Meet Gina

Founder of Playful Words Speech Language Pathology, PLLC  | ASHA-Certified (CCC-SLP)

Gina is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion for supporting early speech, language, and literacy development. 

Gina has over 6 years of valuable experience working with children in private practice, outpatient clinics, and school settings, including a school dedicated to supporting children with language-based learning needs.

With the challenges that families and students faced during the pandemic, Gina observed the need for flexible, affordable, and individualized support for language and literacy development. She founded Playful Words Speech Language Pathology, PLLC to offer families in her community specialized access to parent coaching, speech and language therapy, and reading and writing support. 

Gina specializes in supporting young children with receptive and expressive language delays, as well as students who experience challenges with phonological awareness, phonemic awareness and speech sound production, reading, and writing. She has completed trainings in Lively Letters™, Story Grammar Marker® , and The Hochman Method© (The Writing Revolution).

Gina holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and an initial certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). She earned her Master of Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Virginia in 2017.

FAQs

  • Language refers to our understanding of words (receptive language), our use of words (expressive language), and how we use words and gestures - think body language - to connect with others and communicate our ideas (pragmatic language). Reading and writing are also language-based skills.

    Playful Words Speech-Language Pathology, PLLC specializes in language-based learning challenges and disorders, including early language development and literacy.

  • "Speech" refers to how we say sounds and can include articulation, voice, and fluency (stuttering). Gina has experience supporting children with speech sound and fluency disorders but does not specialize in these areas. If she feels a child requires more specialized support, she is happy to suggest referrals to other practices in the area!

  • If you have any questions, we are happy to schedule a free consultation! We also provide low-cost screenings, which can help determine if a complete evaluation is warranted.

  • Evaluations and assessments are important in the field of speech-language pathology. It is challenging to know where to begin and how best to support a child without an assessment. As a result, Playful Words Speech-Language Pathology, PLLC requires an evaluation prior to beginning services. We are happy to complete the evaluation ourselves or to accept evaluations completed by other practices or clinicians within the past 6 months. Evaluations are billed at a flat rate and may include multiple meetings or sessions. An evaluation report and review phone call are also included.

  • We do not accept insurance at this time. This allows us to be flexible with payment plans, frequency of services, and length of sessions. We are a boutique private practice and currently accept payment through our secure online payment system. We can provide a summary of services rendered in the form of a Superbill upon request.

  • Gina travels within NYC as long as the requested location and session time work with her current schedule. She also offers virtual sessions within NY State.

    Sessions may be community-based (playgrounds, grocery stores), school-based, or home-based.