Clinicians

Our dynamic team speech pathologists & board-certified behavior analysts offers an unparalleled breadth of services.

Melanie Olson Giles, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, CCC-SLP

Melanie Olson Giles
PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, CCC-SLP
CEO/Clinical Director
Melanie@speechtherapygroup.net

Dr. Olson Giles is a dually licensed Speech-Language Pathologist  and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and BACB. Dr. Olson Giles is the CEO and Clinic Director of Speech Therapy Group and The Verbal ABA Clinic. Dr. Olson Giles received her Bachelor of Sciences in Communication Disorders as well as her Masters in Speech Language Pathology from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1999 and 2001. She also received her Masters of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism from Endicott College in 2017, where she completed her PhD in ABA in 2020. Dr. Olson Giles is licensed in MA and NH. She founded The Verbal ABA Clinic in 2019,  co-founded Speech Therapy Group in 2004 and co-founded MassTex Imaging in 2006. All are private practices focusing in the areas of either Speech Therapy diagnostics and treatment or Applied Behavior Analysis. She has training, which involves extensive evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders pediatric through geriatric, completing over 6000 swallow studies, as well as over 2500 Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing. Dr. Olson Giles’ main concentrations and licenses involve:

 

  • Applied Behavioral Analysis
  • Voice disorders
  • Videostroboscopy with ENT physicians
  • LSVT LOUD certified
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) certified
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)
  • Autism with application through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA),
  • Motor speech disorders
  • Social skill training
  • Functional communication
  • Language & cognitive-linguistic therapy
  • Pediatrics through Geriatrics
  • Prompt Level 1 Trained

Meet Our Speech Therapists

Samantha Wallace, MS,CCC-SLP Clinical Supervisor

Samantha Wallace, MS,CCC-SLP
Clinical Supervisor
Samantha@speechtherapygroup.net

Samantha joined the Speech Therapy Group team back in July of 2013 and is one of our clinical supervisors as well as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Sam received her Bachelor of Sciences in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology as well as her Masters in Speech Language Pathology from Northeastern University in 2013. Over the years, Samantha has gained her experience from working at various school districts along the Northshore and completely a clinical rotation at an outpatient rehab at Milford Regional Hospital. From these experiences, she has gained practices in a variety of disorders with patients of all ages. Sam’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Autism
  • Apraxia
  • Dyslexia & reading disabilities
  • Language
  • Articulation
  • Cognition, post-stroke & brain injury
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)
  • PECs
  • Visualizing & verbalizing

Get to know me!

“With the company of my black lab mix, Kylo, and my husband, I love to play board games, go to the beach, and complete many different crafts like knitting, coloring, and quilting.” – Samantha Wallace

Emily Exilus Bruno, MS, CCC-SLP Clinical Supervisor

Emily Exilus Bruno, MS, CCC-SLP
Clinical Supervisor
Emilyb@speechtherapygroup.net

Emily joined the STG team in May 2017 as one of our new clinical supervisors and a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Binghamton University majoring in Linguistics. She also received her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University. Emily has an extensive background from a variety of different internships and former employment opportunities such as pediatric offices, middle schools, skilled nursing facilities, and university clinics. She also had the opportunity to supervise graduate students and teach undergraduate courses related to speech pathology, specifically phonetics. Through these experiences, Emily holds a broad range of skills working in different settings with different age groups and disorder areas. Emily’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Accent modification training
  • Stuttering
  • Articulation
  • Phonological processes
  • Aural rehabilitation
  • Literacy skills
  • LSVT LOUD certified
  • TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) certified

Get to know me!

“I love spending time with my husband, family, friends, and pup! Relaxing at home with a good movie, book, or board game is my favorite thing to do but when I go out, I love outdoor activities like hiking and rollerblading.” – Emily Exilus Bruno

Melanie Jung Hitchens, MS,CCC-SLP, Clinical Supervisor

Melanie Jung Hitchens, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Melaniej@speechtherapygroup.net

With great joy, Speech Therapy Group welcomed Melanie Jung Hitchens to the team in August of 2018. Melanie is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who got her Bachelor of Science from Ball State University in Muncie, IN and a Masters in Science from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH. Her widespread background comes from working at different internships and former employment opportunities such as Hamilton Southeastern Schools, an autism school, outpatient facilities, and the Cleveland VA hospital.  Through these experiences, Melanie has accumulated an extensive variety of knowledge and skills like understanding pediatric speech delays and disabilities, and adult patients who present a variety of disorders. Melanie’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Pediatrics
  • Autism
  • Aphasia
  • Apraxia
  • Stuttering
  • LSVT LOUD certified
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)

Get to know me!

“I enjoy baking cookies and cakes. Since I recently moved to the New England area I have enjoyed exploring new areas.”  – Melanie Jung Hitchens

Thalia Sosa Greene, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Thalia Sosa Greene, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Thalia@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was excited to welcome back Thalia at the beginning of 2019 as a clinical fellow after completing her graduate school internship with us in the summer of 2018. She graduated undergrad from Pace University in New York City with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also graduated from Worcester State University with a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology.  Thalia has also completed previous graduate placement where she has gained experience with pediatrics focusing on articulation and language, ASD, behavior, voice, swallowing, and feeding. Thalia’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Pediatrics
  • Articulation
  • Feeding
  • Swallowing
  • Voice
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)

Get to know me!

“When I am not at the clinic, I enjoy lifting at the gym, reading, watching movies and football, and spending time with my family.” – Thalia Sosa Greene

Bridget Cronin, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Bridget Cronin, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Bridget@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was delighted to welcome back Bridget in the summer of 2019 as a clinical fellow after completing her graduate school internship with us in the fall of 2018. She graduated from Miami University (Oxford, OH) with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology & Audiology.  She also earned a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of New Hampshire. Bridget has also completed previous graduate placements where she gained broad range of skills including voice, expressive/receptive language, AAC, apraxia of speech, aphasia, articulation, social pragmatics, pediatric feeding/swallowing, counseling, fluency and family education for populations including ASD, Parkinson’s disease, and Down syndrome.

Bridget’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)
  • Apraxia
  • Feeding and swallowing
  • Language
  • Pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities

 

Get to know me!

“I have always loved being around the ocean and am at the beach every chance I get—winter, spring, summer and fall!” – Bridget Cronin

Kelly O’Neill, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Kelly O’Neill, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
KellyO@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was delighted to welcome back Kelly in 2020 as a clinical fellow after completing her graduate school internship with us in the fall of 2018. Kelly received her Masters degree in Communication Disorders from NYU in 2020. Kelly has also completed previous graduate placements where she gained broad range of skills including expressive/receptive language, AAC, apraxia of speech, aphasia, articulation, social pragmatics, counseling, fluency and family education for populations including ASD.

Kelly’s main concentrations and licenses involve:

  • Functional Communication Training
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)
  • Apraxia
  • Language
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

 

Sarah Cuffe, MS,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Sarah Cuffe, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
SarahC@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was delighted to welcome Sarah as a clinical fellow after completing her Master’s degree in July of 2021 at Sacred Heart University.  She Masters degree in Speech Pathology in spring 2021 and her Bachelor’s Degree in 2019 from Sacred Heart University. Sarah has also completed previous graduate placements where she gained a broad range of skills including pediatric through adult speech and language disorders, expressive/receptive language, aphasia, articulation, social pragmatics, fluency disorders and family education for populations including ASD and Down’s Syndrome.

Sarah’s main concentrations involve:

  • Pediatric through Adult Speech and Language Disorders
  • Stuttering
  • Social Skills
  • Language
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Kimberly Coleman-Pegg, MM,MS,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Kimberly Coleman-Pegg, MM, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
KimberlyC@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group enthusiastically welcomed Kimberly Coleman-Pegg to the team in December of 2021. Kimberly is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from Tulane University, her Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Mississippi, and her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northeastern University. Kimberly comes with experience from a variety of internship and employment settings, including but not limited to, long-term acute care hospital with a specialty in trachs/vents, skilled nursing facilities, short-term rehabilitation, elementary through high school settings, and private voice studios and clinics. More recently, Kimberly has taken great joy in supervising graduate students during their clinical placements to facilitate positive, hands-on learning opportunities. In addition, Kimberly is an active researcher and published author in the areas of voice and swallowing with concern to patients’ quality of life. Through these experiences, Kimberly has gained an extensive array of knowledge and skills that inform her understanding and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders in adults and children, as well as adult patients seeking support for cognition, articulation, and speech disorders. Kimberly’s main concentrations and licenses  include the following:

  • Voice
  • Singing Voice Rehabilitation
  • Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
  • Functional swallowing disorders
  • Adult and geriatric cognitive rehabilitation
  • Oral functioning & swallowing disorders.
  • Dementia
  • Cognition, post-stroke & brain injury
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) certified
  • LSVT LOUD certified
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Speech Generating Devices (SGD)

Get to know me!

“I love spending time with my family and dogs. When I’m not with them, I’m enjoying singing (professionally and for fun) or playing the piano at home.” – Kimberly Coleman-Pegg

Kayla Marcinczyk Doogan, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Kayla Marcinczyk Droogan, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kaylam@speechtherapygroup.net

Kayla Marcinczyk Droogan was welcomed to the Speech Therapy Group team in September 2022. Kayla received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from The University of Connecticut in 2017. She then earned her Master’s Degree from Northeastern University in Speech-Language Pathology in 2019. During graduate school, Kayla developed her clinical skills in a variety of settings including a middle school, a community hospital, and a voice-specialized clinic in Boston. Following the completion of her clinical fellowship, Kayla worked in a variety of medical settings as a speech-language pathologist. Through these experiences, Kayla has developed a wide array of knowledge in evaluating and treating communication disorders across the lifespan. Kayla implements a patient-centered care model in order to increase patient motivation and optimize communication outcomes during therapy sessions.

Kayla’s clinical interests include:

  • Voice Disorders
  • Laryngeal Hypersensitivity/Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction
  • LSVT LOUD and SPEAK OUT! Certified
  • Dysphagia
  • Cognitive-Communication Disorders
  • Aphasia
  • Acquired Apraxia of Speech
  • Social Pragmatics
  • Expressive and receptive language disorders in school-aged children
Jared Mordigal, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Jared Mordigal, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jaredm@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was delighted to welcome Jared as a clinical fellow after completing his graduate school internship with us in the summer of 2022. Jared completed his Master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 2022, and his Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a linguistics minor in 2019. Jared has also completed previous graduate placements where he gained a broad range of skills including pediatric through adult speech and language disorders, social pragmatics, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), functional communication, aphasia, and dyslexia.

Jared’s main concentrations involve:

  • Childhood and adolescent speech and language
  • Social communication
  • Articulation and phonological disorders
  • Fluency disorders
  • Autism
  • Functional communication
Emily Herbert, MS,CF-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Emily Herbert, MS, CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Emilyh@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group was delighted to welcome Emily as a clinical fellow after completing her Master’s degree in May of 2022 at Sacred Heart University.  She has a Masters degree in Speech Pathology in spring 2022 and her Bachelor’s Degree in 2020 from Sacred Heart University. Emily has also completed previous graduate placements where she gained a broad range of skills including pediatric through adult speech and language disorders, expressive/receptive language, apraxia, articulation, social pragmatics, fluency disorders.

Emily’s main concentrations involve:

  • Pediatric through Adult Speech and Language Disorders
  • Articulation and phonological disorders
  • Language
  • Social Skills/communication
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Meghan Ward MS, CF-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Meghan Ward, MS,CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Meghanw@speechtherapygroup.net

Speech Therapy Group is delighted to welcome back Meghan as a clinical fellow after completing her graduate school internship with us in the fall of 2022. Meghan received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in voice disorders at MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2023, and her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University in 2020. Meghan has also completed graduate placements where she gained a broad range of skills, including voice, swallowing, counseling, professional voice care, expressive/receptive language, aphasia, Parkinson’s, and ASD. 

Meghan’s main concentrations involve:

  • Voice disorders
  • Professional Voice management
  • Swallowing
  • Aphasia
  • Expressive/Receptive language
  • Articulation
Caroline Raymond, MS,CF-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

Caroline Raymond, MS, CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Caroliner@speechtherapygroup.net

Caroline is so excited to join the Speech Therapy Group team as a clinical fellow! She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Musical Theatre before completing her master’s degree at the MGH Institute of Health Professions with a concentration in Voice Disorders. Caroline has learned valuable skills through her graduate placement at Boston Medical Center treating adult and pediatric patients with various voice and swallowing disorders and transgender voice. She recently presented her master’s thesis work on the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System for Voice Therapy at the 2023 ASHA Convention in Boston.

Meet Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts

Michelle Leigh, M.Ed.,BCBA-LABA Clinical Director

Michelle Leigh, M.Ed.,BCBA-LABA
Clinical Director
Michellem@speechtherapygroup.net

The Verbal ABA Clinic at Speech Therapy Group recently welcomed Michelle Leigh as a BCBA. She has extensive training in direct care with individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism. Michelle joined our team in March of 2021.  She has a strong foundation in behavior analysis. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Endicott College.

Michelle’s main concentrations involve:

  • Verbal Behavior
  • Functional Communication Training
  • Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) with Functional Analysis (FA)
  • Problem Behavior
  • Toileting
  • Parent Training

 

Kara LaCroix, PhD,BCBA, LABA Behavior Analyst

Kara LaCroix, PhD, BCBA, LABA
Behavior Analyst
Karal@speechtherapygroup.net

Dr. Kara LaCroix is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst in the state of Massachusetts. She started her career in 2011 by providing direct care in public school settings before transitioning to home- and clinic-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. 

Kara received her masters in special education and applied behavior analysis from Endicott college and received her doctorate in behavior analysis from Western New England University under the advisement of Dr. Greg Hanley. Kara’s work focuses on the practical functional assessment and skill-based treatment of problem behavior, as well as preventing the development of problem behavior in young children with Autism.  

Kara specializes in early intensive behavioral intervention, specifically with the design of programming to increase communication, play skills, and social skills. She has designed interventions that focus on building strong rapport between child and therapist, interventions that build upon their current preferences and skills, and interventions that focus on learning through play.

  • FBA
  • Functional Communication Training (FCT)
  • Skills Based Treatment-SBT
  • SIB and Significant Challenging behaviors
  • Practical Functional Assessment/IISCA
Lisa Hannaford, M.Ed.,BCBA-LABA Behavior Analyst

Lisa Hannaford, M.Ed.,BCBA-LABA
Behavior Analyst
Lisa@speechtherapygroup.net

The Verbal ABA Clinic at Speech Therapy Group welcomed Lisa Hannaford, first as a graduate student and Registered Behavior Technician, and now as a BCBA.  She has extensive training in direct care with individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism. Lisa joined our team in January of 2019. She has a strong foundation in behavior analysis. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Endicott College.

Lisa’s main concentrations involve:

  • Verbal Behavior
  • Functional Communication Training
  • Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) with Functional Analysis (FA)
  • Problem Behavior
  • Toileting
  • Parent Training

 

Ariel Tetreault, M.Ed., BCBA, LABA Behavior Analyst

Ariel Tetreault, M.Ed., BCBA, LABA
Behavior Analyst
Arielt@speechtherapygroup.net

Ariel graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from the University of New Hampshire. She received her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern and became certified as a BCBA in 2015. Ariel has experience working in sub-separate special education programs specifically for children with autism and other developmental disabilities within public schools, clinic based ABA services, and home based services. 

Her main concentrations include:

  • Functional communication training; specifically PECS
  • Early intervention; support in the early years after diagnosis and transition to after 3 services
  • Toilet training
  • Verbal behavior

The Verbal ABA Clinic employs and supervises Registered Behavior Technicians and Behavior Technicians as direct care staff, for our clients with Autism.  All levels of technicians are supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts. 

Reach Us

100 CUMMINGS CENTER, 135-H
BEVERLY, MA 01915

Phone: 978-927-0172
     Fax: 978-927-0179