Carpinteria’s newest speech and language therapist, Lauren Larrieu, M.S., CCC-SLP, opened her practice a few months ago, and is eager to build her clientele and serve this community. Larrieu described her background, offerings and more in the following conversation with Coastal View News. 

CVN: What captivated your interest in speech and language therapy? 

Lauren Larrieu: I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career where I could help people. I originally planned on becoming an elementary school teacher, like my mom. However, when I learned more about the field of speech-language pathology, I was instantly hooked. Communication is so important in our daily lives. It influences how we connect with others, navigate challenges and express ourselves. Helping clients communicate more effectively is what drew me to become a speech therapist. 

Please describe the range of services you offer.

I provide in-home speech therapy services for both children and adults. I work with children who have difficulty producing specific sounds, challenges with expressive and receptive language and difficulties with fluency or stuttering. I also support children on the autism spectrum in developing communication strategies and enhancing their ability to engage with peers. Adults may benefit from speech therapy for the following challenges: aphasia or dysarthria following a stroke or traumatic brain injury, voice changes related to Parkinson’s disease and gender-affirming voice therapy. 

Do you have a recommended age for children with language struggles to begin speech therapy?

The earlier the intervention, the better. If your child is struggling to reach age-appropriate milestones (such as babbling, using first words or speaking in longer sentences), they may benefit from speech therapy. 

What is most gratifying about the work you do? 

Seeing my clients make progress is the most gratifying thing about my work. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a parent’s face after their child learned a new skill. I sometimes joke that making parents “happy cry” is one of the best parts of my job.  

Is there anything else you would like Carpinteria to know about you?

I feel so lucky to live in a place as special as Carpinteria. There is nowhere else my husband and I would want to raise our five-month-old son, James. I look forward to being a resource for families here in Carpinteria.  

Ingrid Bostrom is a photographer, drawn to open space and stories told in each new face. Send ideas of impactful Carpinterian bosses to ingrid@ingridbostromphotography.com.