gives us to enjoy the important things in life.

Dr. Donna Rice, EdD, CCC-SLP, is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan with diverse communication needs. Her clinical expertise spans both children and adults, and she works closely with families to ensure comprehensive, compassionate care. Dr. Rice specializes in treating children diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome, Fluency Disorders, and Phonological Delays. In addition, she has extensive experience working with adults, including those with cognitive delays, and she provides Accent Modification services to support clearer, more confident communication in professional and social settings. Dr. Rice holds a Doctorate in Education in Speech-Language Pathology and has served as a university lecturer and clinical supervisor, training future clinicians in both academic and clinical environments. She's trained in PROMPT® (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), a tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech therapy, and PECS® to support nonverbal communicators. As a wife, mother of five adult children, and grandmother of three, she brings both professional and personal insight to her work. Having raised a neurodivergent child and children with ADD, she understands the importance of finding compassionate, high-quality services and building an education plan that truly supports a child’s success. **My Approach To Speech Therapy** My approach to speech therapy is rooted in evidence-based practices, functional outcomes, and a deep respect for each client’s unique strengths and challenges. I believe that communication is not just a skill—it’s a lifeline to connection, confidence, and independence. That’s why I focus on therapy that is meaningful, practical, and tailored to real-life situations children and adults face every day. I partner closely with families to ensure therapy is collaborative, transparent, and aligned with meaningful goals. Together, we’ll build a plan that not only supports communication but also uplifts your family’s journey. **What A Session Looks Like With Donna** A session with me is designed to be engaging, purposeful, and tailored to each client’s unique communication needs. Whether we’re meeting in person or virtually, each session begins with a brief check-in and ends with a self-rating to promote ownership and boost motivation for progress.I use evidence-based strategies and structured, yet flexible, activities that are both engaging and functional. Sessions may include interactive activities, visual supports, or digital materials—always aligned with the client’s goals and interests. Throughout the session, I focus on real-world communication—helping to build skills that can be used at home, in school, and the community. I also prioritize collaboration with families, offering feedback, strategies, and encouragement so you feel empowered to support progress between sessions. Above all, my sessions are a safe and supportive space where you are seen, heard, and celebrated for every step forward. I have offices in both Maryland and Virginia at the following locations:\ MD: 3261 Old Washington Road, Suite 2020, Waldolf, MD\ VA: 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 220, Alexandria, VA 22314 **Fun Facts About Donna** One of the most meaningful projects I’ve been part of was contributing to the national standardization of two widely used speech and language assessments: the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–Fifth Edition (PPVT-5) and the Expressive Vocabulary Test–Third Edition (EVT-3). I had the privilege of including 167 children from the Washington Metropolitan Area in the national sample. Why was this important to me? Because I believe that families in our region deserve to have a voice—and a stake—in what is considered “typical” and “average” in child development. By ensuring our local children were represented, I helped make these tools more inclusive and reflective of the diverse communities we serve. It was a proud moment in my career and a small but powerful way to advocate for equity in the field of speech-language pathology.