Less Stress, More Success in Virtual Speech Therapy: What a NYC Speech Therapist Does to Support Regulation, Communication and Connections in This Fast-Paced World
Many of my older students prefer and appreciate the option for live, virtual calls when meeting with me – their trusted online speech-language therapist!
The benefits of virtual speech therapy are plentiful!
This live, remote option eliminates the need for travel and it allows for the speech therapy session to be conducted in the comfort of your child’s home.
This ease of delivery can be extremely beneficial for those students with anxiety and past traumas within the educational or medical system.
It can also be helpful for those children with busy afterschool schedules and activities.
Eliminating the need for travel frees up more time for your child and family to engage in nourishing activities and downtime after school.
Online speech and language therapy provides the opportunity for mothers, fathers and caregivers to become active participants and collaborators in their child’s therapeutic journey.
I enjoy working with parents, caregivers, therapists and teachers in a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.
This collaborative approach benefits the individual and unique needs of each child I provide care for; providing unlimited possibilities for their growth and learning.
In my private practice I strive for a stress-free and successful virtual therapy session with each child entrusted in my care.
My virtual therapy sessions are built upon a foundation of strengthening connections to mind, body and heart through creative pathways to engaged learning.
I often begin my online sessions by providing exercises to calm and regulate the physical body. These self-regulation exercises can include:
- breathing exercises
- humming exercises
- meditation practices such as mindfulness of the breath, attention to sounds or awareness of body sensations
- grounding yoga poses
- visualizations, imagery, and storytelling techniques to calm the nervous system
These grounding exercises can bring an inner awareness and calm to the physical body and nervous system.
This can be a welcome reset for your child after a long day at school, bringing increased self-regulation and calm to their body.
Bringing calm and focus through meditation and mindfulness activities can improve your child’s sense of internal regulation – before targeting more structured speech and language goals.
Building communication and cognitive skills are the cornerstone of the work I do.
Working to improve a child’s ability to communicate, engage meaningfully in the classroom, and during social activities is a primary goal for many of the students I treat virtually in my private practice.
Our virtual sessions may include engaging in a conversation about your child’s week, any frustrations they may be experiencing, or even some fun highlights they are anticipating in the upcoming month.
I will often inquire about their likes and dislikes …
I want to know what ticks them off and what lights them up!
We explore their curiosities and passions together in shared connections and conversations.
During these conversations the child gets to practice important communication skills such as:
- improving vocal volume
- enhancing speech clarity
- practice asking and answering relevant questions
- turn-taking during conversations
- staying on topic while speaking with friends and adults
I build meaningful and powerful connections with my students by developing a treatment plan based on their passions as well as their challenges.
By following the child’s lead I am able to develop a treatment plan based on their interests while also addressing their areas of difficulty in creative and holistic ways.
We often close our virtual sessions by connecting to our heart center.
The last few moments of the session will often include:
- a review of the work completed
- any questions or concerns
- carry over homework for the child and family to work on for the next session
- a short practice to close the session in gratitude
We will often close and seal our virtual session with a warming gratitude practice that connects us to our sense of thankfulness, groundedness and calm.
To close each virtual session I may ask my students to:
- name 5 simple things they are grateful for in that moment
- name something they are proud of accomplishing this season
- name a friend or person they are thankful for
- name someone they helped recently
This closing practice invites us to close the session with a sense of positivity, warmth and gratitude by focusing on small moments and glimmers of hope and resilience.
Creating these pockets of positivity is extremely meaningful for differently-abled and neurodivergent individuals and communities.
These practices that connect the mind, body and heart invite us to build a strong foundation for successful self- regulation, communication and shared connections.
If your child is struggling at school – we can help!
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 skills 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
Meet the Author: A Pediatric Speech Therapist in NYC
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP, is a nationally certified and New York State licensed speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience providing pediatric speech therapy in NYC. In addition to her clinical background, Heather is a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, a trauma-informed provider, and a proud neurodiverse and differently-abled individual. Her personal and professional experiences deeply inform her approach to care.
Heather’s own journey as a differently-abled person led her to establish Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC, an inclusive practice dedicated to empowering children through individualized, compassionate support. She is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book that promotes confidence, learning, and friendship. The story includes a teaching guide designed for use by parents and educators alike.
Heather and her team offer services both in-person at their Tribeca, Manhattan clinic and virtually throughout New York State, helping children grow in confidence, communication, and self-expression.
