Speech Therapy and Occupational
At Verbal Beginnings, Speech and Occupational Therapy (OT) are offered as part of our Early Intervention services, supporting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to your child’s development. Rather than being stand-alone services, Speech and OT are thoughtfully integrated into your child’s overall care plan to reinforce early learning, communication, motor development, and daily living skills during these critical early years.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work collaboratively with our broader clinical team to ensure goals are aligned and strategies are consistent across environments. This team-based approach allows Speech and OT to complement early intervention programming—helping children build functional skills that support participation at home, in therapy, and in everyday routines. By delivering services under one coordinated model, we ensure care is intentional, developmentally appropriate, and centered on helping your child make meaningful progress.
Speech Therapy
At Verbal Beginnings, our dedicated team of licensed Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) are committed to helping your child find their voice and connect with the world around them. We understand the profound impact that effective communication has on a child’s development, academic success, and social interactions.
What We Offer
We provide comprehensive evaluations and individualized therapy services for children facing a variety of communication challenges, including:
- Articulation and Phonological Disorders: Difficulty producing speech sounds clearly.
- Expressive and Receptive Language Delays: Challenges with speaking (expressing wants/needs) and/or understanding language.
- Social Communication/Pragmatics: Difficulties with the social use of language, such as understanding nonverbal cues, initiating conversations, and taking turns.
- Fluency Disorders (Stuttering): Interruptions in the flow of speech.
- Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC): Support for children who need methods beyond verbal speech to communicate.
Our Approach
Our therapy is play-based, evidence-driven, and highly personalized to meet your child’s unique needs and interests. We believe in empowering parents and caregivers, and collaboration is central to our process. We work closely with families to establish functional goals and provide strategies that can be easily integrated into daily routines, ensuring progress extends far beyond the therapy room.
Occupational Therapy
At Verbal Beginnings, our skilled Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) are dedicated to helping your child thrive in their everyday life. Occupational therapy focuses on the “occupations” of childhood—playing, learning, self-care, and social interaction. We work to enhance the skills necessary for your child to successfully participate in these meaningful activities, fostering independence and confidence.
What We Offer
We provide comprehensive evaluations and tailored intervention plans for children experiencing challenges in areas such as:
- Fine Motor Skills: Developing the strength, dexterity, and coordination needed for things like writing, cutting, buttoning, and tying shoelaces.
- Sensory Processing: Helping children regulate their responses to sensory input (e.g., touch, sound, movement) to better focus and engage with their environment.
- Gross Motor Skills: Improving balance, coordination, and strength for activities like running, jumping, and climbing.
- Self-Care Skills: Teaching and practicing essential daily living activities (ADLs), including feeding, dressing, and grooming.
- Visual Motor and Perceptual Skills: Enhancing the ability to interpret visual information and coordinate eye and hand movements, crucial for reading, puzzles, and sports.
Our Approach
Our OT services utilize a child-centered approach within a supportive and stimulating environment. We use playful, engaging activities to address underlying challenges, making therapy a positive experience. Just like our speech services, collaboration with families is key; we equip parents with practical strategies to support their child’s development and integrate therapeutic goals into their home and school routines.
Meet Our Director
Dr. Stephanie Nostin, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA
Director of Comprehensive Services
Dr. Stephanie Nostin brings over 20 years of experience in speech-language pathology and applied behavior analysis. She earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Worcester State University, became a BCBA in 2009, and completed her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis at Simmons University in 2020.
Stephanie has led and developed training programs, mentored clinicians across disciplines, and created CEU opportunities focused on ethical, high-quality care. She has owned and operated private speech and language practices and is deeply experienced in supporting families through the insurance process to access medically necessary services.
As Director of Comprehensive Services at Verbal Beginnings since 2023, Stephanie leads a collaborative team of speech and occupational therapy providers committed to delivering high-quality, family-centered care in partnership with behavior analytic teams.
FAQ
What locations offer these services?
All of our Verbal Beginnings centers currently offer Comprehensive Services. This allows families to access consistent, high-quality care across locations, with programming designed to support each child’s unique needs and developmental goals.
What insurances do you accept?
We work with a variety of insurance providers to help make services as accessible as possible for families. You can view our most up-to-date list of accepted insurances here. One of our Care Coordinators can also walk you through coverage questions and next steps.
What ages do you treat?
We currently provide services for children ages 1–7, focusing on early intervention during these critical developmental years. Our programs are designed to build foundational skills that support long-term growth and independence.
Will my child need an autism diagnosis to receive services?
Yes, a Proof of Diagnosis (POD) is required to begin services with our Comprehensive Services team. If you have questions about the diagnostic process or need guidance on next steps, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
