Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Gatch.
Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Kelly Gatch, and I am a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. Growing up, I knew two things: I wanted to work with children and do something in the medical field. I didn’t know how to bring them together. In high school, people told me I had a gift for working with children with special needs. At the time, I knew children brought me so much joy, and I loved helping them, but I wasn’t sure how I could turn that into a career until I found the field of Speech-Language Pathology. I knew I found my calling. I received my Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati (go Cats!). Following my degrees, I decided to spread my wings and move away from the city I grew up in. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and started my career in the school system. After being in the school system for 2 years, I discovered the setting I belonged in private practice. I worked at an amazing Roswell, GA, Cobblestone Therapy Group clinic. It was filled with 20+ therapists/administrators who thrived off collaboration and helping each other grow. I felt so supported and, more importantly, learned so much. From developing professionally, I incorporated strategies from other disciplines into my sessions and built lasting relationships with the families I served. My passion for working in a private practice setting and treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech, speech sound disorders, and early intervention began there. Eventually, I moved out of GA to Santa Rosa Beach. I loved where I lived, but my job was very different. I worked at a clinic alone and saw less than half the amount of kids I did in GA. During this time, I started thinking about building my private practice. Santa Rosa Beach felt like there needed to be a better place, so we started looking elsewhere. We landed in Saint Johns County, and I began building my practice.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been relatively smooth so far?
Luckily, I have yet to run into many obstacles or challenges! Right now, my biggest challenge is being new to the area. I know there is a vast need for speech-language pathologists in the area, and I want to serve as many families as possible!
As you know, we’re big fans of Talk is Sweet Therapy. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Talk is Sweet is a pediatric speech-language therapy clinic built upon a passion for empowering children through effective communication. I am constantly inspired by their resilience and incredibly proud of the progress they make throughout their journey. I want to create a positive and collaborative environment where every child can find their voice and flourish. Every child can effectively communicate with their family and loved ones if given the right tools and support. Nothing is more important than building strong connections with my clients and their families. The children and families I serve become my family, and I am passionate about working together toward a common goal. Parent education is so important for carryover! I consistently implement evidence-based strategies in my therapy sessions and provide a nurturing and fun atmosphere. I currently offer therapy in the comfort of my client’s home or daycares. My long-term goal is to hire therapists of varying disciplines and to open a brick-and-mortar!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.talkissweet.com
- Instagram: talk.is.sweet
