About Speech SF
We believe play is the basis of learning. Our mission is to help children reach their communication potential while making speech therapy as stress free as possible for our children and families.
Our History
Founded in 2016, Speech SF is a woman owned and family run business that strives to positively impact families, communities, and speech therapists in San Francisco. We were founded because Katie Laher believed that pairing in-home, play-based therapy with an exceptional parent experience and straightforward policies would help remove stress from the therapy process for the entire family.
Our Core Pillars
Families First
Support not only the children but the families too
Purposeful Play
Play is not a break from learning- it’s the basis of learning
Impact Focused
Set your sights on change not tasks
Growth Mindset
Life is too short to think small
Keep it Simple
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
Partnering with the Community
We partner with schools, therapists, and children learning centers across San Francisco to provide holistic speech and language support. Here's a short list of folks we already have relationships with:
Speech SF Gives Back
At Speech SF we try to find every opportunity we can to give back to the community. We are currently helping the community by:
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Giving every one of our therapists 5 hours of paid volunteer time a year.
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Donating free evaluations for school auctions. Please reach out if you are interested.
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Building Suite Speech to provide an online community with free resources for parents.
Our Team
Kaleigh VanVolkenburgh
Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist, M.S. CCC-SLP
Originally from upstate NY, Kaleigh decided to move to San Francisco in pursuit of more sunshine. She received her undergraduate and graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Spanish from Ithaca College. Kaleigh's areas of clinical experience include autism, articulation, language delays, fluency (i.e. stuttering), voice disorders. Kaleigh has worked in preschools, elementary and middle schools, rehabilitation centers, private university clinics and in homes around the Bay. She is a certified trainer in Hanen's "More than Words". In her free time, Kaleigh enjoys hiking and traveling with her pup, Tucker.
Allison Townsend
Speech-Language Pathologist, M.A. CCC-SLP
Allison is a proud San Francisco native. After spending several years in New York in pursuit of her undergraduate & graduate degrees, she eventually ventured back to the west coast to begin her career as a licensed speech therapist. Allison received her B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Syracuse University and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from St. John’s University. Allison has over 12 years of experience working with children, and has a passion for collaborating with families to help their little ones become the best communicators they can be! She has worked in schools, private clinics, and homes to provide a variety of services related to speech sound disorders, receptive/expressive language delays, and fluency disorders. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, camping, traveling, and organizing.
Casey Ruffin
Speech-Language Pathologist, M.S. CCC-SLP
Casey, a California native, ventured to the University of Connecticut for her undergraduate program in Communication Disorders and Psychology. She returned to California for her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of the Pacific. Casey has been in the Bay Area ever since and has experience with children and adults in a variety of settings including hospitals, private clinics, schools, and home health. She is passionate about AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and helping others access their voice. Other clinical areas of experience and interest include early intervention, language, articulation, apraxia, and complex communication needs. In her free time, Casey enjoys traveling, gardening, and crochet.
Catherine Venitz
Speech-Language Pathologist, M.S. CCC-SLP
Catherine is originally from Michigan. After spending several years in the midwest pursuing her undergraduate and graduate degrees, she moved to San Francisco in 2017 to begin her career as a speech-language pathologist. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, and her M.S. from Purdue University, a top program for speech, language, and hearing sciences. Catherine has experience in a variety of settings, including schools, rehabilitation centers, and clinics. Catherine’s areas of clinical experience include articulation and phonological disorders, language delays/disorders, autism, and early intervention. Catherine is certified in the Hanen Program “It Takes Two to Talk” and has completed training in the Kaufman Apraxia approach. In her free time, Catherine enjoys reading, traveling, and hanging out with her dog, Sammy.
Tucker
Chief Cuddle Pup
Tucker has been a professional cuddler for over 2.5 years. He has a PhD in snuggles with a speciality in face licking. When times get tough he always knows how to help.
Contact us!
Feel free to send us a note. We love working with families, schools, and other local businesses. We look forward to connecting with you!
2443 Fillmore Street, #153
San Francisco, CA, 94115