Stephanie A. Bendel, MA, CCC-SLP

Bachelor of Science, Northeastern University

Master of Arts, Hofstra University

BACKGROUND

I’m originally from New York, where I began my career working at a middle school in Manhattan and providing in-home Early Intervention services for children ages 0-3. Servicing children on opposite ends of the age spectrum gave me the invaluable experience of connecting the beginnings of communication at birth with the nuanced communication of adolescence.

I relocated to California five years ago and began working in a private Santa Monica clinic, primarily with preschool and elementary aged students. Working in this setting provided me with a deep appreciation for the 1:1 therapeutic relationship and the opportunity to foster deeper connections with my clients and their families — something I couldn’t quite get while working in the school system.

After several years of obtaining vast knowledge and working with a highly diverse population of clients, I knew I had found my calling to branch off as an independent, private in-home therapist with a mission to work intimately with children and their whole family systems. In the last two years of practicing independently, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel immensely grateful and fulfilled doing what I do.

therapy style

I pride myself on my ability to connect deeply with my clients and guide them through a therapeutic experience that is centered in pride, accomplishment, and fun. Establishing a strong rapport is my priority. I have a strong interest and background in psychology; therefore my therapy style incorporates elements of counseling such as boosting self-esteem and helping children build connections with others through social and emotional communication.

TRANSPARENCY & collaboration

I believe that the child’s inner circle — including family members, caregivers, and anyone else who spends a considerable amount of time with the child — should be an integral part of the speech therapy experience. My mission is to keep you wholly informed about our therapy goals, why those goals are important, and how to implement my teachings at home. I’m not one to throw fancy jargon at you. I pride myself on my ability to explain things in a way that is clear and understandable for everyone. I am also highly responsive and available to chat should questions or concerns arise in between sessions.

PASSION & EXPERTISE

I’ve spent my career working with children with a wide range of delays, disorders, and diagnoses and have experience in all areas of the speech therapy field. However, I am especially passionate and skilled in working on social emotional communication and pragmatic language, treating motor speech disorders through the PROMPT technique, remediating severe articulation and phonological disorders, and addressing auditory and language processing challenges. I also have extensive experience in promoting literacy development and improving reading and writing skills.

PERSONAL LIFE

When I’m not busy treating my clients, you can find me doing yoga, hanging with my sweet pup Tova, and experimenting with healthy recipe alternatives for my favorite New York foods (if anyone has cracked the code for a gluten free bagel or pizza recipe that tastes like the real thing, please share your secret). I love exploring the California coast and getting lost in a good book or health and wellness podcast.