Hurst Clinic: Erin Bernett MS, CCC-SLP; Director Patricia Martinez, MS, CCC-SLP Nikki Wensel Rustad, MA, CCC-SLP Randi Thomas, MS, CCC-SLP Karen Pieters, MS, CCC-SLP Megan Cord, MS, CCC-SLP Rebecca Lamke Sas, MS, CCC-SLP Audrey Powell M.S., CCC-SLP Jennifer Donlon M.S., CCC-SLP

Flower Mound Clinic: Erin Bernett MS, CCC-SLP; Director Kristi Erhart Rollins, MA, CCC-SLP Stacey Stewart, MS, CCC-SLP Alexandra Torget M.Ed., CCC-SLP Audrey Powell M.S., CCC-SLP

Fort Worth Clinic: Megan Cord M.S., CCC-SLP

rin Bernett M.S., CCC-SLP has over 13 years of experience helping children meet their communication potentials. Prior to establishing Monkey Mouths, Erin practiced with both Cook Children's Medical Center and Our Children's House Baylor. Erin developed the Sound Card System (SCS) from years of observations that her patients were visual learners and responded much quicker when they could see and feel sounds rather than just hearing them. In addition to visual cueing with SCS, Erin uses varied visual and tactile cues such as sign language, PROMPT therapy, Picture Exchange Communication System, Visualizing and Verbalizing by Nancy Bell M.S., CCC-SLP and visual pacing to make learning speech and language easier. Erin has implemented techniques from Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP, Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP and Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP in treating children with sensory-motor feeding and articulation disorders. Erin has trained with Nancy Kaufman M.S., CCC-SLP and Tamara Kasper M.S., CCC-SLP to work with children with apraxia or autism and apraxia.  In addition to her passion for treating patients with speech and language disorders, Erin also lectures on and is one of the only therapists in the metroplex to treat children with vocal cord dysfunction.

risti Erhart Rollins M.A., CCC-SLP has been empowering families to help their children communicate for over 15 years. Before joining the Monkey Mouths team, Kristi worked for both Cook Children's Medical Center and Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). Kristi has worked in conjunction with Erin for over 10 years in the development and use of the Sound Card System in the treatment of children with motor-planning disorders. In addition to SCS, Kristi has also been PROMPT trained and  trained in the Kaufman Apraxia System. Kristi is experienced with using numerous oral-motor/feeding techniques such as Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP, Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP and Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP. She has combined this experience with her knowledge of language development and her education from Vincent Carbone PhD, ABA  and Mark Sundburg PhD, BCBA in controlling negative behaviors that many times accompany a language disorder to establish well-rounded, success based treatment plans for her patients.

atricia Martinez M.S., CCC-SLP has over 15 years of experience as a speech- language pathologist. Prior to joining Monkey Mouths over 5 years ago, she worked in Early Childhood Intervention(ECI) and the public schools. Her extensive oral-motor/feeding training which includes Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP, Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP, Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP  with Talk Tools and Marjorie Meyer Palmer M.S., CCC-SLP has helped to build her expertise in treating severe sensory-motor feeding disorders. Patricia's training with Nancy Kaufman M.S., CCC-SLP in treating patients with apraxia along with her use of the Sound Card System have helped in developing her skills in treating motor-planning disorders in speech. Patricia's work with children with autism prompted her to pursue training with Vincent Carbone PhD, ABA. She uses her NDT/Sensory Integration background to prepare children physically for their best therapy session possible. This experience as well as Patricia's love for animals helped to prompt her into pursuing her accreditation in hippotherapy.

ikki Wensel Rustad, M.A., CCC-SLP has been sharing the power of communication with children and their parents for over 16 years. Before joining Monkey Mouths she practiced at Easter Seals, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, and in management at Cook Children's Medical Center as the graduate student liaison. Nikki has had extensive training in oral motor and feeding issues with such experts as Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP, Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP and Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP. She also has significant experience with behavioral and communication strategies for children with autism including training with Vincent Carbone PhD, ABA and Mark Sundburg PhD, BCBA.   Based on a child's specific needs, Nikki has used auditory-verbal techniques and total communication to treat speech and language issues related to hearing impairment.  Nikki loves to use books whenever she can--which is what prompted her to begin utilizing the Literacy Speaks program.  She believes that therapy should be fun and functional and that parent education is crucial for each child's success.

andi Thomas M.S., CCC-SLP has over 7 years of experience working as a pediatric speech- language pathologist. Randi began her career with Cook Children's Medical Center where she completed her Clinical Fellowship Year under the supervision of Erin Bernett M.S., CCC-SLP. Randi has expertise in working with children with hearing impairments using either an auditory-verbal or a total communication approach depending upon the child's specific needs. She has had extended training in developmental apraxia and motor-planning disorders including training with Nancy Kaufman M.S., CCC-SLP and PROMPT therapy. Her oral-motor/feeding skills include instruction from Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP, Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC-SLP Marsha Dunn Klein Med, OTR, and Catherine Shaker M.S., CCC-SLP. Randi's definition of successful treatment is to have the parents involved in therapy so that they feel empowered to work with their child in the home on a regular basis.

aren Pieters M.S., CCC-SLP has over 13 years combined experience in speech pathology and school psychology. Karen joined us from Our Children's House – Irving  where she headed the clinic’s feeding department. She has worked as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology in GA and TX. Karen has had extensive feeding training with Deborah Beckman M.S., CCC, Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP, and Sara R. Johnson M.S., CCC-SLP. These skills along with her training in Sensory Integration with Kathryne Carnissa, OTR and her behavioral background, make her a well-rounded oral-motor/feeding therapist. She presented “Rapidly Increase Intelligibility in Young Children” at the TSHA convention and enjoys working on children's speech intelligibility and with motor-planning disorders; her use of PROMPT therapy is essential in the treatment of motor-planning disorders.  Her experience in speech and psychology make her a great therapist for children who are experiencing speech/language issues that affect school learning. Karen sees parents as partners in the therapy process, and enjoys giving families simple yet effective ideas for home carry-over.

tacey Stewart M.S., CCC-SLP has been working as a speech pathologist for over 13 years. Before joining Monkey Mouths, Stacey acted as assistant supervisor for Journey Learning Center for children with autism as well as providing direct, inclusive speech therapy services there in conjunction with an occupational therapist with a strong focus on sensory integration disorders. Prior to working for Journey Rehabilitation, Stacey worked for Cook Children's Medical Center and Headstart. Stacey's autism background includes training from Vincent Carbone PhD, BCBA, Mark Sundburg PhD, BCBA, Tamara Kasper M.S., CCC-SLP/BCBA and Patrick McGreevy PhD, BCBA. In addition to Stacey's strong language background, she has also worked with adult and child swallowing and feeding disorders with training by Rona Alexander PhD, CCC-SLP, Jeri Logemann PhD, CCC-SLP and Renee Roy-Hill M.S., CCC-SLP with Talk Tools. In order to better serve patients with autism and apraxia, Stacey has trained in PROMPT and the Kaufman Apraxia System.  Stacey feels that creating a loving and nurturing therapeutic environment for the child with an open line of communication between the clinician and the child's parent, as well as other support staff members is vital to successful treatment.

egan Cord M.S., CCC-SLP joined Monkey Mouths, LLC as a speech pathology graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas. Megan completed her Clinical Fellowship Year under the supervision of Erin Bernett.  Megan has had over 4 years of supervised clinical experience during her undergraduate and graduate education. Megan has provided speech and language therapy services for children in a variety of clinical settings including a university clinic, inpatient and outpatient pediatric hospitals, a private practice, and the public schools. In each setting, she was exposed to a wide range of children and to a variety of treatment techniques to best serve each child. Upon employment with Monkey Mouths, Megan obtained her PROMPT certification, training with Dr. Carbone PhD, BCBC for verbal ABA techniques and advanced feeding therapy training with Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP. Megan was also able to pursue training with Nancy Kaufman M.S., CCC and Tamara Kasper M.S., CCC-SLP/BCBA in order to learn new techniques for working with children with apraxia and a duel diagnosis of autism and apraxia.

ebecca Lamke Sas, M.S., CCC-SLP has over 8 years of experience working with children to meet their speech and language needs. Prior to joining the Monkey Mouths team, she worked at the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center as a SLP and Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) specialist. In this position she provided classroom consultations, training programs, and information on Assistive Technology (AT) to Oklahoma Public Schools, administrators, educators, service providers, and parents. Rebecca has most recently worked in the public school setting. As a school speech therapist she served students ages 3-21 providing evaluations and interventions for articulation, fluency, voice, and language disorders. She is skilled at using various approaches to therapy including use of the Sound Card System, AT, total communication, principals of ABA, and social stories. She also served as a member of the district’s AT team providing evaluations, interventions, and consultations to students, staff, paraprofessionals, and therapists related to AT/AAC. Rebecca also has experience working in a hearing-impaired pre-school and helping families incorporate the use of baby signs with infants. Rebecca has also competed PROMPT training and training with Talk Tools Oral Placement Therapy.  She believes in a child-centered team approach to speech and language therapy using positive feedback while focusing on functional outcomes.

ennifer Donlon, M.A., CCC-SLP has been a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for over 12 years.  Prior to joining Monkey Mouths, she worked in both public schools, and the private sector.  Jennifer gained public school experience in the Houston area working with preschool, elementary, and middle school students.  There she served on the district’s multidisciplinary assistive technology team, and serviced children with various speech, language, and learning disabilities.  In the private sector, Jennifer became certified in Interactive Metronome, and has worked with children with various communication disorders including apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, central auditory processing disorder, and feeding issues.  The extended training Jennifer received from Athena Oden, P.T. of Ready Bodies Learning Minds, enhances her skills at recognizing the role of sensory integration in learning.  She also has completed training with Talk Tools for oral-motor placement therapy as well as Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP for feeding therapy.  She has trained with Nancy Kaufman M.S., CCC-SLP/Tamera Kasper M.S., CCC-SLP/BCBA in working with children with apraxia and autism.  Having a child of her own with Sensory Processing Disorder, Jennifer’s passion is to help make a difference in the lives of children and their families. She plans to bring the Listen Program to Monkey Mouths in the near future.

lexandra Torget M.Ed., CCC-SLP has been practicing as a speech-language pathologist for over 4 years.  Alexandra began her career at Children’s Hospital of Richmond Virginia where she provided medically-based diagnostic and treatment services to an outpatient pediatric population.  Alexandra has also worked in an adult long-term acute care hospital and is able to apply her adult neurological experience to the pediatric population.  Alexandra is PROMPT trained and has been able to utilize this training in working with children with apraxia as well as children with low muscle tone.  Since joining the Monkey Mouths team, she has completed Talk Tools oral placement therapy training and training with Lori Overland M.S., CCC-SLP for sensory-motor feeding disorders.  Alexandra also enjoys working with children with fluency disorders and has done Preschool Fluency Training by Nina Reardon-Reeves M.S., CCC-SLP. Alexandra says that, “Communication is one of the most powerful things we have as a society and one of the most powerful things we can do as people.  I believe every person (child) deserves to effectively communicate with their environment and it is my job to facilitate that ability.”

udrey Powell M.S., CCC-SLP graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and practiced at a private practice in Richardson while obtaining her Certificate of Clinical Competence.  As the clinic’s primary feeding therapist, she pursued certification in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Program.  She also treated children with articulation and language disorders.  Upon employment with Monkey Mouths, Audrey will complete an extensive continuing education protocol to improve upon her strong clinical skills and her passion for children with speech, language and feeding disorders.  Audrey believes that positive professional communication and rapport with the family is essential in order to increase the generalization of the patient's new skills to their home environment.