Not Just Words, Mobile SLP

Not Just Words, Mobile SLP Mobile SLP providing services in your home, child-care facility, private school, etc. Regulation before expectation.

Child-led, play-based, neuro affirming 🩷

Jon Peterson & Autism Scholarship provider

Serving children and adults ASHA certified
Certified in neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia

“What’s this?” feels like language practice, but for some kids, it can feel like a quiz.And communication is not a pop q...
06/04/2026

“What’s this?” feels like language practice, but for some kids, it can feel like a quiz.

And communication is not a pop quiz. 💛

If your child doesn’t answer, they might be:

🧠 still processing
😅 feeling put on the spot
💛 unsure how to respond
🙈 wanting connection, not pressure

Instead of asking “What’s this?” try modeling language:

✨ “That’s a big truck!”
🐶 “The dog is running!”
🔵 “You found the blue cup!”
🫧 “I hear bubbles popping!”

Less pressure. More connection. More language they can use later.

If you have questions about your child’s speech development, send me a message.

Following directions is about more than “listening.”If your child can do each step separately, but falls apart when you ...
06/02/2026

Following directions is about more than “listening.”

If your child can do each step separately, but falls apart when you give 2 or 3 steps at once, their brain may be juggling too much.

Multi-step directions require kids to:

🧠 remember what you said
👂 process the words
➡️ figure out what comes first
💛 stay regulated enough to follow through

A few things that can help:

✨ Give one step at a time
👀 Use pointing or visual cues
✂️ Keep directions short
⏳ Pause before repeating
🔁 Practice during everyday routines

If you have questions about your child’s speech or language development, send me a message.

Communication doesn’t have to look one way.Some kids use:🗣️ spoken words✋ gestures or signs📱 AAC👀 body language🎶 sounds ...
06/01/2026

Communication doesn’t have to look one way.

Some kids use:

🗣️ spoken words
✋ gestures or signs
📱 AAC
👀 body language
🎶 sounds or vocal play

And all of it counts.

A total communication approach means we support the child in front of us, instead of forcing one “right” way to communicate.

And no, using AAC or gestures does not stop speech. It gives kids more ways to connect while their communication grows.

For homeschool families in Ohio, speech therapy services may be fully covered through the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship or Autism Scholarship for eligible students.

If you have questions about your child’s communication or scholarship options, send me a message. 💛

One thing I wish more parents wouldn’t stress about?That their child isn’t communicating the “right” way yet. 💛I can’t t...
05/27/2026

One thing I wish more parents wouldn’t stress about?

That their child isn’t communicating the “right” way yet. 💛

I can’t tell you how many times a parent has said to me:

“They only point.”
“They just bring me things.”
“They make sounds, but not real words.”
“They’ll only communicate when they REALLY want something.”

And I get it. When you’re worried, every comparison gets louder.

But here’s the thing I wish more families knew:

Communication starts long before clear words.

A child bringing your hand to the snack cabinet? That’s communication.
Pushing something away? Communication.
Looking at you, then at a toy? Communication.
Making the same sound every time they want help? Also communication.

As a speech therapist, I’m not just listening for words.

I’m looking for connection, intention, and how your child is already trying to interact with the world.

Because that’s where growth starts.

At Not Just Words, this is a huge part of how I approach therapy. We meet kids where they are, in the environments where they feel safest and most comfortable, and build from the communication they already have.

That might mean using play, gestures, movement, routines, or parent coaching before spoken words become the focus.

Because progress doesn’t only count when it sounds like a perfectly clear sentence.

Sometimes progress looks like:
✨ asking for help without frustration
✨ making eye contact to share excitement
✨ using a gesture instead of melting down
✨ initiating interaction for the first time

Those moments matter so much.

If you’re a parent carrying the stress of “should they be doing more by now?” please know you don’t have to sort through that alone.

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you want support understanding your child’s communication journey. 💛

“Should we wait on AAC until speech doesn’t happen?”This is one of the biggest myths I still hear, and honestly, I under...
05/26/2026

“Should we wait on AAC until speech doesn’t happen?”

This is one of the biggest myths I still hear, and honestly, I understand where it comes from.

A lot of parents worry that introducing AAC means “giving up” on spoken language.

But AAC is not a last resort. 💛

It’s a communication tool, just like gestures, pointing, sign language, or spoken words.

And here’s what I wish more families knew: giving a child MORE ways to communicate does not take communication away.

In fact, it often does the opposite.

I’ve seen kids become less frustrated, more connected, and more confident when they finally have a way to express what’s already in their minds.

Because imagine knowing what you want to say… but not having a reliable way to get it out.

That’s exhausting.

AAC can support so many different communicators, not just children who are fully non-speaking.

It can help kids who:
✨ have unclear speech that’s hard for others to understand
✨ get overwhelmed and lose access to spoken words in certain moments
✨ are building language but need extra support expressing themselves
✨ benefit from seeing language visually while learning

At Not Just Words, we look at communication as a whole picture.

If a child is communicating through sounds, gestures, movement, words, or a device, that ALL counts.

Because communication is the goal, not forcing one specific method.

And no, using AAC does not mean we stop supporting spoken language if that’s appropriate for your child.

It means we support communication in the way that works best for them right now.

That’s a very different thing.

If AAC has ever felt intimidating or confusing, you are absolutely not alone. It’s one of those topics that comes with a lot of outdated messaging.

If you’re wondering what communication supports might fit your child, reach out for a complimentary consultation. We’re always happy to help families make sense of their options. 💛

Early childhood speech therapy and school-aged speech therapy can look really different.And that’s a good thing.Because ...
05/25/2026

Early childhood speech therapy and school-aged speech therapy can look really different.

And that’s a good thing.

Because what a child needs at 2 or 3 is not always the same as what they need at 7, 8, or 9.

The goals grow as your child grows.

But one thing stays the same for me: therapy should still feel meaningful, supportive, and connected to real life.

That’s why I love working in a child’s natural environment. Whether your child is a toddler learning first words or a homeschooler working on explaining big ideas, we can build communication into the moments that already matter.

And for homeschool families in Ohio, this is important to know:

Speech therapy services may be free through the Jon Peterson Scholarship or Autism Scholarship for eligible students.

So if your school-aged child still needs support with communication, social language, speech clarity, or confidence, you may have options that fit your homeschool rhythm. 💛

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you’d like to talk through what support could look like.

Sometimes communication doesn’t look like words at first.It looks like a reach.A sound.A body movement.A look toward the...
05/20/2026

Sometimes communication doesn’t look like words at first.

It looks like a reach.
A sound.
A body movement.
A look toward the door.
A little hand pushing something away.

And if we move too fast, we miss it.

When I work with a child who communicates through movement, sounds, or gestures, I don’t treat those as “less than” speech.

I treat them as communication that deserves a response.

Because before we build more words, we first have to show the child:

“I see what you’re telling me.”
“Your message matters.”
“I’m listening.”

That might look like:
✨ responding when they reach instead of waiting for a word
✨ giving meaning to their sounds during play
✨ noticing when movement tells me they need a break
✨ modeling simple words without pressure
✨ adding signs, gestures, or visuals when helpful

The goal is not to force communication to look one certain way.

The goal is to help your child feel successful using the communication they already have, then gently build from there.

At Not Just Words, this is why I use a child-led, neuroaffirming approach in your child’s natural environment. We focus on regulation before expectation, parent coaching, and real-life carryover so communication support actually fits into your daily routines.

Because when a child feels understood, confidence grows. And when confidence grows, communication often grows too. 💛

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you’d like support understanding and building on your child’s communication.

Some kids learn language in chunks from books, shows, adults, or repeated scripts. So they may use words that are correc...
05/19/2026

Some kids learn language in chunks from books, shows, adults, or repeated scripts. So they may use words that are correct, but feel a little too formal for the moment.

In speech therapy, I look at how a child uses language in real life, not just whether the words are “right.”

We might work on:
✨ matching words to the situation
✨ noticing how different people talk
✨ practicing casual ways to say the same thing
✨ helping them feel confident without changing who they are

Because the goal is not to make a child sound like everyone else.

The goal is to help them understand their options.

At Not Just Words, we support communication in a way that respects each child’s personality, learning style, and natural way of expressing themselves. We build skills through play, connection, and real-life routines, not pressure.

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you’re curious how speech therapy can support social communication. 💛

A lot of parents notice when their child labels nouns first. “Ball.” “Dog.” “Car.”But when it comes to action words like...
05/18/2026

A lot of parents notice when their child labels nouns first. “Ball.” “Dog.” “Car.”

But when it comes to action words like run, jump, eat, open, or sleep... those can feel much harder to learn.

And honestly, that makes total sense.

Objects stay the same. A ball is always a ball.

But actions? They move fast, change depending on the situation, and can look a little different every time.

“Running” across the backyard doesn’t look exactly like “running” through the kitchen.

For some kids, especially those with language delays or developmental differences, that can make action words much harder to understand and use.

A few ways I help build action words in therapy:

🏃 Acting them out instead of just saying the word
📚 Using simple books with clear movement pictures
🧸 Bringing verbs into play naturally like “baby is sleeping” or “the car is going”
✨ Repeating the same action words during everyday routines so they become meaningful

This is one of the reasons I love providing therapy in natural environments. Kids learn language best when it connects to real life, not just practice at the table.

And for my homeschool families in Ohio, this is your reminder 💛

Speech therapy services may be fully covered through the Jon Peterson Scholarship or Autism Scholarship for eligible homeschooled students.

If your child is having trouble with language, communication, storytelling, or expressing ideas clearly, support may be more accessible than you think.

We’re always happy to answer questions about scholarship options and help you understand what next steps might look like.

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you’d like to chat about support for your child. 💫

Before we work on words, we work on feeling safe enough to communicate.That’s one of my biggest therapy beliefs.Because ...
05/14/2026

Before we work on words, we work on feeling safe enough to communicate.

That’s one of my biggest therapy beliefs.

Because if a child walks into a session overwhelmed, unsure, tired, dysregulated, or already feeling pressure… asking them to “talk” right away usually doesn’t help.

So I often start with settling first.

That might look like:

✨ sitting quietly near them without asking anything
✨ letting them choose the first toy
✨ using movement before table activities
✨ giving their hands something to do
✨ lowering my voice and slowing my pace
✨ following their play instead of jumping in too fast

These moments may not look like speech therapy from the outside.

But they are.

Because regulation is the foundation for communication.

When a child’s body feels more settled, their brain has more space to listen, connect, process, and try.

At Not Just Words, this is why we focus on regulation before expectation. We meet kids in their natural environments, build trust through play, and help families use the same supports during everyday routines.

Sometimes the best way to help a child talk… is to stop rushing them to talk first. 💛

Reach out for a complimentary consultation if you’d like support finding what works for your child.

Address

Maineville, OH
45039

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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