Meet the Therapists
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, TSHH
Heather Lynn Boerner, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with over 15 years’ experience in the field is founder and creator of Chatty Child™. Heather treats children who have a wide variety of needs, and has gained experience in many therapeutic settings including: hospitals, schools, sensory gyms, and homecare settings.
Specialties include: apraxia of speech and PROMPT services (a technique used to improve the movement and coordination of oral structures for speech); oral motor and feeding therapy; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); autism; medically-complex populations; articulation; auditory processing; and, speech and language delays.
Chatty Child creates a personalized care program for each client that takes into account the child’s interests, strengths, current level of functioning, and future goals. We strive to empower the child, the whole family, and the caregivers to become positive vehicles of change within the child’s life. We strive to provide personalized, creative, and effective care to maximize each child’s communication abilities.
Heather Lynn Boerner graduated with high honors, New York University with Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and Minor in Education. Heather is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and Teacher of Speech and Hearing Disabled Students, State of New York. Heather is trained in PROMPT Level 2, Sounds in Motion, Zones of Regulation and DIR-FCD Model.
Trained In:
- Reiki Practitioner of the Usui Reiki System. Levels 1&2.
- Yoga for Every Kid
- PROMPT Practitioner. Levels 1 & 2.
- Zones of Regulation
- DIR Floortime
- Neuro-diversity affirming care
- Trauma-informed care
- Artistic modalities as a pathway to healing
- Beckmann Oral Motor Stretches
- SOS Feeding Approaches
- MORE Feeding Approaches
- And more ….
Gianna Cioffi, MS ED / Arts Integration Specialist
Gianna Cioffi is a teaching artist who specializes integrating arts into curriculum to create more inclusive learning experiences. She has worked as an actor, choreographer, and director for a variety of theatre companies in New York City.
In 2011, Gianna graduated with a dual degree in Theatre and Communication Disorders from SUNY New Paltz. She holds her MS ED in Theatre Education from The City College of New York and is a New York State certified k-12 theatre teacher. Gianna is trained in Sounds in Motion, DIR-FCD Model and Orton Gillingham.
Anne R. Karpel-Freilich, MS, CCC-SLP, TSHH
Anne R. Karpel-Freilich comes to us with more than 40 years clinical experience with children from birth through adolescence. In addition to her many years of private practice, she has served at two major universities in the New York Metropolitan area as clinic director, building the student clinics and working to create their practicum programs. Throughout her years of practice, she has served as a consultant to hospitals, home care agencies and the Department of Education of the City of New York.
Anne has developed expertise in the areas of neonatal and toddler feeding skill development, phonological and language acquisition with children presenting on the autistic spectrum, as well as normally developing school age children exhibiting a myriad of speech and language delays. Her expertise extends to all areas of speech and language development as well as social skills development. Her techniques of therapy and relationship development with clients have proven successful for hundreds of children throughout her years of practice.
Anne graduated with high honors from Teachers College at Columbia University with a Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She is licensed by the State of New York and holds permanent certification as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped. Anne is also trained in NDT, Hannen, Sounds in Motion and Level 1 PROMPT (a technique used to improve the movement and coordination of oral structures for speech).
Amelia Huckel-Bauer
Amelia Huckel-Bauer is a New York City based actor and teaching artist with a BFA in Acting from Tisch School of the Arts, NYU and a Master’s in Educational Theater from Steinhardt School of Education, NYU.
Amelia teaches at The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute and she is also a company member and teaching artist for Emit, a company that creates work for learners of all kinds around NYC.
Amelia worked as a remote health coach for Noom, before joining the team at Chatty Child. She lives in the Bronx with her husband and two children.
Eileen Monahan, MS, OTR/L
Eileen Monahan is a pediatric occupational therapist with experience in mental health, sensory integration and supporting students of all ages. Eileen earned her Master’s degree from the University of Scranton in 2021 and has been working in pediatrics since receiving her license later that year. She strives to learn more about her clients during each session, incorporating their interests and sensory integration theories to support organization and effective engagement across all environments. Her work has given her the opportunity to support neurodiverse students, creating an affirming environment within her sessions. Collaboration between families and therapy teams are crucial to Eileen’s work, as she enjoys learning more about how her practice can support her clients’ engagement in their meaningful occupations. When she is not treating, Eileen enjoys exploring NYC’s many cute coffee shops and baking!
Isabel Salazar, MS, OTR/L
Isabel Salazar is an occupational therapist (OT), who is dedicated to providing high quality care to children and families in the field of pediatrics. Isabel earned her Master’s of Science at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where she did a Specialization in Early Intervention (EI) pediatric therapy. She works with children in schools, in the home, and is currently training for specialized occupational therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. Isabel serves on the Board of Directors for the National Perinatal Association (NPA), where she helps to promote advocacy and research for prenatal and postpartum care. Isabel authored a NICU Cuddler Guide, posted on NPA’s webpage, which provides foundational education to develop volunteer baby cuddling programs in hospital NICUs and nursery units. Isabel provides therapy with principles of motivation-based learning, guided self-growth, and problem solving to achieve goals through play and activities. Isabel is a big proponent of sensory interventions to promote physical and emotional regulation, and help to provide an optimal state for development and growth. She has experience working with a wide range of children with special needs, including various neuromuscular, sensory, and learning disabilities. Isabel has a passion for working with children and families, and truly believes she can learn something every day to improve her practice. In her free time, Isabel enjoys singing, yoga, and practicing French and Spanish.
Annastassya Segovia
Annastassya Segovia is Chatty Child’s administrative and therapist assistant. Annastassya graduated from New York University during the spring of 2024 and received her Bachelors of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. She is currently working at Chatty Child to gain experience in the field, and is working on attending graduate school to get her Masters in Speech Language Pathology. Annastassya has always had a love for children and wants to work in a pediatric setting with bilingual children! When she is not in the office answering phone calls and greeting Chatty Child clients from the office, she enjoys traveling, shopping, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach!
