Joanna earned a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC’s) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is certified through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

She has practiced speech-language therapy in a clinic setting and in public schools where she has worked extensively with preschoolers and school-aged children.

Prior to becoming an SLP, Joanna worked one-on-one with students in reading, writing, and comprehension using strategies from research-based, sensory-cognitive learning programs. She also has over 20 years of experience in teaching ballet to children and adults and in choreographing solo and group dances for stage performances.

Joanna is a Colorado native and enjoys books, hot beverages, and mysteries. When she’s not working with clients, she spends her time reading, going for walks, listening to music, hanging out with her pets, and taking jaunts up to the Rocky Mountains with her family.

Joanna meets clients where they are—carefully evaluating individual needs and incorporating their family values, culture, perspective, and experience with a solid research base to guide their therapy.

Her mission at Apex Lingua is to provide targeted therapy and strategies to help children and young adults improve their communication skills to:

• understand and be understood
• self-advocate
• improve engagement with peers, family, teachers, coaches, and employers
• be better learners
• meet their goals to better access daily lives, school, work, and home life

Joanna believes in a collaborative approach and is happy to collaborate and/or communicate with other professionals dedicated to her clients’ growth.

Her practice is an inclusive and welcoming space for all of her clients and their families.

Joanna provides speech and language consultation, evaluation, therapy, and strategies for children and young adults in Colorado.

Her clients have a variety of needs and abilities including those who have been identified as having autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Intelligibility

Clients may have speech that is difficult to be understood by communication partners. This may be due to factors including speech sound errors, “mumbled” speech, fast rate of speech, or reduced loudness. Avoidance of speaking or frustration with speaking may be apparent.

Fluency

Individuals who stutter may have speech behaviors that impact the “flow” of speech. Stuttering patterns may include repetitions or blocks (i.e. “getting stuck”) and may or may not include secondary behaviors (e.g. head, eye, or body movements). Cluttering patterns may include rapid speech with atypical pauses or collapsed/omitted syllables, while the speaker appears to be unaware of their speech dysfluency.

Receptive Language

Clients with challenges in the area of receptive language (verbal or written) may have weakness in vocabulary, following directions, answering questions with on-topic responses, difficulty identifying details vs big picture information, and listening comprehension.

Expressive Language

Challenges with expressing one’s self (verbal or written) may include weakness in word choice, grammar/syntax, expressing events in sequence, and providing adequate detail for communication partners to understand them.

Social Pragmatic Language

Communication challenges that impact the ability to use and interpret nonverbal cues, understand perspectives, “read the room,” understand humor and sarcasm, and engage in conversations.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Individuals who may need augmentative (i.e. increased) communication or alternative communication through low-tech or high-tech modes of communication (e.g. speech-generating devices/SGDs). This is implemented when oral speech is not functional for communication.

Executive Functioning

Supports and instruction for strategies to promote organization, planning, task completion, and time management.