Speech and Stillness: Why This NYC Speech Therapist Uses Mindfulness With Kids Who Struggle to Focus
Last spring, I was honored to become a 150-hour meditation and mindfulness-trained teacher through The Path’s MTT teacher training program.
After 30 years of practice, navigating my own personal meditation and mindfulness journey, I was curious and ready to gain the knowledge required to teach others the benefits of meditation and mindfulness practice.
Now with this knowledge, as a speech therapist in NYC, I am able to teach meditation and mindfulness activities to the children that I treat every day in my own speech and occupational therapy clinic.
I have personally found these meditation and mindfulness practices to be extremely empowering. This is through the harnessing of one’s own power of agency and choice.
Finding Focus Through Stillness
I have used meditation and mindfulness practices to improve my own ability to focus.
When my mind is racing down my daily to-do list, I often remind myself to pause, breathe, and take a moment to ground. And then organize my thoughts.
Similarly, when working with students who may have challenges with directing their attention, I often encourage them to focus and anchor into the awareness of their breath first.
When overwhelm hits, I remind them to pause and turn inwards – focusing on their breath.
I remind my students to anchor into the breath by using this short meditation.
Opening into the Awareness of the Breath:
I invite my students to:
Pause.
Breathe gently in and out through the nose.
Relax the head, shoulders, and jaw.
Soften the lips.
Notice the rise of the belly.
Notice the fall of the belly.
Gently softening into this present moment.
Allowing the breath to anchor you.
Allowing the breath to center you.
Gently responding with grace and love.
Filling the room with light & love.
A brief meditation that involves bringing your awareness to the breath can provide that moment of pause needed between a stimulus and a response.
Practical Strategies for Supporting Regulation
This can be a practical tool for a child to pull from their ‘focus and self-regulation tool box’ when they are having the following challenges:
- Focusing and attending to a non-preferred task.
- Regulating their emotions.
- Regulating their physical body.
- Processing overwhelming outside stimuli.
As a parent, caregiver, or teacher, taking the extra time to notice and validate a child’s inner state is extremely healing.
So, modeling and guiding them on how to be aware of and regulate their internal states of focus and emotional well-being can be highly beneficial.
By encouraging a child to pause, turn inwards, and build awareness with their breath and body, you are teaching them extremely powerful tools of self-regulation!
Helping Children Pause, Focus, and Choose
Self-regulation refers to how easily a child is able to regulate both their internal emotional state and their outward physical body and behaviors.
Bringing awareness to their breath and internal body sensations can help a child pause and focus. Additionally, this creates a space between incoming stimuli and their outward response.
This awareness creates internal space for them to choose their next step of action.
Meditation and mindfulness can be a powerful tool in your child’s toolbox in moving towards improved self-awareness and self-regulation, along with speech therapy in NYC.
Reflections from a NYC Speech Therapist
If your child is struggling during reading time or circle time, we are here ready to help support your child’s growth.
So, are you ready to experience the difference of bespoke, holistic, compassionate, personalized care at Chatty Child?
Chatty Child’s speech therapists can assess your child’s speech and language developmental needs and craft an individually tailored treatment plan to address any areas of concern while working seamlessly with your child’s medical team to achieve the best therapeutic outcomes for your child and family.
To book an in-person or online speech therapy assessment and treatment sessions with Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP, please visit our website at: www.chattychild.com; email: info@chattychild.com; or call: 347 491 4451
Sincerely,
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP
Support Focus and Confidence with a Speech Therapist in NYC
Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for children who struggle with focus, attention, or self-regulation. At Chatty Child, our pediatric speech therapists in NYC thoughtfully integrate mindfulness practices into therapy, creating a calm, supportive space where kids can strengthen communication skills, develop focus, and grow in confidence. By combining evidence-based speech therapy with mindful awareness, we help children thrive both in and out of the therapy room.
Here’s how to get started with a speech therapist in NYC:
- Schedule a free 15-minute phone call to discuss your child’s needs and learn how mindfulness can enhance their speech therapy experience.
- Book a comprehensive evaluation to assess communication skills, attention, and individual strengths, building the foundation for a customized therapy plan.
- Begin personalized therapy sessions that weave together speech strategies and mindfulness techniques to support focus, regulation, and expression.
- Watch your child grow in confidence, communication, and resilience as mindfulness tools become part of their everyday life.
Helping Children Thrive: Full-Service Care at Chatty Child
At Chatty Child, we offer more than speech therapy. We provide a comprehensive range of services designed to foster children’s growth, confidence, and resilience, while equipping caregivers with practical tools and support.
- InterAct – A playful model that blends stories, performance, and imagination to encourage expressive language and boost confidence.
- Occupational Therapy – Builds fine motor coordination, supports sensory processing, and promotes everyday independence.
- Teletherapy – Convenient online speech and occupational therapy available to families across New York State.
- Tutoring – Customized academic support in literacy, writing, and problem-solving to spark curiosity and success in school.
- Functional Nutrition – Guidance focused on emotional balance and physical health during key developmental stages.
- Consulting – Collaborative coaching for caregivers, teachers, and professionals to ensure consistent strategies across environments.
- Programs – Group-based sessions that strengthen emotional awareness, social connection, and learning through joyful play and movement.
Through creative, evidence-based approaches, our team helps children build communication skills, regulate emotions, and grow with confidence.
Meet the Author: Pediatric Speech Therapist in NYC
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP, is a New York State–licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience in pediatric speech therapy in NYC. Alongside her clinical expertise, she is a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, a trauma-informed practitioner, and proudly identifies as neurodiverse and differently-abled. These lived and professional experiences shape the compassionate, inclusive care she provides.
Heather’s personal journey as a differently-abled individual inspired her to create Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC—an empowering practice where children are supported through individualized, affirming services. She is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book designed to nurture confidence, learning, and connection, complete with a teaching guide for parents and educators.
Today, Heather and her team serve families both in-person at their Tribeca, Manhattan clinic and online across New York State, helping children gain confidence, strengthen communication, and express themselves fully.
