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services

Our licensed therapists offer a variety of services for children and adolescents. In addition to individual speech/language therapy, play-based psychotherapy, tutoring, and occupational therapy, we also offer social skills groups, camps, and special workshops/classes. Read on to learn more:

Speech and language therapy focuses on the evaluation and treatment of children who have difficulty listening, speaking, reading and/or writing. Our speech language pathologists have experience treating disorders that can effect these areas of communication. Our speech language pathologists are also learning specialists and have extensive experience in working with children with learning differences.

Child/Adolescent Psychotherapy

In child therapy, the therapist works to create a non-judgmental atmosphere with clear boundaries in which a child can feel safe to express feelings, identities, and struggles. This environment also facilitates children's development of mastery, coping, and problem-solving skills. Amy uses an eclectic model - drawing on methods and techniques from psychodynamic therapy, child-centered therapy, cognitive/behavioral therapy, and family therapy - adapted to meet the needs of children's presenting problems.

Social Skills Groups

Group play therapy assists with the development of social skills, self-awareness, problem solving skills, self-confidence, team building, and creativity. Groups are conducted at Speak, Learn, and Play, and have a maximum of four children per group. Children and families meet with Amy or Lauren prior to acceptance in the group, to ensure a "good fit."

Tutoring

We offer a variety of tutoring services to children in grades K-12. Our speech language pathologists, psychologists and special educators provide support in the areas of reading, writing, skill building, organization and executive functioning. Referrals to specific providers are based on each child's individual learning needs.
Occupational therapy helps children gain independence and promotes development of fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, and visual motor skills that children need to function and socialize in their home, school, play, and community environments. Children may benefit from occupational therapy for: self-care skills including feeding, dressing, and grooming; hand strengthening and coordination skills required for activities such as cutting with scissors, coloring, and writing, buttoning, using feeding utensils, etc.; sensory-motor processing and integration; and visual motor and handwriting skills.

summer camp

Intensive Social, Communication, and Sensory Motor Therapeutic Intensive Camp, for children ages 5 - 10 years old.

Winter Break February 21 - 24 8:30am - 1:30pm
Spring Break April 10 - 14 8:30am - 1:30pm
Summer 1 July 31 - August 4 8:30am - 1:30pm
Summer 2 August 7 - 11 8:30am - 1:30pm
Summer 3 August 14 - 18 8:30am - 1:30pm
Summer 4 August 21 - 25 8:30am - 1:30pm

The tuition for the Winter session is $525. Each of the Spring and Summer one week sessions are $650

In these week-long programs, children will work in small groups, according to age,with licensed therapists (Clinical Social Worker, Speech/ Language Pathologist and/ or Occupational Therapist) to promote skills in a fun, playful atmosphere.

Tell me about camp!

workshops

In "Summer Reading Strategists", we help your child tackle their summer reading and maintain their reading skills during the summer months.

During sessions, students will participate in:

  1. Reading games
  2. Reading strategy instruction
  3. Supervised independent reading
  4. Individual strategy conferences

Sessions are designed for students in grades 4-6, and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the summer (families will sign up for weeks based on their schedules).  

Handwriting Helpers, for kids entering Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades: Wednesdays @ 3:30-4:30pm, July 5, 12, 19, 26, and August 2. Make-up dates are possible!

If your child is in need of handwriting help over the summer, you’ve come to the right place! Please join us in our sensory gym as we prepare the body for fine motor skills through movement activities that promote strength, endurance, coordination—and fun! Also, by using elements of the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum developed by an occupational therapist, your child will walk away with strategies that will make the task of writing less daunting and will help them acquire the skills needed to better tackle written work in September.

We are offering a 5 session “Combating Chaos” homework and organization group that will give 4th-8th grade students a jump start. These sessions will cover: Organizational strategies for backpacks; Tips & tricks for using and maintaining planners; Planning tools for short- and long-term assignments; PLUS each session will include 20 minutes of structured homework support

 

 

The BOND Project: Baby Observation Nuturing Development

An Interactive Parent–Infant Class

Michelle Stohr at The BOND Project

Our mindful approach brings together somatic education, keen awareness, and the clinical field of child development through the rich world of movement, touch and play. Underlying our teaching is the desire to create a time and space to nurture bonding, foster a positive self image, and illuminate the global benefits of a sensory relationship between parent and child.

Classes are led by Michelle Stöhr, OTR/L CFP and Debra Wanner, MFA CFP.

New Fall Series
October 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19

  • Babies 2-5 months old, Saturdays 12:15-1:00
  • Babies 5-10 months, Saturdays 1:15-2:00
See Resources for link to additional information and registration.

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about

Speak, Learn, & Play, LLC was founded in 2013 by Jennifer Volpe, CCC-SLP and Amy Weber, LCSW. Started initially to meet the communication, learning, and social/emotional needs of children and families, Speak, Learn, & Play has quickly grown to offer myriad services including speech/language therapy, tutoring, social skills groups, child psychotherapy/play therapy, occupational therapy, and therapeutic camps. Using a collaborative model and state-of-the-art techniques, we strive to treat the whole child. Please read on to learn more about the talented therapists that make up Speak, Learn, and Play:

Amy Weber

Amy

Amy Weber is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families, both as an administrator and a clinician. Amy has completed the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy training program at William Alanson White, and is also trained in DIR/Floortime. She is co-founder of Speak, Learn, and Play. Amy sees children for play therapy, and conducts social skills groups.

Jennifer Volpe

Jennifer

Jennifer Volpe is a New York State licensed speech pathologist with over 10 years of experience and the founder of Manner of Speaking. She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCCs) from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is certified as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She is also a certified learning specialist through the American Academy of Learning Specialists. Jennifer provides speech and language therapy in all areas with a focus on language based learning disabilities. Jennifer works with children ages birth to adolescents. Trainings include certification in Wilson Reading System, Additional trainings include PROMPT, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Therapeutic Listening and Basic Writing Skills.

Cristina Septien

Cristina

Cristina Septien, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist. She graduated from Amherst College (Theater and English), and earned her master's degree in Occupational Therapy from NYU. With specialties in sensory integration, handwriting, and reflex integration, she has worked in preschools, elementary schools, and sensory gyms, as well as in private settings. She has trained in programs such as Handwriting Without Tears and The Alert Program, and has helped to establish enrichment camps for special needs students. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids.

Elizabeth Medina

Elizabeth

Elizabeth (Liz) Medina is a NYS licensed Occupational Therapist with over 25 years of experience in working with children and adolescents. Liz has an extensive background in consulting and therapeutic and evaluation services at private practices, public schools, parent groups, and specialized schools. At Speak, Learn, and Play, Liz specializes in Early Intervention, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Graphomotor Disorders and Developmental Disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorders. Liz promotes a collaborative, holistic approach to her services that examines how sensory issues impact learning, as well as adaptive and social functioning. While providing services, Liz believes in fostering self-esteem and challenging her students in order to develop a functional psychological and physical skillset.

Amanda Franquinha

Amanda

Amanda Franquinha MSEd, is a special educator and a learning support therapist. Her energy and enthusiasm comes from the passion she has to understand and help children that find difficulty socially and academically. Amanda has been a special education teacher in New York City public schools for seven years and specializes in social, academic, and executive functioning supports for students with ASD and learning differences. Beginning at Wagner College for a Bachelors Degree in Education and Sciences, continuing on to St. Johns University for her masters in Early Childhood Special Education, never stopping her continuous love for learning she attended NYU, Columbia and Hunter College. She also has presented and shared her knowledge with others by leading workshops at different locations throughout the city.

Michelle Stöhr

Michelle

Michelle Stöhr is an Occupational Therapist, Feldenkrais practitioner and a Child Space educator. She has over 15 years experience working with a broad range of children from neonatal inpatient, early intervention, school settings and private settings in both South Africa and the USA. She has been at Support by Design in Tribeca, a pediatric clinic, for the past 8 years, is an OT consultant at Mary MacDowell middle school and maintains a private practice in Brooklyn. Michelle is SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test) certified, trained in: Craniosacral therapy, DIR (Developmental Individual differences Relationship based) Floortime approach, Therapeutic Listening and ILS (Integrated Listening System). Her therapy practice uses a holistic approach involving the entire family and not just the child.

Gabrielle Strasfogel-Ryklin

Gabrielle

Gabrielle Strasfogel-Ryklin, MSEd is an Early Childhood Special Educator and Learning Support Specialist. She holds her Masters in Early Childhood Special Education with an advanced certification in Autism. She has been an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in New York City for eleven years- and has experience in a wide range of learning styles and developmental variations, specializing in process, development and issues in Executive Functioning. Her diverse body of work ranges from direct service to family support and coaching, additionally educational evaluations, teacher mentoring and curriculum support, and most recently to running Social Skills and Play Groups in Brooklyn. She believes in a holistic approach to learning both in schools and at home and believes in the professional collaboration between the student, their teachers and family at home serves as the foundation of exponential student growth and development. Gabrielle received her Severe and Multiple Extension from Bank Street College of Education, her dual Masters in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Hunter College, and graduated with a Bachelors of Art from the University of Michigan.

Sharon Alkalay

Sharon

Sharon Alkalay, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 11 years of experience working with infants, toddlers and children. She received her B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Queens College - City University of NY and her M.S. in Speech Pathology from Adelphi University. Sharon has completed advanced trainings in the PROMPT method, ABA, Floortime, RDI, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC,) LSVT and Dysphasia/Swallowing disorders. Her special interests include language pragmatics, apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders and augmentative/alternative communication. As the founder of Little Mixers, a Brooklyn-based social skills program, Sharon has worked to develop a creative social skills curriculum that incorporates both multi-sensory and behavioral learning strategies. A native New Yorker, Sharon now splits her time between her offices in Westchester and Brooklyn.

blog

Spring Break Camp

Shane at JJ Byrne Shane at JJ Byrne

We were a small but mighty group, and had a super fun week!  Take a peek at what we’ve been up to…

In movement with Renee and Jenelle, we revisited a few old favorites, and learned some new games.  We played musical spots, and worked on our bilateral coordination with scooter relays.  We gave ourselves massages using the wall, and played scarf tag.  We used the parachute to create milkshakes, and we LOVED using the body band to fling ourselves from one end of the gym to the other.

In speech groups with Jenn, we played with the food, dolls, and cars to practice conversational skills and work on turn taking.  We used board games like Guess Who, Forbidden Island, Headbands, and Would You Rather to practice executive functioning skills, conversational skills, and language processing.

In play therapy groups with Amy, we played with the food, dolls, cars, and magnet tiles to practice turning taking and sharing, and to expand our pretend play.  We used the water beads as an ocean, and had lots of fun floating toys, and burying them.  Superheroes and bad guys, and the Playmobil stuff were very popular as we explored themes related to self-esteem, belonging, and bullying.

We LOVED getting out of the office to walk to JJ Byrne playground.  We spent over an hour climbing, swinging, running, and jumping.  The trip sparked a conversation about other favorite Brooklyn spots that our campers like to visit.

We had lots of fun read-alouds this week, too:  Memoirs of a Goldfish, The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day the Crayons Came Home, and Memoirs of a Hamster.

But most of all we loved getting to play with your kids this week.  Thank you so much for sharing your break with us!

See you soon…

Amy, Jenn, Renee, and Jenelle

Athena, taking a break from tag

Athena, taking a break from tag

Aidan in the body band

Aidan in the body band

resources

contact

540 President St., Ste. 2D, Brooklyn, NY

Speak, Learn, & Play
540 President Street, Ste. 2D
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tel: (347) 457-5900
Fax: (347) 457-5653

info@speaklearnandplay.com

Please contact me