About Us
What is our mission?
To provide holistic family centered care to children with developmental needs utilizing evidence based practice combined with clinical expertise.
Who are we?
Healthy Beginnings Pediatric Therapy is a child therapy center available to provide evaluations, consultations and home programs that are family focused specific to each child’s needs. By assessing each child’s individual needs we personalize a program that is easy to follow and maximizes progress. We offer both center based therapy and in-home therapy based on qualfication. Healthy Beginnings Pediatric Therapy serves children ages 0-16 years of age with one-on-one care for your child and family.
Who do we help?
Pediatric speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat patients with:
• Articulation disorder
• Phonological disorder
• Childhood apraxia of speech
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Dyslexia
• Pragmatic disorder
• Bilingual articulation or language difficulties
• Expressive language difficulties (using words and sentences to express thoughts)
• Language comprehension difficulties (understanding concepts or following directions)
• Feeding, chewing and swallowing disorders
• Hearing loss
• Reading and phonics difficulty
• Resonance disorder and cleft palate
• Stuttering disorders
• Voice disorders and vocal cord dysfunction
• Traumatic brain injury
• Neurological disorders resulting in speech, language, and swallowing and feeding impairments
Meet Our Speech-Language Pathologists
Jennifer Kingan, M.S., CCC-SLP (Speech Language Pathologist/Owner)
Jennifer is licensed through the state of Montana Speech-Language and Audiology board and and holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) She earned her bachelors degree in communication disorders from Northern Michigan University and masters degree from the Eastern Washington University. Professionally she started her career in 2009 and has worked in the schools, home, skilled nursing facility, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient clinics. She started her private practice in 2011 and provides collaborative family focused care to the Flathead and surrounding communities.
She has experience with a variety of disorders and specializes in feeding aversions/swallowing disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, hearing impairments, developmental delays, cognitive disorders, early childhood autism and assistive technology in relation to communication.
She works closely with a team of therapists including: physical therapy, occupational therapy, dietitians and specialists to form a tailored therapy program unique for each child.
Chelsea Watercutter, M.S., CCC-SLP (Speech Language Pathologist)
Chelsea is licensed through the state of Montana Speech-Language and Audiology board and and holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Chelsea attended The Ohio State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science. She completed her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Chelsea has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2011 serving clients in the pediatric and adult outpatient, inpatient, and home health settings. Chelsea has experience with medically fragile children in both NICU and PICU settings. Chelsea’s clinical interests include expressive and receptive language development, cognitive intervention, and feeding and swallowing deficits. She is trained in a variety of modalities including FEES, VitalStim, and the SOS approach to feeding. In her free time she enjoys hiking, skiing, and adventuring throughout northwest Montana.
Molly Jones, M.S., CCC-SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist)
Molly is licensed through the state of Montana Speech-Language and Audiology board and and holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Molly has completed her bachelor's degree and in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Montana and earned her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Montana in 2016. Go Griz! She currently holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed through the state of Montana Speech-Language and Audiology board.
Molly has worked in a variety of settings including schools (ages 7-18), skilled nursing facilities, and private practice. Her clinical interests include social/pragmatic skills, expressive and receptive language skills, AAC, and dysphagia. She has a passion for helping others find their voice and participate in life to their fullest!
In her free time Molly enjoys anything outdoors: hiking, skiing, biking, rafting and fishing!
Meet our Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants
Colleen O’Dell, B.S. SLPA (Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, and Office Coordinator)
Colleen earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Deaf Studies from California State University, Sacramento. She completed the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Core Curriculum at American River College, Sacramento. While at American River College, Colleen completed 236 hours of Clinical Experience and was the recipient of the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (CSHA)-District 2 SLPA Student Achievement Award.
She has clinical experience working in: Early Intervention (ages 0-3), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Articulation, Voice/Fluency, Pragmatics, Language, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Colleen is also trained in Hanen Techniques. Before her Speech and Language career began, Colleen worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for over a decade. Her time as a CNA was spent in multiple acute care settings. During her last eight years as a CNA, Colleen worked on the Cardiac-Telemetry unit. Here she gained experience working with patients who suffered from cardiac arrest, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.
Colleen’s future goals include completing her Masters degree in Communication Disorders and acquiring more education within the neurology realms associated with Speech and Language.
Colleen enjoys playing soccer, softball, traveling, hiking, and taking in the beautiful views of Montana.
Erin Keithly, B.A. SLPA (Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, and Office Coordinator)
Erin earned her bachelor of the arts in Journalism from Arizona State University and is one semester away from completing her masters of science degree in speech language pathology through the University of Montana. She worked for two years as a speech language assistant at the Evergreen School District, completed an intensive autism clinical rotation in Missoula, MT and has completed a clinical rotation at Healthy Beginnings Pediatric Therapy in the Fall of 2019. Erin truly loves working with children who have autism spectrum disorder, as well as in the areas of articulation and sensory integration. She is the mother of two children, Maclean, age 14 and Fiona, age 13. Erin is so excited to be working with many of the amazing families at Healthy Beginnings Pediatric Therapy!
Maggie Armstrong, B.A.A. SLPA (Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, and Office Coordinator)
Maggie has completed her degree in business and sociology. She went back to school and has completed her prerequisites for a masters in speech language pathology. Her work history includes after school reading/ speech camps and behavior therapy (ABA) with clients ranging from high functioning/ social skills to non-verbal. Her plans are to apply to graduate school to complete a masters degree in speech language pathology.
Meet Our Occupational Therapist
Aly Toth MOT, OTR/L
Aly is licensed through the state of Montana Occupational Therapy board and the National Board of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). She earned two bachelor's degrees and her master's degree in occupational therapy from West Virginia University. She started her career in 2014 and has worked in the schools, acute care, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient clinics.
Aly's clinical interests include fine/gross motor difficulties, developmental delays, visual motor impairments, sensory processing concerns, reflex integration, social skills, attention difficulties and emotional regulation. She uses movement and play to help your child build a solid foundation for the future!
When she isn't working you can find Aly outdoors adventuring with her family which includes her husband, two daughters (2 and 11 months) and her two huskies.
Meet Our Administrative Assistants
Debra Pacheco, Billing Specialist
Deb is a mom of two amazing children! She has a great connection with people and an understanding for children with special needs.
She has many years of experience in outpatient clinics and strives to create a long-lasting culture within the company.
Pam, Human Resources
Pam assists with the hiring process, updates staff on laws, regulations, safety and coordinates and assists with our employee benefits.
Pam has worked with adults with special needs and has been a great leader and mentor for many positions and people within the community.
Juanita (Neydie) Kingan, Office Coordinator
Neydie is a former teacher with many years of experience. She has assisted and taught in special education classrooms as well as head start early intervention programs. Neydie has a passion for working with families and children and connects with everyone she interacts with.
Services
Training/Certifications
SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Trained Therapists
PROMPT (PROMPTs for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) Trained Therapist
Passy Muir Valve Trained Therapist
PECS I and II Certified and Trained Therapists
SSMP Stuttering Certification and Training
FEES Certified and Trained
VitalStim Certified and Trained
SCERTS Training
STARR Training
Telepractice Training
Supervision Training
Sensory Processing Integration
Social Thinking
Lidcombe Program
ASD intervention
Self Regulation in Children
Evaluation
We complete a thorough evaluation to diagnose, create an individualized therapy plan, and to provide tools and community resources for improving your child’s areas of need.
Please ask to speak with a therapist if you would like a free 10 minute phone consultation regarding your concerns and would like to know if an evaluation is necessary.
Therapy
We customize speech therapy to meet your child’s needs and create specific goals. A home program is also provided to maximize results. One-on-one therapy is completed in a private therapy room setting at our office location or your home dependent on each child’s individual needs.
****NOW OFFERING TELEPRACTICE FOR QUALIFYING FAMILIES****
This is an online secure HIPAA compliant internet program that allows us to provide therapy services through video conferencing.
Details
Therapy appointments are generally 30-45 minutes long, but we also consider other therapy durations depending on the specific needs of each individual client. Therapy frequency ranges from 3-4 times a week to 1 time a month, depending on client needs. Overall therapy duration is dependent upon diagnosis, prognosis, and age.
Payment
We accept all major medical insurances and private cash pay.
Schedule an Appointment
Consultation:
We schedule appointments by phone or email, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:30 pm.
Evaluation:
We will need the following information
-Referral from your child’s pediatrician or family physician (can be faxed to 309-2076
-we will call you to schedule once we receive the referral.
-Initial paperwork packet you may fill out ahead of time by requesting via email/phone or complete when you come in for the evaluation.