Now accepting new clients in West Los Angeles, CA! Contact us at (424) 330-8402 or emily@nurturespeechandlanguage.com to get started!
Nurture Speech and Language
Welcome
Nurture Speech and Language is a private practice based in Los Angeles, California, that provides individualized speech therapy to children ages 0-10. Our mission is to make every child feel seen, heard and celebrated for who they are.
NSL uses the latest research and evidence-based treatment approaches to help children learn to express themselves through play, mindfulness, and connection. We seek to enrich your child's language skills while nurturing their unique strengths, personality, and interests. NSL looks at each child as a whole, unique person, and meets them where they are at. We work closely with each family to form a strong relationship and involve you in the process every step of the way to ensure carryover of skills and create opportunities to have meaningful connections with your child.
We use a total communication approach to learning, because verbal speech isn't the only way to communicate! We take into account your child's communication style, and may incorporate sign language, picture boards, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). We accept all forms of communication in order to help your child express themselves as much as possible.
Services
Free Consultations
A free 15-minute phone consultation to determine if speech therapy is right for your child. We also offer free screenings for preschools and daycares.
Evaluations
If needed, a full speech and language evaluation can be conducted to evaluate your child's unique strengths and needs and determine a treatment plan.
Speech Therapy
1-hour private speech and language services, delivered in your home, online (teletherapy), or at a community location such as a local park or daycare.
Parent Coaching
We offer parent coaching sessions on a one-time, weekly, or monthly basis to help you implement speech and language strategies at home.
Speech therapy includes...
Articulation
Articulation refers to the way we pronounce individual sounds. Sometimes, children have trouble producing one or more sounds which may impact how well they are understood by others. Articulation therapy helps to reduce sound errors in a child's speech while learning and practicing the correct production of sounds to improve overall intelligibility.
Fluency
Fluency refers to the smoothness and general flow of speech. Fluency therapy helps children who stutter or clutter gain control of their speech by teaching techniques to increase fluency, as well as address feelings and attitudes about stuttering. NSL practices a "total acceptance" approach to stuttering, where the goal is not necessarily to speak fluently, but to gain confidence and acceptance of one's speech through understanding and learning about stuttering.
Speech Delay
Every child is different, and sometimes children meet milestones at different times than what is considered the "norm." If you are concerned that your toddler is not yet talking, early intervention can help them meet their developmental milestones. NSL helps build the foundations for language through child-led play and caregiver coaching.
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Expressive/Receptive Language
Expressive language is what your child can say, and receptive language is what your child can understand. If your child is having difficulty with either of these areas, expressive and receptive language therapy can help to strengthen current skills and achieve new ones. Expressive and receptive language skills can include reading comprehension, grammar, sentence structure, planning/organizing, language processing, attention, following directions, and more.
Autism
Most children with autism are gestalt language processors, and many autistic children may need support with moving through the stages of Natural Language Acquisition. Speech therapy involves meeting your child where they are at, and modeling language based on what NLA stage they are currently in. This type of therapy is play-based, child-led, and also involves parent coaching in order to help your child begin to self-generate language.
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
For some children, verbal speech is difficult and they may require different modalities to communicate. AAC can be low-tech (a picture board) or high-tech (a tablet) and serve as a supplement or replacement for verbal speech. We walk you through the steps to acquiring a device for your child, including how to acquire a device through insurance or the state, as well as training your family in how to implement AAC at home.
Location
In your home
Don't want to add another commute to your busy schedule? NSL offers in-home services at a time and day that is most convenient for you. We serve families in all of West LA -- Santa Monica, Westwood, Brentwood, Culver City, Century City, Venice, and Marina Del Rey.
Online
Research shows that teletherapy yields just as effective treatment outcomes as face-to-face therapy. Teletherapy is a convenient and preferable option for many families. We serve the entire state of California via online therapy using a HIPAA-compliant platform.
At school
NSL provides the option for families in West LA to meet for therapy at a convenient, neutral community location. This can include your child's daycare or school, park, or library.
Meet Emily
Emily Coursen, M.S., CCC-SLP
Owner
Emily Coursen is the founder and owner of Nurture Speech and Language. Emily completed her undergraduate education at James Madison University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then earned her masters degree at William Paterson University of New Jersey in Communication Disorders. She has been practicing since 2018. She completed her Clinical Fellowship Year in the high school and adult transition setting. She then stayed in the school system for another year, working in an elementary school with students Pre-K-5, before she switched to working in private practice in 2020.
Emily started her private practice when she realized she could help children more effectively in an individualized, one-on-one setting. After completing the Meaningful Speech course and becoming certified in Natural Language Acquisiton as well as developing a passion for AAC and working with autistic children, she saw her clients begin to flourish in not just communication, but in all areas of their lives.
Emily is passionate about letting your child lead with their unique interests, involving your family in the speech therapy journey, customizing therapy to your child's needs and personality, and using evidence-based practices to build your child's developmental skills. Keeping her practice intentionally small helps her to focus adequate time and energy on her clients' progress.
Outside of speech therapy, Emily enjoys hiking, camping, yoga, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She loves to travel and explore new places in California.
Certifications
How to get started
1.
Give us a call
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to determine if services are needed.
2.
Develop a plan
Develop goals and a treatment plan based on your family's wants and needs.
3.
Start treatment
Speech therapy sessions begin at an agreed location, 1 or 2 times per week for at least three months.
Payment
Nurture Speech and Language is currently private pay only, with the option to request a Super Bill for reimbursement from your insurance company (however, reimbursement is not guaranteed, depending on your family's private insurance). Payment is due at the time of services rendered unless otherwise stated in a written agreement. We accept cash, check, or Zelle.
