Meet the Therapists
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, TSHH
Heather Lynn Boerner, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with 23 years of experience in the field is founder and creator of Chatty Child™. Heather treats children who have a wide variety of needs, and has gained experience in many therapeutic settings including: hospitals, schools, sensory gyms, and homecare settings.
Specialties include: apraxia of speech and PROMPT services (a technique used to improve the movement and coordination of oral structures for speech); oral motor and feeding therapy; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); autism; medically-complex populations; articulation; auditory processing; and, speech and language delays.
Chatty Child creates a personalized care program for each client that takes into account the child’s interests, strengths, current level of functioning, and future goals. We strive to empower the child, the whole family, and the caregivers to become positive vehicles of change within the child’s life. We strive to provide personalized, creative, and effective care to maximize each child’s communication abilities.
Heather Lynn Boerner graduated with high honors, New York University with Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and Minor in Education. Heather is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and Teacher of Speech and Hearing Disabled Students, State of New York. Heather is trained in PROMPT Level 2, Sounds in Motion, Zones of Regulation and DIR-FCD Model.
Trained In:
- Reiki Practitioner of the Usui Reiki System. Levels 1&2.
- Yoga for Every Kid
- PROMPT Practitioner. Levels 1 & 2.
- Zones of Regulation
- DIR Floortime
- Neuro-diversity affirming care
- Trauma-informed care
- Artistic modalities as a pathway to healing
- Beckmann Oral Motor Stretches
- SOS Feeding Approaches
- MORE Feeding Approaches
- And more ….
Gianna Cioffi, MS ED, CF-SLP / Arts Integration Specialist
Gianna Cioffi is a teaching artist who specializes integrating arts into curriculum to create more inclusive learning experiences. She has worked as an actor, choreographer, and director for a variety of theatre companies in New York City.
In 2011, Gianna graduated with a dual degree in Theatre and Communication Disorders from SUNY New Paltz. She holds her MS ED in Theatre Education from The City College of New York and is a New York State certified k-12 theatre teacher. Gianna is trained in Sounds in Motion, DIR-FCD Model and Orton Gillingham.
Christine Beavers, PT, DPT
Christine is a licensed pediatric physical therapist and founder of Growing Gains Therapy, a boutique private practice offering physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to children and families throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Christine earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and has worked in pediatric settings in New York City since 2018. She has experience in diverse settings including preschools, private special education schools, sensory gyms, and home-based therapy. She brings several years of experience from the
Cooke School, where she has worked with students with cognitive and developmental disabilities
across elementary, middle, and high school.
Christine specializes in helping children master fundamental movement skills that enable them to thrive in play, sports, and the physical demands of childhood. She helps children develop skills like walking, running, and jumping, navigate playground equipment and stairs, and improve sports skills like throwing, catching, and kicking. Whether supporting a young child in reaching developmental milestones or helping an older child catch up to peers, Christine tailors her approach to each child’s current abilities, learning style, and goals.
Christine has extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, including autistic children and those with sensory processing or motor planning differences. She is especially skilled at engaging children who may be hesitant about physical activity. Her approach is neuroaffirming, strengths-based, and deeply rooted in play. She believes children make the greatest progress when they feel understood and supported, and when therapy feels engaging and meaningful. Her sessions focus not only on building physical skills, but on helping children feel capable and confident in their bodies.
Christine works collaboratively with families and other providers to create functional goals that support each child’s participation in the activities and settings that matter most to them—whether that’s keeping up with peers on the playground, participating in sports and family outings, or navigating the physical demands of New York City life. She is excited to collaborate with Chatty Child to provide comprehensive support for children and families in Tribeca and beyond.
Isabel Salazar, MS, OTR/L
Isabel Salazar
Isabel earned her Master’s of Science at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where she did a Specialization in Early Intervention (EI) pediatric therapy. She works at schools, clinics, in-home, and in hospitals and is working gradually towards training in specialized occupational therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. Isabel is a past board member of the National Perinatal Association (NPA) Board of Directors, which promotes advocacy and research for perinatal (prenatal and postpartum) care for babies and families. Isabel authored a NICU Cuddler Guide, posted on NPA’s webpage, which provides foundational education to develop volunteer baby cuddling programs in hospital NICUs and nursery units. Isabel is also interested in adaptive devices and assistive technology devices (including mobility and communication devices) and wishes to gradually work towards training for a certification as an Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP), which she hopes to accomplish in order to promote adaptive strategies through technology for increased participation and success in daily activities or school tasks. Isabel provides therapy with principles of motivation-based learning, guided self-growth, and problem solving to achieve goals through play and activities. Isabel is a big proponent of sensory interventions to promote physical and emotional regulation, help to improve an optimal state for development. She is trained in a range of sensory therapies that incorporate sensory integration to improve sensory processing skills and promote adaptive responses to environmental demands in daily routines and activities. She has experience working with a wide range of children with special needs, including various neuromuscular, sensory, and learning disabilities. Isabel is fluent in English and Spanish, and provides bilingual therapy and able to communicate with families in Spanish to improve communication and quality of care. Isabel has a passion for working with children and families, and truly believes she can learn something every day to improve her practice. In her free time, Isabel enjoys singing, yoga, and practicing French and Spanish.
Annastassya Segovia, Administrator & BA in Speech Language Pathology
Annastassya Segovia is Chatty Child’s administrative and therapist assistant. Annastassya graduated from New York University during the spring of 2024 and received her Bachelors of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. She is currently working at Chatty Child to gain experience in the field, and is working on attending graduate school to get her Masters in Speech Language Pathology. Annastassya has always had a love for children and wants to work in a pediatric setting with bilingual children! When she is not in the office answering phone calls and greeting Chatty Child clients from the office, she enjoys traveling, shopping, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach!
