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We specialize in working with children who use echolalia and scripting to communicate, who are also known as gestalt language processors. We help children move through the NLA stages towards self-generated language, all while ensuring their scripts are acknowledged, embraced and incorporated into engaging play activities.
For children who may rely on multiple modalities for communication in addition to verbal speech, AAC can be a robust, reliable and empowering option. We help families get started with finding the right AAC system for them, assist with the set-up process, incorporate AAC during sessions and provide caregiver coaching so everyone in the family feels comfortable with the system/device.
For children with motor-speech disorders, including articulation delays/disorders, phonological disorders, suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech (sCAS) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
For children who are lacking or have difficulty with pre-literacy skills (phonological awareness, letter knowledge, print awareness, vocabulary and narrative skills) or literacy skills (reading fluency, reading comprehension).
I’m passionate about empowering my clients and families throughout their therapy journey. I love getting to learn and partake in each child’s interests, and customize therapy to what will motivate them and give them the most joy. I prioritize a connection-centered, autonomy-honoring approach that honors and celebrates each child’s strengths. I believe in cultivating authentic relationships, promoting self-advocacy and creating a space where all communication methods are valued. Whether supporting articulation, language, social communication, executive functioning or alternative communication methods, I am committed to helping individuals unlock their full potential in a way that is authentic and affirming.
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I grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
I am so grateful to establish a practice here and give back to the community that raised me.
Ms. Gianna has not only helped our daughter blossom into a confident communicator but has also been an unwavering source of support for myself. Watching our little one go from hardly speaking to now sharing her world with endless words is nothing short of magical!
If you're looking for someone who truly cares and knows how to connect with children, I wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Gianna.
We were incredibly fortunate to have Gianna as our son's speech therapist when he was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. She created a safe, play-based, neurodiversity affirming environment that quickly allowed our son to feel comfortable and for a genuine trusting relationship to develop. We saw tremendous progress in our son's speech within a short amount of time, undoubtedly due to Gianna's expertise and knowledge of how to best support Gestalt Language Processors and autistic children. Furthermore, Gianna ensured that our son's sensory regulatory needs were met during the sessions so that we could really maximize his language development.
When our daughter started with Ms. Gianna, her speech was delayed, and she lacked confidence to try new sounds and words. After working with Gianna for just three months, she was at or even ahead of all the benchmarks associated with her age.
Gianna took the time to know and to connect with our daughter, enabling her to provide the most effective treatment possible. She gave our daughter a voice, and we will be forever grateful.
Gianna came into our lives after endlessly searching for the right SLP for my son. Over the course of the last year and a half my son has began to express himself like never before. She has always worked tirelessly to ensure all of his needs were met.
Going to see Gianna is always the highlight of my son’s day. She has also taught me as a parent how to bring speech therapy home and understand how he processes things in a way that’s different to the neurotypical human. She has been a dream come true for our family.
We've had the pleasure of working with Gianna McNutt as our children’s Speech-Language Pathologist for the past 3 years, and the experience has been nothing short of exceptional. From the very beginning, she made it clear that our children were her top priority, and that sense of care and commitment never wavered. After each session, she would provide us with a detailed report on the skills they worked on, along with practical tips to reinforce learning at home. We are so grateful for the difference Gianna has made in our children's ability to communicate clearly. We would wholeheartedly recommend Gianna to anyone in need of a skilled and compassionate SLP.
My son has worked with Gianna for many years. She helped identify him as a gestalt language processor and ultimately helped us get his autism diagnosis. She went out of her way to take courses to become an expert in the NLA framework. Gianna would attend his IEP meetings to ensure he was receiving all the appropriate accommodations necessary for him to thrive. My son loved going to therapy because he knew it was a safe place for him to play and have fun. She is so passionate about helping kids become the best versions of themselves and I know he wouldn't be where he is today without her.
Ms. Gianna was my son’s speech therapist for nearly two years. She was professional, responsive, fun and caring beyond measure. We truly did not know what to expect or the impact speech therapy would have on him, but the improvement in his communication skills has been life changing. Our son absolutely loved going and it was something special he got to experience (his siblings were jealous as they knew how much fun he had). We are so grateful for our time with Ms. Gianna and would recommend her in a heartbeat for any pediatric speech therapy needs.
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