Our Team
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Susan Stark »
Susan Stark
M.S., CCC-SLP
PresidentSusan has been in private practice for over thirty years in the Bay Area. She is a graduate from Eastern Illinois University and received a Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Texas Tech. Susan has expertise in the management of neurological communication disorders and language learning disorders with extensive experience as a speech/language pathologist in hospitals, medical facilities, special education settings, and home health care.
M.S., CCC-SLP
President -
Jill Walson »
Jill Walson
M.S., CCC-SLP
Vice President of Clinics & Speech PathologistJill received her Master of Science degree in Education with an emphasis in Communication Disorders from The College of Saint Rose in New York. Her work experience includes communication disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental verbal apraxia, and central auditory processing disorders. Her advanced training includes Hanen, “It Takes Two to Talk” and the PROMPT therapy method. Her other areas of interest include social-pragmatic disorders and early intervention services with an emphasis on parent/caregiver training. Jill is also educated in DIR/Floortime Method. Jill loves living in the Bay Area with her husband and two children. She enjoys having coffee with friends, going to Lake Tahoe and cheering on her children during sporting events.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Vice President of Clinics & Speech Pathologist
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Pamela Bloch »
Pamela Bloch
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistPamela received her Master of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University. Since joining the SPG team in 2000, Pamela’s clinical experience has included assessment and treatment for a range of pediatric clients, with particular expertise in working with toddler, preschooler, and elementary school-aged children with expressive/ receptive/ social-pragmatic language delays and with articulation/ phonological/motor speech disorders. She has extensive experience providing play-based therapy and family support to the 0-3 year old/Early Intervention population, working with caregivers to help identify teachable moments within their daily interactions and to help communication with their child become more fun and functional. Pamela especially enjoys being a “Chat” service provider, delivering parent/caregiver consultation and real-time, naturalistic coaching that centers around daily home routines to families of young children with communication, behavior, and social-emotional challenges. Pamela has special interest in and has participated in numerous trainings on Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Her experience has also included treating Selective Mutism in preschool and early elementary school-aged children. Pamela currently works out of our Berkeley Clinic, and is a Berkeley native. She loves being near the ocean, reading, walking, hanging out with long-time local friends and her family, and spending time at home with her husband, son, and two cats.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Danica Brogdon »
Danica Brogdon
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistDanica received her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from California State University, East Bay. She has provided assessment and treatment services to individuals ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics in a variety of settings including clinics, schools, and inpatient and outpatient medical settings. Danica is proficient in Spanish and provided bilingual services throughout her clinical practicum and internships. Her clinical interests include communication disorders associated autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome, bilingual speech-language development, articulation and phonological processing disorders, and aphasia. Danica greatly enjoys working with children and collaborating with families throughout the assessment and intervention process. When she’s not doing speech therapy, Danica loves hiking and spending time with friends, family, and pets.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Kate Carlin »
Kate Carlin
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistKate received her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from University of Texas in Dallas, Texas. She has experience providing home based services to clients and their families, and implementing home exercise programs to facilitate carryover and generalize learning.
Kate currently works out of SPG’s Berkeley clinic. Kate is proficient in Spanish and she especially enjoys providing bilingual therapy services to children and their families. Particular areas of interest include: early intervention, articulation / phonological disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and social / pragmatic therapy with elementary and middle school clients.
Recently, Kate became a Chat program service provider and currently coaches parents within their home environment to help improve their child’s language and social-emotional development.
Kate loves hiking and staying active, road tripping all around California, and cooking or going out to enjoy delicious plant based meals.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Leanna Cosgrove »
Leanna Cosgrove
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistLeanna received her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from California State University, East Bay. She has experience in providing assessments and treatment to children and adults in a variety of different settings. She has provided services in a rehabilitation center focusing on patients with stroke and traumatic brain injuries, a pediatric multidisciplinary clinic, and preschool to high school. Her particular interests include Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), expressive and receptive language disorders, early intervention, and social/pragmatic disorders. She really enjoys working with children and their families, as well as working on a multidisciplinary team. When not at work, Leanna loves the Russian River, Tahoe, Peloton, and spending time with her family.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Michelle DeVito »
Michelle DeVito
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistMichelle received her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from Arizona State University. She has experience in providing assessments and treatment to children and young adults in a variety of settings, including a pediatric multidisciplinary hospital clinic and school districts. Her particular interests include expressive and receptive language, parent coaching, early intervention, articulation/phonology, and social language communication. She really enjoys partnering with children and their families, as well as collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Shelley Freitas »
Shelley Freitas
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistShelley received Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at University of the Pacific in 2006. She has experience working with children and adults in a variety of settings, such as acute care, acute rehabilitation, early intervention multidisciplinary clinic, deaf and hard-of-hearing preschool, and elementary school-based settings. She holds certifications in LSVT-LOUD (evidence-based speech treatment for patients with Parkinsonian diseases), Vital Stim (specialized therapy for swallowing disorders), and Hanen “It Takes Two to Talk” (parent partnership and education provider for families with young children with communication delays). She has experience with children and adults with swallowing/feeding disorders due to neurological insults and diseases, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as children with articulation/phonology disorders and language delays. She especially enjoys working with very young children and their families, as well as being part of multidisciplinary teams.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Rachael Haley »
Rachael Haley
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistRachael received a Master of Arts Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from San Jose State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child Development from California State University, Sacramento. She has been an SLP since 2011, with the majority of her experience being in early intervention (with children under 3). She especially enjoys coaching parents/family members on how to use a play-based approach and focus on connection in order to build communication skills.
Rachael is passionate about learning more and teaching others about neurodiversity affirming practices, and has completed The Meaningful Speech Course on gestalt language development, as well as the Inside Out Sensory Certificate training for SLPs. Another area of interest is in supporting minimally or non-speaking children through the use of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).
Rachael was born and raised in the Bay Area. She and her husband have two boys, and some of their favorite places to spend time together are at Disneyland, Lake Tahoe, and Hawaii. Rachael has always been an animal lover, and could not see herself ever living without pets!
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Rachel Harrison »
Rachel Harrison
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistRachel is an undergraduate alumni of the University of Nevada, Reno and received her Masters Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences at San Jose State University. She has intervention experience in the schools and clinical settings and enjoys working with young children and their families to support communication development. Her areas of clinical interest include early intervention (birth – 3 yrs) services, therapy for articulation and phonological disorders, working with apraxia of speech, and supporting clients with social skills needs. You and your child might connect with Rachel over her knowledge of dinosaurs or her enjoyment of video games and ice hockey.
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Jennifer Huysentruyt »
Jennifer Huysentruyt
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistJennifer Huysentruyt received a Master of Science in Communication Disorders from Arizona State University, Tempe as well as a Bachelor of Science in Human and Family Studies from Arizona State University, Tempe. Her primary focus has been with working with families in early intervention (Birth-3 years). She worked in a team based model coaching families and caregivers in a variety of settings using play-based therapy methods.
Jennifer has frequently conducted diagnostic evaluations and worked as part of a team to develop and implement individualized therapeutic service plans. She has experience working with children with expressive/receptive/social-pragmatic language delays, pediatric feeding disorders, and articulation/phonological/motor speech disorders. Jennifer has found that the key to each child’s success is in working closely and collaboratively with their families and caregivers.
Jennifer oversees our Pediatric Feeding Therapy program. Click here for additional program details.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Molly Stepaniak »
Molly Stepaniak
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistMolly received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2013. She has had clinical experiences providing prevention, treatment and assessment services for a pediatric population in school, clinic, daycare and home settings. Molly is proficient in Spanish and has provided speech-language services for children who speak English, Spanish or both languages. Her specific clinical interests include bilingual speech-language development, articulation/phonological processing disorders, early intervention and parent training and support.
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Sarah Sullivan »
Sarah Sullivan
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistSarah received her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has provided therapy services in public schools, private practices, home health, and pediatric/adult outpatient settings. She enjoys working in a partnership with other disciplines, such as OT, PT, and behavior therapists. Her main focus has been working with the pediatric population by diagnosing and providing therapy to children with language delays and disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, and pragmatic/social difficulties. Sarah enjoys working closely with parents/guardians to facilitate carryover and to generalize communication during her client’s daily lives.
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist -
Elizabeth Rack »
Elizabeth Rack
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech PathologistElizabeth “Libby” has been working as a speech language pathologist in a variety of settings, including early intervention, public preschools, hospitals and clinics since getting her Masters of Sciences in Speech Language Pathology from California State East Bay. She has been with SPG since 2008 primarily working in local public schools.
With a passion for early language development and working with multidisciplinary teams to support children, Libby approaches her therapy sessions with empathy, engagement and encouragement.
Libby has experience in receptive and expressive language development strategies, picture communication systems, use of augmentative communication devices, articulation therapy and apraxia of speech. She loves connecting with her students and supporting them in ways that are meaningful to them. She is passionate about collaborating with families to support language rich environments at home.
When not at work, Libby enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling to mountains to ski, snowshoe, paddle board and hike.
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist
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Peggy Davis
Clinic Operations Supervisor
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Veronica Garcia
Clinic Scheduling Coordinator