Clinician sitting on floor of classroom coloring with a child while other children play in the background

Speech-language therapy

Request speech-language therapy to support the communication skills of yourself or a family member, from infancy to adulthood, in either English or Spanish. Services are offered in person in Cary, North Carolina and surrounding areas, as well as virtually. Currently, in person therapy is provided in homes, daycares, or other community settings. See below for options.


Traditional 1:1 therapy

Therapy is provided in a one-to-one setting between the speech-language pathologist and the client. Family members or other caregivers are encouraged to participate if possible, to generalize learning to everyday life.

Caregiver coaching

Therapy is provided in a coaching model, where the therapist coaches parents or other caregivers on strategies they can use with their child. Caregivers actively practice strategies with the therapist’s feedback, so they feel empowered to use the strategies during daily activities. Caregiver coaching is available for children with current communication needs, as well as for young infants and children who are likely to develop communication needs in the future.

Group therapy

Group therapy is an option for clients working on similar goals, particularly for clients who desire or would benefit from peer interaction. Caregiver coaching can also be provided as group therapy, for parents who would value practicing alongside other families.

Therapy expertise

The Kinard Center founder and lead clinician, Dr. Jessica Kinard, PhD CCC-SLP, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) speech-language pathologist who has served as research, teaching, and clinical faculty for 10 years at UNC Chapel Hill, where she completed her doctoral and postdoctoral training in the fields of Speech and Hearing Sciences and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Dr. Kinard brings over 15 years of experience providing services to families.

Adult sitting at table with a toddler playing peekaboo

Therapy approaches

The Kinard Center’s therapy approaches are founded on research-based evidence and family-centered principles. Examples of evidence-based approaches that are offered during therapy include:

  • Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies

  • Cognitive behavioral strategies

  • Cycles approach for speech development

  • Developmental relationship-based interventions

  • Functional communication training

  • Music-mediated intervention

  • Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions

  • Neuroaffirming practices

  • Parent-implemented intervention

  • Peer-based intervention

  • Self-management

  • Total communication approaches

  • Visual supports


FAQs

Questions about services? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page. You’re also welcome to contact us with questions.