Meet Our Therapists
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Ashley Moates, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I was inspired to become a speech-language pathologist by my sister, Anna, who has Down syndrome. Because of my life experience with Anna, I has a passion to help individuals with disabilities find their voice and be a part of providing them the tools they need to be heard. I love finding each child's own unique strengths and abilities and using those to facilitate more effective communication. I also have a desire to support families, and use parent coaching to empower them to embrace their active role on the therapy team!
What is your SLP superpower?
Connection! I love connecting with others, and learning what excites and inspires them.
What do you like to do for fun?
Walks & talks with friends, traveling, and spending quality time with friends & family!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I love empowering the family and seeing them confidently embrace their INCREDIBLY important role on the team. Celebrating every single victory with the family is something I will never get over!
Areas of interest:
Early Intervention, Autism, Down syndrome, Parent Coaching
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Bailey Lawson, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
To help children communicate because everyone deserves a voice!
What is your SLP superpower?
Helping "scripters" (Gestalt Language Processors) advance through stages of Natural Language Acquisition, using sensory and regulation activities to assist children with managing and communicating their feelings and emotions, and developing early narrative and reading skills through play-based/child-led therapy activities.
What do you like to do for fun?
Go on walks, cook, travel to new (warm!) places, craft, and spend time with family and friends!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
Smiling faces and positive attitudes! Willingness to help across the board.
Areas of interest:
Autism, gestalt language/scripting, early intervention/"late talkers", childhood apraxia and phonological disorders, reading comprehension/phonological awareness
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Courtney Jacobs, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I got the opportunity to job shadow an SLP, and the first client we saw was a precocious and playful little boy. He began to speak to his mama. I saw his face fall and scrunch up with frustration, and then, his mama looked to my mentor with hope and apprehension. That SLP showed excitement to get started and was confident that she'd get him communicating soon. I was HOOKED to realize how huge an impact this profession made in the lives of families!
What is your SLP superpower?
Encouragement! Showing my parents how to facilitate a skill in their child while pointing out the countless ways they are already helping is my passion. I truly LOVE revealing to my kids that they CAN do it! Even if it takes a little while or they do it differently (especially at first), it counts, and they are incredible human beings who I am better for knowing!
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy going on trips with my family, watching my kids' sporting events, and doing anything outdoors with them. Gardening, reading and painting are my quiet escapes!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I love that we provide services for clients who might not have ready access to speech therapy. We do this in a way that gives me a view into my client's world while allowing full participation of caregivers which makes the entire process work even better!
Areas of interest:
Motor speech disorder, unintelligible speakers, developmental language delay, fluency disorder, parent-mediated intervention, social language disorder, executive function problems, early intervention, cleft palate
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Akemi Smith, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
Having previously served as a Preschool teacher, I witnessed firsthand the positive effects Speech-Language Pathologists had on my students' social and academic development. This led me to shadow an SLP to determine if it aligned with my interests. Through this experience, I recognized my passion with working with the pediatric population and their families, knowing I could make a meaningful impact in their lives.
What is your SLP superpower?
My SLP superpower is my ability to build strong connections with both the families and the children under my care. Having personally navigated speech disorders with my own son, I understand the dual perspectives of being both a therapist and a parent in such situations, including the challenges that arise.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to go on mini adventures with my family, garden, and watch tv shows .
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I admire TeamUp Therapy's approach, which prioritizes family involvement and centers its practice around the whole family's participation in each child's treatment plan. Additionally, I appreciate how TeamUp Therapy extends its services to areas with limited access to therapy by offering virtual therapy sessions.
Areas of interest:
Pediatric Language and Speech Disorder, Early Intervention
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Ashley McCurry, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
My previous graduate degree was in educational leadership, and I taught adult GED courses at a community college. One of my students suffered a stroke, and I watched her regain her communication skills over several months as she worked with a wonderful speech-language pathologist. It was so inspirational to me that I decided to go back to school to become an SLP, and it has been the most incredible journey ever since!
What is your SLP superpower?
I help others discover their unique strengths so they can develop greater confidence and truly shine! I value a strengths-based approach to speech therapy and am a strong advocate for neurodiversity-affirming care.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love spending time with our four rescue dogs, reading, learning to play the drums, and trying to write my first novel!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I love TeamUp Therapy's authentic, mission-driven approach to providing exceptional services and improving accessibility of speech therapy for families in Georgia. Reading about Anna's journey and how this inspired Ashley and Chris to start this practice was one of the reasons I was so excited to join this team! They are dedicated to helping every client reach their full potential with a team of caring, supportive advocates who truly believe that the "sky is the limit!"
Areas of interest:
Speech sound disorders, fluency, early language, social language (pragmatics)
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Deborah King, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I wanted a career that truly made a difference in not just one life, but many lives! After shadowing a SLP while in high school, I knew I wanted to help individuals and their families communicate.
What is your SLP superpower?
Empowering! I think it is incredibly important to teach, coach, and empower family members/caregivers by equipping them with the tools needed to improve the need(s) of their loved one beyond the speech therapy sessions.
What do you like to do for fun?
Hanging out with my 3 kids; spending time with family and friends; anything baseball, pickleball, and kickball; going to the beach!
I love spending time with our four rescue dogs, reading, learning to play the drums, and trying to write my first novel!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
How passionate and excited everyone is about therapy!
Areas of interest:
early intervention, receptive language, expressive language, cognition, auditory processing, speech-sound disorders
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Claire Quintero, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I chose a career in speech-language pathology because I wanted to make a positive difference in other's lives through communication and language development. I specifically enjoy working with the pediatric population as I find witnessing a child achieve milestones and the happiness it brings the child and their family rewarding.
What is your SLP superpower?
I most enjoy working clients who present with speech sound disorders, such as articulation and phonological difficulties. My favorite sound to work on is /r/!
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy a variety of activities in my free time. I love spending time outdoors, especially going to our neighborhood pool and taking walks. One of my favorite ways to unwind is playing board games with my family; we are very competitive and have so much fun together! On the weekends, I enjoy exploring our new city (Charlotte, NC) and trying new restaurants. I am my happiest when I am spending time with my young family.
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I love the flexibility it provides, not only to the families it services but to the therapists, as well.
Areas of interest:
Phonological disorders and articulation disorders
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Gina Paisley, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I actually didn’t know I wanted to be a SLP until my senior year of college! I was dual majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Health Policy & Administration with every intention of pursuing a master’s degree in business. Luckily, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a program at Penn State called LifeLink PSU—a secondary transitional program that provides college experience for young adults with a variety of disabilities. LifeLink offered me the opportunity to connect with staff who had made a career out of helping others find independence, peers who I connected with because of the similar interests we shared, and students who touched my heart. I decided business could wait and that I could make the biggest direct impact on others if I went a more clinical route. The rest is history!
My previous graduate degree was in educational leadership, and I taught adult GED courses at a community college. One of my students suffered a stroke, and I watched her regain her communication skills over several months as she worked with a wonderful speech-language pathologist. It was so inspirational to me that I decided to go back to school to become an SLP, and it has been the most incredible journey ever since!
What is your SLP superpower?
My SLP superpower is establishing relationships with others! I love making new friends and learning from others.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going down the shore, trying new foods, and cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies & Penn State football team!
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
The contagiously enthusiastic community established at TeamUp Therapy! Every member of the team has the same vision and is incredibly passionate about providing clients with compassionate, individualized, and evidence-based care.
Areas of interest:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, verbal behavior, early language development, AAC, feeding (specifically behavior-related feeding disorders - e.g. ARFID)
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Jessica Moeller, SLP
Why did you decide to become an SLP?
I became an SLP because I wanted a career that worked with both children and their families. Growing up my brother had a significant speech impairment and I was able to see firsthand just how impactful speech therapy was to him and our family.
What is your SLP superpower?
My SLP super power is connection. I love connecting with clients and their families to make speech therapy productive, engaging, and most importantly, FUN!
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to spend time with my husband and our three boys! Most free time is spent cheering on the boys at baseball, taking our dog to new trails, or playing tennis.
What do you love about TeamUp Therapy?
I love that TeamUp is committed to providing family-centered, ultra-convenient speech therapy to families across the state. Everyone is mission focused and ready to celebrate wins for clients both big and small!
Areas of interest:
Early intervention! Articulation, language kiddos who are younger or elementary school aged. Apraxia.