Business Details
11 Years
experience
Trusted Speech Therapy Services in Virginia
Chatting Children was founded in 2015 with a mission to make speech therapy engaging and effective for children. Our team of certified speech-language pathologists brings decades of combined experience in addressing language, articulation, and social communication challenges. We specialize in comprehensive evaluations, individualized therapy plans, and collaborative school consultations to support children's developmental needs. Our approach integrates play-based learning and evidence-based techniques to foster communication skills in a joyful environment. With therapists licensed across Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, we serve families through in-clinic sessions, school visits, and parent-guided carryover activities.Our commitment to continuous professional development ensures we stay at the forefront of innovative speech therapy practices. By prioritizing personalized care and family involvement, we aim to empower children to thrive socially, academically, and emotionally. Our blog resources and community outreach further demonstrate our dedication to advancing childhood communication development. Through structured assessments and transparent progress tracking, we build trust with families seeking expert intervention for speech and language delays. Our practice reflects the belief that effective therapy should be both scientifically grounded and genuinely enjoyable for young learners.
Services
Speech Language Evaluation
Speech Language Screening
Individual Therapy
Group Therapy
Reading Therapy
School Observations
Parent Consultations
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- Our therapists hold ASHA certification and state licenses across multiple jurisdictions
- We provide play-based therapy that combines learning with developmental engagement
- Comprehensive evaluations identify specific speech-language needs and progress markers
- Home and school carryover activities ensure consistent skill development
- Specialized experience with autism spectrum disorders and reading interventions
Services
Speech Language Evaluation
Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations identify speech-language disorders affecting communication and learning. Our clinicians use standardized tools to assess receptive/expressive language, articulation, and social communication skills. Results guide individualized treatment plans for children with developmental delays or learning challenges.
Individual Therapy
Customized 50-minute sessions target specific speech goals through play-based activities and evidence-based interventions. Therapists provide progress tracking and home practice materials to reinforce skills between sessions. Treatment addresses articulation, language development, and communication strategies.
Group Therapy
Interactive group sessions develop peer communication, turn-taking, and conversational skills in children with similar needs. Structured activities promote social interaction while maintaining individualized goal tracking within the group setting.
School Observations
Therapists conduct classroom assessments to evaluate communication challenges in academic settings. Collaborative consultations with educators help implement effective learning accommodations and carryover strategies across environments.
Parent Consultations
Professional guidance sessions educate families on supporting speech development at home. Therapists demonstrate techniques for reinforcing therapy goals through daily activities and provide progress updates to ensure consistent skill application.
People
Julie Cotter
Speech-Language Pathologist
ASHA-certified with Virginia and DC licenses, Julie specializes in pediatric speech disorders using play-based therapy techniques to improve communication skills for children with diverse needs.
Sara Bealko
Speech-Language Pathologist
Holding ASHA certification and licenses in Virginia and West Virginia, Sara focuses on articulation disorders and language development through engaging, child-centered therapy approaches.
Allison Spagna
Speech-Language Pathologist
ASHA-certified Virginia licensee Allison works with children on social communication challenges, employing evidence-based strategies to enhance pragmatic language and interpersonal skills development.
Emily Massari
Speech-Language Pathologist
Virginia-licensed Emily specializes in early language intervention, helping toddlers and preschoolers build foundational communication skills through structured play activities and parent collaboration.
Kirsten Klingenberg
Pediatric Speech Therapist
Experienced in treating children with diverse diagnoses, Kirsten employs individualized therapy plans to address speech delays and communication disorders across developmental spectrums.
Questions
What ages do you work with?
We specialize in pediatric speech therapy for children from toddlerhood through adolescence.
Do you accept insurance?
We recommend contacting your provider about out-of-network speech therapy coverage options.
How long are therapy sessions?
Individual and group sessions last 50 minutes, with school visits typically 45 minutes.
What qualifications do your therapists have?
All clinicians hold ASHA certification and state licenses in speech-language pathology.
Do you offer virtual therapy options?
We primarily provide in-person services but may offer teletherapy during special circumstances.
How do you involve parents in therapy?
We include home carryover activities and regular parent discussion sessions in all treatment plans.
Reviews (5)
Jennifer Blend
Oct 28, 2021
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I was nervous taking my toddler to anyone because she doesnt interact with a lot of folks due to her being young and COVID after the first visit, not only did it open the door to her chattering more, but she loves going to Miss Julie and Miss Kristins house to play. She doesnt think of it as therapy, but a really fun time with a kind and enthusiastic friend. Even on her stubborn days, Miss Kristin makes it fun and is always encouraging her. I still cant believe all the words she can say now and how her communication has grown in the past few months. Im so thankful for all the
Alex Rivera
Jun 01, 2021
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We absolutely love Chatting Children and particularly Julie who has been amazing from the beginning! Julie is patient, kind, and full of positive energy at every appointment. My daughter loves her sessions and her continuous progress with speech improvement and language comprehension is just amazing to us. I would absolutely, positively recommend Julie and her practice to other parents. She is everything we needed and more!
Sarah Cabrisses
May 31, 2021
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We are so happy with Julie! She is truly amazing and very talented at what she does. Our two year old was struggling with clear speech and forming sentences. Other practices we called would only do virtual visits because of COVID. While we found those precautions totally understandable, we were very stressed because we felt our daughter needed help as soon as possible and knew she wouldn't do well with virtual visits.
Julie got us in for a consultation right away and we were then on the wait list for a very short period of time before beginning regular sessions. We have already seen a lot of
Julie got us in for a consultation right away and we were then on the wait list for a very short period of time before beginning regular sessions. We have already seen a lot of
Catherine Ignacio
May 23, 2021
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Our experience with Chatting Children Speech and Language Center has been beyond life changing not only for our son but our entire family. From the moment we met our speech therapist, Julie Cotter, we made an instant connection. We are beyond grateful that our son has made incredible progress and gains throughout the time he has been under her care. We know that the building blocks that Julie has helped create and the problem solving techniques our son has learned over the years is a solid one to build upon. We also know with all certainty, that our sons future is brighter because of her.
Tara Greenwald
May 22, 2021
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My 3 year old son started seeing Stephanie at Chatting Children in January. Since then I've seen such a dramatic improvement in his speech and confidence. He also seems much more eager to talk and learn. I'm so impressed with how Stephanie incorporates speech with play and my son has a blast during his sessions!
