Katherine, owner of Excel Speech Therapy Center for over 22 years, is originally from Northern California. Katherine is the second oldest of six children and spent her early years taking care of younger siblings and babysitting for families throughout her teenage years. She was an instructional assistant for children with special needs during her college years and enjoyed working with children. She received her Masters degree at California State University Fresno and completed an internship in the skilled nursing facilities. She moved to Los Angeles becoming a traveling speech therapist in the schools, then moved back home shortly thereafter, working for a private pediatric practice in Northern California for several years. Katherine then decided to move to San Diego to open up a private practice. She worked as a traveling speech therapist for the San Diego schools and spent evenings and weekends working as a home health contractor and in skilled nursing facilities while building her clientele at Excel Speech, eventually dedicating all of her time to Excel Speech. Katherine strives to maintain excellent rapport with her staff as well as with the families attending Excel Speech clinics, focusing on a strong team based approach. In her free time, Katherine enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, Olive and Forrest, traveling, reading, and going to the beach.

Rachel T. M.S CCC-SLP: Rachel graduated with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from San Diego State University. Prior to becoming a speech-language pathologist, she worked as an elementary school teacher and has a passion for literacy. Rachel is certified by The Hanen Program® to teach More Than Words® and TalkAbility® courses, and currently co-runs the More Than Words® program at our San Marcos location. She has also been trained and received certifications in PRT (Pivotal Response Training), PECS (the Picture Exchange Communication System), PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), and Lindamood-Bell’s Seeing Stars® and Visualizing and Verbalizing® programs. She provides individual and group (BUDS) speech-language therapy at the San Marcos clinic. Contact at rachelexcelspeech@gmail.com

Janell C. M.S., CF-SLP: Janell graduated with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2020. A San Diego native, Janell attended Brigham Young University-Idaho for her first undergraduate degree (Early Childhood Development/Special Education), and later went to University of Nebraska at Omaha, majoring in Speech-Language Pathology. Janell’s experience includes treatment for those with articulation, Braille, expressive/receptive language and pragmatic disorders. She is excited and passionate about individuals and tailoring treatments to individual needs and motivations.

Danielle P., M.S., CF-SLP: Danielle is originally from Ridgecrest, California, and moved down to San Diego to obtain her undergraduate degree in Human Development at the University of California, San Diego. She graduated with her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Emerson College. Prior to her career in speech therapy, Danielle worked as an ABA therapist for 7 years. She also has experience as a Special Education Classroom Aide across a broad range of ages (kindergarten through 12th grade). She has experience evaluating and treating children of all ages with a variety of communication disorders including, articulation, phonology, fluency, receptive/expressive language, and social pragmatic language. Danielle enjoys working with children and is passionate about tailoring therapy to each individual's needs to create a positive and empowering experience for both the child and their families. When Danielle is not working, she enjoys reading books, playing video games, gardening, and spending time with her pet bunnies, Stitch and Daisy.

Allison C., M.A., CCC-SLP: Allison is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. She received her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduation, she worked in the school setting, providing individual and group-based speech-language therapy to preschool through elementary school-age children with a variety of articulation, expressive and receptive language, fluency, voice, AAC, and social/pragmatic language needs. Allison has been working at Excel Speech Therapy Center since the summer of 2018. She is trained in and runs workshops for Hanen’s More Than Words® program. She is also trained in the use of PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets). She believes in creating a positive, child-directed, play-based, and family-oriented therapeutic environment that emphasizes the use of evidence-based practice. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and taking her Goldendoodle Cooper to the beach.

Morgan F.; M.S CCC-SLP: Morgan graduated with her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and has been enjoying the warm weather and beautiful beaches in San Diego. She has experience working at a children’s hospital and private practice in both individual and group speech therapy sessions. Through these experiences she has worked with children of all ages in the areas of articulation, phonology, language, literacy, and social/pragmatic language. She is passionate about working to support each child in achieving his or her goals in a positive, fun, child-directed and family-oriented manner. Morgan is trained in the use of PROMPT (PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) and Hanen’s More Than Words parent education program.

Laura W., M.S. CCC-SLP: Laura is originally from San Diego, California. She received her Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Redlands. After graduation, Laura began working at Excel Speech Therapy Center in June of 2019. She has experience working with children of all ages with a variety of communication disorders including articulation, phonology, fluency, language, and social/pragmatic language. Laura is passionate about working with children and their family members to create engaging therapy sessions that target their goals in a fun and meaningful way. Laura is also trained in Hanens More Than Words parent education program. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and reading a good book.

Kelly M. M.S., CF-SLP, TSSLD: Kelly graduated with her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Molloy College and with her bachelor's in Communication Science and Disorders from Queens College, CUNY. She is originally from Long Island, New York and has recently moved to California. Kelly has experience in working with children in the areas of articulation, phonology, phonological awareness, expressive, receptive, and social pragmatic language. Kelly enjoys creating meaningful bonds with her clients and helping them become successful communicators. She believes in taking a child centered approach to therapy in order to create a welcoming and fun environment.

Abigail E. M.S., CCC-SLP. Abigail graduated with her master’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders in Speech Language Pathology from Baylor University. She is originally from Camino in Northern California, also known as Apple Hill. She moved to San Diego four years ago, where her husband is stationed on Coronado Island- Go Navy! For the past six years, she has worked exclusively with children with autism, fluency disorders, articulation, developmental language delays, and social pragmatics.

Abigail has experience working with swallowing and cognition disorders within the hospital and SNF settings as well as experience in schools and private practices. Abigail finds happiness is watching each child grow as an individual while helping families along their communication journey.