Parent Testiomonials
We just love the nice things you say about us....
September 9, 2013
Call → Boise 208.898.1368 | Nampa 208.466.1077
We are currently hiring Speech Language Pathologists!
Speech-Language Pathologist, Co-owner & Director of Recruitment and Retention | Kirsten is co-owner of Chatterbox Speech & Language Center, established in 2008. She graduated with a Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology from Idaho State University in 2000. She has three children, all of whom are currently attending college. She enjoys spending time with her family, boating, riding on the Harley with her husband, taking walks with my three dogs, relaxing in the hot tub, decorating her house, gardening, baking, and shopping. She enjoys working with children of all ages, but she especially enjoys preschool-school age language delay/disorders. She also enjoys working with children with apraxia and correcting /r/ speech sound errors. Kirsten's interesting fact is that she runs 20 miles a week! |
Speech-Language Pathologist & Director of Operations | Melissa has been working at Chatterbox since 2008. She graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2006. Melissa has been married to her husband, Cody, for 10 years. They have two boys, ages 4 and 7, and a hunting dog named Josie. Melissa enjoys crafting, watching movies, going to hot springs/swimming, and camping with her family. She enjoys working with kids with Apraxia and behavior disorders. |
Speech-Language Pathologist, Co-owner & Director of Finance | Nikki is co-owner of Chatterbox Speech & Language Center, established in 2008. She graduated with a Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology from Idaho State University in 2006. Nikki's hobbies include reading, and spending time with her kids and her extended family. She truly enjoys working with all types of kiddos, especially toddlers and preschoolers as well as children with Autism. Nikki is married to Casey, and they have 3 children. Fun fact- Nikki is Basque and all of her children have Basque names! |
Speech-Language Pathologist & Director of Marketing | Sara has been working at Chatterbox since 2011. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2011. Her personal hobbies include hanging out with her husband and playing with their two dogs, Sonny and Mason. When she has time, she loves cooking and scrap booking. Sara also enjoys beating her husband at card/board games. She has a very large extended family and she is always finding time to spend with them as well. Sara's specialties/areas of interest: She enjoys working with all ages of children with various speech and language disorders. She loves the variety. If she had to pick a “specialty,” it would be school age articulation disorders/delays. She also enjoys working with children with tongue thrust and Apraxia. Sara has been married to my husband since July 2012 and they have twin girls, Cora and Emma, who were born in March of 2014. A few other interesting facts about Sara: 1. She has been a part of the Chatterbox team since she was in graduate school. Sara was placed at Chatterbox for 3 out of 4 internships, and Sara had her own caseload before she even started getting paid. 2. Sara loves collaborating with other professionals. She thinks collaboration is an important part of a child’s growth and she enjoys seeing the “whole picture” of the child, rather than just focusing on their specific goals. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Anna has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from University of Montana with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2014. Anna’s professional interests include working with children with ASD, early intervention for language delays, and school-age children and adolescents with speech, language, and literacy needs. In her personal life, Anna enjoys hiking, swimming, and anything outdoors with her trusty sidekick, Sherlock the beagle. She is an avid reader who enjoys participating in community theater and musicals as well as Latin and ballroom dancing. She is currently working to improve upon her Spanish language skills. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Academic and Special achievements: Anna graduated from Idaho State University with a Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2013. Special interests and experience: Anna enjoys working with children in the birth to three year old population, especially when parents and families can be involved with the therapy activities. She has recently began studying Tongue Thrust and would like to become certified in the near future. Personal Interest: Anna enjoys being in the outdoors. She spends as much time as she can in Stanley, Idaho camping, fishing, and playing in the water. She also loves spending time with her family and her black lab, Opal. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Anna has been working at Chatterbox since 2013. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2013. Anna's hobbies include running, reading, cooking, and spending time with her Basset Hound, Ernie. Anna married her husband, Tony in July of 2014. As a recent graduate, Anna is enjoying figuring out what her specialties and areas of interests are. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Academics and Special Achievements: Emily graduated from Idaho State University with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2012. While at ISU, Emily completed a Master’s thesis on AAC devices. Emily is Hanen Certified for the course, “It Takes Two To Talk,” which focuses on teaching parents how to encourage their young child’s language development. Special Interests and Experience: Emily previously worked as a Developmental Therapy Technician for 5 years. Emily thoroughly enjoys working with children with Autism and Down Syndrome, as well as children with speech and language delays. Personal Interests: Emily enjoys cooking (mainly eating), traveling, listening to music, and spending time with her family as well as her husband, Alex, and their two dogs Bandit and Dobby. An interesting fact about Emily is that she has traveled to over 13 countries! |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Erin has worked at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno with her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. Erin’s hobbies include reading, being outdoors, and traveling. Her professional interests included working with all types of children but especially ones who have Autism and behavioral disorders. Before becoming a Speech Language Pathologist Erin provided home based behavioral therapy to children with Autism for a number of years. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Itxaso has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2014. Itxaso is Basque, which is where her name comes from and means "ocean". She loves going to all the Basque festivals and she used to be an Oinkari Basque Dancer. Itxaso has a beautiful blue merel australian shepherd puppy named Baia, who she adores. She is engaged and getting married in September 2014! Itxaso's fiance lives on a ranch in the Owyhee mountains, which is where Itxaso goes every chance she gets to ride horses and just get away from her busy life. Itxaso loves animals and helping people which is why she enjoys her job as an SLP and her free time is spent with animals. She loves working with kids and is great with people one on one. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Jessi has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from Loma Linda University in Southern California with her Master’s Degree in 2014 and she is ecstatic to be back in Idaho working in her dream career. Her love for speech therapy was sparked by her fascination for languages and the way people communicate with each other. She has studied Russian and Arabic, and wants to learn Portuguese and German someday. Jessi is passionate about helping children who live in the beautifully mysterious world of the Autism Spectrum navigate the tricky world of communication. She also likes working language-delayed preschoolers, children with cerebral palsy, and children who struggle with their social language skills. She loves being able to collaborate with Chatterbox’s SLPs and Occupational Therapists in order to create a unique treatment plan for each child. In her free time she loves to travel, ride her dirtbike, read, look at cute animals on Pinterest, and eat gluten free pizza… just not all at once :) |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Shauni has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2014. Shauni enjoys spending time with her husband, Kyle, camping, hiking, boating, and working on the farm. Shauni's professional interests include: children with disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and behavioral disorders. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | Stephanie graduated from the University of Maine in 2014. Her and her boyfriend drove across country after graduation and settled in Idaho. During her free time, she loves white-water rafting, hiking, camping and searching for hot springs. Stephanie spends much of her time cooking, reading and Skypeing with her family back in Maine. Before Stephanie started at Chatterbox she spent an entire month rafting, camping and hiking in the Grand Canyon. Her career goals include specializing in AAC and Apraxia of Speech. She enjoys working with children of all ages, but especially toddler and preschool age. Stephanie has experience working with children with Autism from ages 3 to 20 and is certified to implement the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). A fun fact about her is that Boise is the first city she has ever lived in. |
Occupational Therapist | Amy has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from University of Washington in 2008 with her Masters of Occupational Therapy. She has worked with kids in the outpatient setting and in early intervention. Her professional interests include sensory processing difficulties, motor coordination difficulties, and feeding difficulties. Her personal interested include reading, sewing, running, gardening, and anything outdoors. A fun fact about Amy is that she has been skydiving in Australia! |
Occupational Therapist | Karen has been working at Chatterbox since 2014. She graduated from University of Western Ontario in 1993 with a Bachelor's of Science in Occupational Therapy. Karen has been a practicing Occupational Therapist for 20 years and has both school and out-patient clinic experience. She was born in North York Ontario Canada, and graduated with a BScOT (Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy) in 1993, the same year she married Kent Smith. They have two children, Stafford Smith, age 15 and Victoria Smith, age 13. Her family relocated to Boise in 2004 when her husband accepted a position at Albertson's and they bought a house in Eagle. Karen has two dogs a German shepherd and a chocolate lab. Her husband is no longer with Albertson's, but a retail software company based out of the UK, which involves a great deal of travel. Most of their family remains in Ontario. Karen is the eldest of 3 girls and her husband is the youngest of 4 boys. Karen and her family travel to Canada every couple of years to visit friends and family. Her daughter is a very accomplished gymnast competing as a Level 8 at State and Regional events; she recently retired due to injuries and is now doing All-Star cheerleading with Xtreme Pulse; the only team from the Northwest to win a Bid to Summit in 2013 (Nationals). Karen's son races go-karts with Snake River Karters and is the National and Regional IKF Chamipon for Junior 2. He also races Jr. Stingers at the Meridian Speedway. When she is not busy with cheerleading travel or karting, she enjoys reading, walking the dogs and being outdoors. She specializes in Pediatric OT with an interest in sensory processing and related behavioral challenges. Karen has a strong background in school-based OT. |
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Marchelle has been working at Chatterbox since June 2014. She is a graduate of Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio with a Associates of Applied Science Degree and holds a Certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Her professional interests include: children with disabilities and education in the value of Occupational Therapy. Marchelle has worked in both the school-based setting and outpatient clinic. She is a native of Idaho and recently returned to the States after her husbands retirement from the US Air Force. Marchelle enjoys spending time with her husband, Matthew and family of 3 grown children with 3 grandchildren. Her hobbies include arts & crafts. music, outdoor activities, and working in her garden. |
Administrative Assistant | Brenda has been working at Chatterbox since September of 2013. Brenda's hobbies include fishing, camping, and being outdoors. She enjoys being part of a team that works with children. Brenda has a son, Jacob, who was born in March of 2013. Fun fact- Brenda is bilingual. |
Administrative Services Manager | Christina has been working as the Office Manager at Chatterbox since July of 2013, when she moved here from New Mexico. Christina is married to her husband, Brad, and they have two boys, ages 15 and 10, as well as two yellow labs. Christina thoroughly enjoys baseball games, hanging out with family & friends, and cooking. Christina is currently looking forward to continuing her position at Chatterbox & growing closer to the wonderful ladies as well as baseball Games (Little League & High School & Hawks). An interesting fact about Christina is that she will not get on a bike. She wrecked on a bike on the runway in Hailey about 30 years ago and WILL NOT get on a bike! What Christina misses most about New Mexico is: The New Mexican Food Her wonderful Friends Her Mom & Dad Her Husband’s Family |
Executive Services Administrator | Herb has been working at Chatterbox since November of 2013. He enjoys listening to “TEX-MEX” music, taking a long evening walk, spending time with family and friends, and spending time at the lake. In August, Herb will be married to his wife for 20 years, and they have two wonderful teenagers, Eliana 14 and Alex 18. Also, they have a dog “chacha” who has been with their family for over 13 years. Herb has worked in Healthcare (Revenue Cycle) for over 30 years and he has enjoyed every moment of it. |
We just love the nice things you say about us....