Speech-Language Pathologists
Christi O'Donovan
Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist
Christi received her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Loyola University Maryland and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Northeastern University. After working in a pediatric outpatient clinic, Christi started Leading Therapy Home as a way to provide high quality care with tremendous emphasis on functional communication skills.
Christi strongly believes in an organic and family-centered approach to enhancing communication. Her ability to connect, listen, and empower clients and their families is the foundation of her therapy. With an understanding that children learn best when they are engaged in fun and motivating activities, Christi's sessions have included therapeutic playdates, making slime, working with siblings to make pizza, and scavenger hunts in the backyard.
Christi specializes in feeding therapy, AAC, early intervention, motor speech disorders, and providing parent trainings. Christi has specialized training in PROMPT, Social Thinking, and a certification in early intervention.
In her free time, Christi loves spending time with her husband, two young children and their scruffy rescue dog.
Kimberly Sprague
Clinical Director, Speech-Language Pathologist
Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University. Over the past 11 years, Kimberly has gained experience working with children of all ages, though the majority of her experience has been with children ages 2-5. Kimberly’s areas of interest and expertise are in early language development, articulation and phonological disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech.
Having worked in both outpatient and public school settings, Kimberly has seen first hand the advantages to family involvement in treatment. She believes that communication and collaboration with families benefits everyone involved, and creates an environment where children can develop and generalize their communication skills seamlessly. Kimberly enjoys working with parents and family members to create fun and motivating treatment, while also showing families the abundant opportunities for building and developing communication skills in everyday activities.
When Kimberly is not working, she is spending time with her boyfriend, their 10 and 3 year old daughters, and their very large chocolate lab. She enjoys reading, exercising, and doing various projects around their fixer upper home.
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Katherine "Kate" Cully
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kate received her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with a focus in Child Development and a minor in Child Psychology at Syracuse University. She received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Northeastern University. She has been a certified Speech-Language Pathologist since 2008 and has spent most of her career working in outpatient rehab clinics with pediatric and adult patients, as well as working at school contracted sites and a skilled nursing facility. Kate joined Leading Therapy Home in Spring 2019 where she loves working with expressive and receptive language, social communication, and articulation disorders.
Kate’s personable and friendly attitude helps build a trusting and comfortable rapport with both her patients and their families. She feels it is important to work with families in order to provide successful carry-over of newly learned skills. Her approach to therapy is knowing the importance of finding the right balance between flexibility and structure for each child in order for them to reach their full potential in language and communication.
When Kate is not working, she is spending time with her husband and two young children. She also enjoys cooking, skiing, going to the beach, and traveling.
Katie Dougherty
Speech-Language Pathologist
Katie received her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University. After working in a long-term acute care hospital working with adults, an outpatient clinic working with adults and pediatrics, and a pre-k - 8th-grade public school, Katie joined Leading Therapy Home where she works with children and teens experiencing speech, language, and literacy challenges. In the spring of 2018, Katie received a Level 1 Wilson Reading certification.
Katie is dedicated to supporting communication through play and engagement with those important to them. She has experience treating childhood apraxia of speech and developmental speech and language disorders. When working with school-age children with reading and literacy disorders, she works to empower her clients with self-advocacy skills and helps them understand their strengths and unique gifts.
In her free time, Katie enjoys being active by running, biking, and hiking. She coaches an elementary school running team, Girls on the Run. Katie also loves food - cooking, trying new restaurants, and watching Chef's Table.
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Michelle Clapp
Speech-Language Pathologist/Early Intervention Specialist
Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Delaware and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Ohio University. Michelle is a “seasoned” therapist, with over 20 years in the field of early intervention and 40 years overall working in a large variety of settings. There is nothing that gives Michelle more pleasure than being on the floor with her little ones, engaging them and their parents in play activities that encourage them to want to sing, make silly sounds and use their language to express themselves. Communication should be fun and Michelle works hard at having fun with her clients, no matter what their age.
Michelle believes that family, friends and caregivers are all a part of the learning process and that anything and everything are language opportunities. She loves talking to parents about how to be their child’s number one advocate. She enjoys sharing stories and ideas from raising her own children and is always interested in others’ approaches, ideas and silly stories.
In her free time, Michelle spends time gardening, bird watching, meditating, and listening to music. Her favorite holiday is Halloween and she even got married on October 31st! She lives in a cute little house with her spouse, special needs stepdaughter, Jennifer, and two special needs cats, Howard and Zoe.
Sara Burns
Speech-Language Pathologist
Sara received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University, graduating in 2012. She began her career in an ABA center with a large preschool program and has spent the last 8.5 years gaining extensive experience working with children with a large variety of speech and language disorders in private clinic setting. Sara’s areas of interest include early language learners, fluency disorders, social communication and speech sound disorders. However, most of all she enjoys working with families who are excited to become part of the therapy process and meeting new patients who she continues to learn from every day! Before she began a career in speech-language pathology, she studied psychology and Spanish at Boston College, both of which also helped her become the clinician she is today.
Sara’s approachable and patient demeanor supports strong family relationships. She is passionate about providing children and families with opportunities to reach their full potential. Sara finds a wonderful balance of productivity and motivation in her sessions and loves getting down on the floor to find creative ways to connect with children during her therapy sessions.
When she’s not working as an SLP, she’s spending time with her husband and two young children at their home in Quincy, MA. Cooking, traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her extended family is her favorite way to spend time off.
Erika Eckman
Speech-Language Pathologist
Erika received her bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing, as well as Psychology from Elmira College and her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College. Erika has gained extensive experience programming and implementing alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices after working at the May Center School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, as well as working with individuals between 18months and 21. Erika’s areas of interest are in AAC, feeding, articulation and phonological disorders, and cognitive therapy.
Working in both outpatient and specialized school settings, as well as growing up with her sister who is non-verbal autistic, Erika values and understands the importance of collaboration with families and supporting them on their journey to communicate with their child. Erika encourages an open communication environment to ensure families feel comfortable using their resources at home to optimize their child’s language development. Erika promotes meeting the child at their current level and expanding the child’s skills at their own pace.
In Erika’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and dog, Vader. She enjoys spending time outdoors, doing puzzles, redecorating the house, and trying new restaurants.
Maureen Baker
Speech-Language Pathologist
Maureen received her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Towson University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She has over 8 years of experience working with children and adults in both inpatient rehabilitation and school-based settings. Maureen enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities. Her areas of interest include expressive and receptive language development, articulation and phonological disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication skills.
Maureen believes that children learn and retain skills best when they can play in their natural environments. From singing songs and sharing stories, to making crafts and exploring outside, she is dedicated to supporting children's communication success through fun, engaging experiences. Her positive attitude and friendly personality help foster strong connections with clients and their families. Maureen encourages family involvement in therapy and enjoys helping parents find practical ways to incorporate language learning opportunities into everyday activities and routines.
In her free time, Maureen enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children. She also enjoys running, baking, reading, and traveling.
Catherine Tehan
Speech-Language Pathologist
Catherine received her bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus in Developmental Disabilities and Health Services and a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College. Catherine is a board certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has gained extensive experience working with children and their families across a variety of speech and language disorders in a private clinic setting. Catherine's areas of interest include early language development, articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, as well as social communication disorders.
Catherine values collaboration with families and allied professionals to ensure therapy is as functional and individualized as possible. She loves finding ways to engage with clients and their families through play, singing songs, books, as well as resources at home to optimize her clients' gains. Catherine is passionate about forming trusting and supportive relationships with her clients and empowering families to reach their unique and personal goals.
When Catherine is not working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, trying out new restaurants, and spending time near the ocean at her home in South Boston.
Julianne Trudeau
Speech-Language Pathologist
Julianne received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. Over the past 12 years, she has worked in public schools, private practice, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, but her niche is definitely in pediatrics. Julianne has gained experience working with children of all ages, though the majority of her experience has been with children ages 2-9. Her areas of interest and expertise are in early language development, phonological disorders, AAC, and childhood apraxia of speech.
Julianne strongly believes in the importance of developing a solid rapport with both children and their families. She enjoys using her fun and flexible personality to engage children in various activities to improve their overall functional communication skills.
In her most recent position, Julianne worked as the Director of Speech Services for an ABA company and is excited to continue her journey working alongside BCBAs and BTs. A child’s success depends on a cohesive team and that involves a joint effort. My goal is to balance our fields of expertise and collaboration to produce the best programs for each child as an individual.
In her free time, you can find Julianne on a beach or in her local Target. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Jake, and her daughters, Reagan and Mackenzie.
Hanna Glazer
Speech-Language Pathologist
Hanna received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Vermont and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Loyola University Maryland. After working in a k- 8 grade non-public school and a subacute pediatric hospital in her home state of Maryland, Hanna joined Leading Therapy Home. Hanna has gained experience working with children of all ages with a variety of speech and language disorders. Hanna’s areas of interest include early language development, articulation and phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, augmentative and alternative communication, and cognitive communication disorders.
Hanna believes in the importance of using a client-centered approach and incorporating the family in treatment for best outcomes. She loves building rapport through incorporating the child’s play interests to make therapy fun and functional for both the child and family.
When Hanna is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga, reading, and exploring the New England area.
Get started with one of our amazing speech or occupational therapists today!
Leading Therapy Home provides speech therapy and occupational therapy to clients in the South Shore area. Contact us today to discuss your concerns, get your questions answered, and determine the best next step for you, your child, or your loved one.