Working with teens and young adults to build confidence in communication skills so they can thrive in life
Meet Taria
Hello! I am a licensed Speech Language Pathologist located in the West Metro. I received my BA in Psychology from Concordia College, Moorhead and my MA in Communication Disorders from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I have had the opportunity to use both degrees as a youth counselor and SLP in a variety of settings, including schools, teletherapy services, residential treatment facilities, residential group homes, and autism centers. I have experience serving preschool to high school age kids with a variety of special needs. I believe my educational background has given me a unique perspective when working with individuals as whole persons. I live in Chaska with my husband, three daughters and two dogs. Outside of being an SLP, I enjoy coaching high school cross-country and track and have belonged to a book club for over 20 years. I look forward to meeting you!
EMPOWERED BY SPEECH
My Philosophy
I believe we were all uniquely and wonderfully created and each of us has incredible worth as humans. We all have strengths, talents, gifts and areas of growth. My goal as an SLP is to empower individuals to live their best lives by capitalizing on their strengths, celebrating their uniqueness and improving in these areas of growth to move each person forward in life. The ability to understand and communicate effectively empowers individuals by enhancing relationships, providing access to wants, needs and information, increasing opportunities in life, allowing expression of thoughts, ideas and opinions and building confidence.
My approach
- Relational
- Whole-person focused
- Fun and engaging
- Evidence-based
- Collaborative
specific approaches
- Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol ©️
- Multimodal Communication Approach to AAC
- Michelle Garcia Winner Social Thinking ©️
Experience
BA in Psychology Concordia College, Moorhead
MA in Communication Disorders U of M, Twin Cities
Speech Language Pathology Experience
Richfield School District
Carver County School District
Cook County School District (via Teletherapy)
Methodist Hospital (part-time on-call)
Related Experience
St. Cloud children’s Home (youth counselor for adolescents with emotional behavioral disorders and various mental health needs in a residential treatment setting)
Northwood Children’s Home (youth counselor for adolescents with emotional, behavioral and learning disabilities)
Alternatives for People with Autism (Direct Support Professional for adolescent residents with autism)
West Metro Learning Connections (Early Intensive Developmental Intervention (EIDIBI) Coordinator, social skills facilitator and direct support staff to kids and teens with autism)
Westwood Community Church Volunteer in Special Families Ministry (1:1 support with children and teens with autism)
Areas of Focus
Children and teens with Autism, Down Syndrome and other special needs
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Articulation and Speech Sound Disorders
Emerging communicators and minimally verbal communicators
Social Thinking, Perspective-taking and Social Skills
Language Disorders including reading comprehension, oral and written expression, vocabulary and executive functioning
Stuttering/Fluency Disorders
