Speech therapy for all types of brains and bodies
Neurodiversity Affirming Care
Empower Speech Therapy Monterey was born of a desire to provide neurodiversity-affirming speech and language therapy to the Monterey Bay community. We value embracing all neurotypes, and fostering confidence and self-advocacy in our clients using evidence-based practices.
Evidence-based speech and language therapy services & evaluations
All evaluations and services are provided by licensed speech-language pathologists in order to meet your individual needs.
Gestalt Language/Natural Language Acquisition
Language (Comprehension and Expression)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Articulation (Speech sound disorders/delays)
Fluency (Stuttering)
Social Language
Find out more about our services here.
We’ve come together under a shared vision: to provide therapy that is child- and family-driven, grounded in best practices, and affirming of neurodiversity. United by our values and a passion for doing meaningful work, we are committed to moving beyond the constraints of traditional systems and offering care that honors each individual’s strengths, needs, and identity. Together, we’re building a practice rooted in connection, collaboration, and the belief that every individual deserves to be seen and heard for who they are.
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Co-Founder, PresidentWendy was a school-based, licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for nearly a decade. She has extensive experience in supporting children with a wide range of communication needs, and is especially passionate about working with autistic children. She takes a neurodiverse-affirming approach to everything she does, and believes that building a a trusting relationship with clients is essential in making progress towards speech and language goals.
Wendy is an NLA-trained clinician, specializing in working with gestalt language learners.
Her work is grounded in evidence-based practices, but just as importantly, it’s guided by the belief that parents know their children best. She strives to build strong, trusting relationships with families and to create a supportive environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.
Wendy has extensive experience with language and articulation disorders, social language development, Natural Language Acquisition/Gestalt Language Processing, assessments, and the IEP process.
At the heart of her practice is a warm, child-centered approach that celebrates differences and empowers kids to communicate in ways that are meaningful to them.
When Wendy is not working, she spends her free time in the beautiful Monterey Bay area with her husband and two young children.
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Co-Founder, CEOKayla is a dedicated and compassionate speech-language pathologist with over six years of experience serving complex communicators. Known for her creativity, resourcefulness, and tireless advocacy, Kayla is deeply committed to helping every individual find and celebrate their voice. She is equally devoted to education and to building a world that honors and includes individuals across all levels of support needs.
She has worked extensively with multilingual learners and children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her clinical experience spans a wide range of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum, Cerebral Palsy, Cortical Visual Impairments, Down Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Cri du Chat Syndrome, and Fragile X Syndrome.
Kayla’s work is grounded in the belief that every individual has inherent dignity and a unique voice—and the human right to express it. Whether she's collaborating with families, educators, or specialists, she engages with empathy, joy, and an unwavering dedication to meeting each child where they are—and helping them grow beyond what they thought possible.
When she’s not working, you’ll find this SoCal transplant enjoying all the beauty Monterey has to offer, climbing crazy-tall mountains, reading books, and spending time keeping up with family and friends.