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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.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a language-based reading disorder due to a weakness in phonological processing or the way our brain recognizes and interprets sound and sound sequences. Poor phonological awareness skills result in difficulties with word recognition, decoding, and spelling. As a speech-language pathologist that is also certified in Wilson Reading System, Jennifer is in a unique position to support both the underlying language weaknesses present in dyslexia as well as provide a systematic, multi-sensory approach to reading remediation. Jennifer is able to provide a customized treatment plan that will support your child’s reading acquisition. To find out more information or schedule an appointment, please fill out the inquiry form on our contact section.

summer camp

 

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

All sessions cancelled this year

The tuition for the Summer one week sessions is $750.

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.

 

social skills groups

Social Skills Groups

This is an opportunity to provide your child with a set of skills to navigate social situations in their everyday life. The group will be selected specifically to meet your child’s needs. Each group will be planned and focused on skills such as flexibility, frustration tolerance, perspective taking, stress coping, anxiety/anger management, self regulation, assertiveness, conflict resolution skills, confidence and more.

  • For kids ages 3 - 10 years
  • Meet Tuesdays - Thursdays, during after-school hours
  • Maximum of 6 kids per group
  • Currently offering groups online AND in-person

 

Apply for Social Skills Group

Lego Group

Drawing on the Lego Serious Play and Lego-based Counseling models, this group will work to build social competence through the use of legos.  We will engage in project-based activities designed to encourage friendship and collaboration, emotion management/regulation, growth mindset, self-esteem, and mindfulness.

  • Fridays from 3:30pm - 4:30pm
  • Ages 6 - 8 years old, 4 children/group
  • $1000 for 10-week session

 

Apply for Lego Group

Board Games Group

Board games are the perfect tool to introduce and teach social/emotional learning! Using classic games as well as new favorites, we will develop self-awareness, management of emotional responses, self-esteem, team work/collaboration, self-control, conflict resolution, making thoughtful decisions, and empathy.  

  • Fridays from 4:45pm - 6:15pm
  • Ages 7 - 11 years old, 6 children/group
  • $750 for 10-week session

 

Apply for Board Games Group

 

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.

Becky Thomas

Becky

Becky Thomas attended SUNY Cortland where she achieved her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. After working as a first grade ICT teacher in a Brooklyn Public School she began her master’s in Infancy and Family Development with Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College. Since graduating she has worked with Head Start and as a SEIT throughout the city. She helped found the Meeting House Jr’s social skills program and worked at the Bank Street Buddies social skills program. Becky also provides professional development to other SEITs and teachers while always expanding her repertoire of teaching tools.

Krista Wilbur

Krista

Krista Wilbur has over 10 years of experience working with children with special needs through Bank Street College of Education. Krista has a range of experience including as a classroom teacher, a SEIT, and SEIT supervisor. She has also led social groups for children 2-5 years old for over three years. She received her Masters in Education from Bank Street College where she studied Infant and Parent Development Early Childhood and Special Education. She also has her certification in DIR/Floortime. One of Krista’s main objectives is to create meaningful experiences for each individual child. Krista’s interest in yoga and mindful practices inform her work and these practices are used to connect children with their inner strengths. She enjoys finding these foundational elements and working with them to aid personal growth. She is a parent of two young children and lives in Brooklyn NY.

blog

Play Therapy- Is It Right For My Family (Part 2)

Last time, we started to lay the foundation to help you determine if play therapy is right for your family and we will continue with this latest blog on the “how” and the “who does it benefit?”

How Does It Work?

Children are referred for play therapy to resolve their problems. Often, children have used up their own problem solving tools, and they misbehave, may act out at home, with friends, and at school. Play therapy allows trained mental health practitioners who specialize in play therapy, to assess and understand children’s play. Further, play therapy is utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems. By confronting problems in the clinical Play Therapy setting, children find healthier solutions. Play therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward, and resolve their concerns. Even the most troubling problems can be confronted in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies.

Who Benefits?

Play Therapy is most appropriate for children ages 3 – 12 years old.  The children who typically come to therapy have a variety of diagnoses:  autism, ADHD, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, anger management, crisis or trauma, grief and loss, divorce, and learning/social disabilities.  Play therapy helps children:

  • Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
  • Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
  • Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
  • Learn to experience and express emotion.
  • Cultivate empathy and respect for the thoughts and feelings of others.
  • Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
  • Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.

 Are Parents Involved?

Families play an important role in children’s healing processes. The interaction between children’s problems and their families is always complex. Sometimes children develop problems as a way of signaling that there is something wrong in the family. Other times the entire family becomes distressed because the child’s problems are so disruptive. In all cases, children and families heal faster when they work together.

The play therapist will make some decisions about how and when to involve some or all members of the family in the play therapy. At a minimum, the therapist will want to communicate regularly with the child’s caretakers to develop a plan for resolving problems as they are identified and to monitor the progress of the treatment. Other options might include involving a) the parents or caretakers directly in the treatment by modifying how they interact with the child at home and b) the whole family in family play therapy. Whatever the level of involvement of the family members, they typically play an important role in the child’s healing.

Ready to learn more?  Contact us today at (347) 457-5900.

resources

careers

Come join our team!

We are always looking to work with like-minded professionals. If you are looking to start your own part-time or full-time pediatric private practice, then Speak, Learn and Play is the place for you! Speak, Learn and Play is a collaborative therapy practice where therapists run their own private practices but have the benefit of working alongside other professionals to facilitate a team approach. We have a fully equipped sensory gym ideal for both occupational and physical therapies. Separate treatment rooms are also available for rental. There are ample opportunities for cross-referrals and networking. We offer half-day and full-day rentals, seven days a week. For more information, please email us at speaklearnandplaybrooklyn@gmail.com.

The therapists at Speak Learn and Play are committed to helping prospective and newer members to our various fields of practice. Current and prospective high school, undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to shadow our therapists. We also offer volunteer opportunities at our Summer Camp for those looking to get practical experience in pediatric speech, occupational and play therapy. Please email speaklearnandplaybrooklyn@gmail.com to apply.

COVID

In-Person Services

Dear Families,

We are welcoming any family who would like to have in-person therapy. We are taking numerous precautions to keep you and our staff safe. Please review our new in office procedures.

Masks:
Masks are required in all common areas of the building and the office at all times. New face masks are available at the office if needed.

Closed Waiting Room:
Our waiting room is closed at this time. Your therapist will meet your child in the hallway and accompany them into the space. For children 2 and under, one parent is able to accompany their child to their session. Masks must be worn at all times.

Temperature/Health Screening:
All clients will have their temperature taken and recorded at the door. Parents/guardians will be required to fill out a health questionnaire. Clients are asked to wash hands or use hand sanitizer before entering the space. Clients will also be required to sign a COVID acknowledgement of Risk form prior to starting therapy. Copies of these documents will be provided digitally and at the office prior to your first session. 

Scattered schedules:
Schedules are scattered as much as possible to allow for safe drop-off and pick-up.

Enhanced Cleaning Procedures:
Every therapy room is cleaned and sanitized between clients. Therapists are given additional time to clean and sanitize surfaces, toys and materials. Whenever possible, clients will have their own set of materials.  Each therapy room contains an UV light air purifier.

Staff Safety:
Staff is required to record their temperature and fill out the daily health questionnaire. As per New York State guidelines, therapists undergo monthly, routine COVID tests.

Office Closures:
Speak, Learn, and Play will remain open for in-person therapy unless our zip code is declared a red zone by Governor Cuomo. At that time, all services will be provided remotely until we are safely allowed to reopen.

TeleHealth

Speak, Learn and Play is excited to announce tele-therapy sessions for Counseling, Speech Therapy, and remote participation for Social Skills Groups. Virtual sessions are tailored to meet the individual needs of your child and family. In addition to therapy sessions and social skills groups, families can set up consultations, evaluations and parent meetings/education sessions to be conducted remotely.

Tele-therapy/Remote sessions have been proven to be an effective method for delivering quality services while maintaining social distancing practices. For more information or to schedule an appointment please fill out the form on our contact page.

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

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