SHOLEH SHAHINFAR
Founder, Owner, M.A. CCC-SLP, RYT
Speech Language Pathologist
Certified Oral Motor Therapist
NLA and Gestalt Language Trained Therapist
Child Communication Specialist
A speech-language pathologist and certified oral motor therapist, Sholeh founded Valued Voices in 2014, shortly after a leap of faith landed her in a sought-after post- secondary teaching position in California. Within months she knew her highest calling was actually to make a significant positive impact on children’s lives.
As Founder and CEO of Valued Voices, Sholeh uses her gift in holistic Child Communication Development to empower children to connect to their authentic voice – helping them grow mentally and physically and form stronger relationships through self-expression. She works closely with entire families to ease the stress of the unknown and find and implement solutions to any communication challenges a child is experiencing.
Her desire to give children the tools to express their most authentic self was born out of her own childhood experiences with self-expression. While part of a close- knit, loving family, Sholeh still had difficulty speaking up and sharing her thoughts and feelings.
She learned through her studies and life experiences that you can express your “voice” through whatever modality fits your needs, whether that be speaking, gestures, a device, writing, art, or dance.
Sholeh has always prioritized family, and shortly before starting her speech and language therapy practice, she supported her cousin by attending her son’s speech therapy appointment with him. Through her participation at that one session, Sholeh realized that she longed to help children — and instantly decided to focus her expertise and ability to nurture on giving families the tools to grow together through connection.
A registered yoga teacher who’s also fluent in Farsi, Sholeh has an innate ability to create calm and promote mindfulness. When she’s not furthering her education outside of office hours, you can find her out in nature or at the beach with her pup Kobe.
Sholeh holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) and is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.
Her practice is deeply rooted in the belief that we’re all connected. And that only through our connectedness can we reach and impact children to uplift their voices in the world.
TAYLOR LASKY
M.S. CCC-SLP
Clinical Director
Speech Language Pathologist
Early Intervention Specialist
NLA and Gestalt Language Trained Clinician
Orofacial Myofunctional Certified Clinician
As a speech-language pathologist, Taylor finds purpose in empowering her clients and their families. Taylor’s priority is to create an upbeat, welcoming, family-focused environment for clients to build confidence as they grow. Taylor holds a Master of Science degree from Chapman University and feels grateful to use the knowledge gained through her educational, clinical, and personal experiences to touch the lives of others daily.
With a passion for early intervention, Taylor loves to utilize the power of play to maximize communication and social development! She blends fun with functionality to design dynamic and purposeful sessions for each of her clients. Taylor believes that there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” approach to speech therapy, so she always strives to harness each client’s unique set of strengths and areas of interest.
On the weekends, you can find Taylor at the beach reading a book, on a long walk with her dog Sadie, at the gym trying a new workout, or in a coffee shop planning her next road trip.
DEVONEY WAKEFIELD
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Child Communication Specialist
Devoney received a Bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in Cognitive Science with minors in Linguistics and Spanish Studies. Learning about early language and cognition drove her to get a Master’s degree from the University of Redlands in Communication Sciences and Disorders in order to help others with speech and language needs. She additionally received a bilingual certificate in Spanish and English after taking classes on early bilingual language development at the U of R.
Devoney emphasizes the importance of child-led, naturalistic environments for working on children’s speech and language, and enjoys collaborating with families to support them in the home environment. She works to have fun sessions, where the children are enjoying making progress on their goals and are happy to come to therapy.
In her free time Devoney enjoys going to the gym, going to the beach, and trying new restaurants in the OC area.
RUTH W. BASS
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
PROMPT (level 2) Trained
Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) Trained
Lidcombe Trained for Childhood Stuttering
Ruth is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience. She is trained in PROMPT and DTTC for cueing when working with clients who have speech- sound disorders and/or childhood apraxia of speech, and is a huge proponent of child lead play therapy. Ruth has spent a great deal of time treating motor speech and fluency disorders and is trained in the Lidcombe Program for childhood stuttering.
She was awarded both a Master of Science Degree as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Northridge, where she discovered the joy of building relationships with children and their families in order to foster positive change in communication acquisition and expansion.
As a clinician, Ruth has had the opportunity to work in a number of settings including private speech therapy and occupational therapy practices, schools, universities, and has done in-home as well as tele-therapy. In addition, she has given presentations and done consultations in the states and abroad.
Having been exposed to many cultures and languages, she enjoys working with the people from all walks of life. In her spare time, Ruth enjoys volunteering, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
ISABEL MERCADO
M.S. CF-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Child Communication Specialist
As a therapist, Isabel strives to honor her clients’ strengths and unique communication styles. She believes that meeting children where they are provides a strong foundation for growth and helps them integrate new skills into their everyday lives. Isabel enjoys creating a fun, safe environment where therapy feels meaningful to each child and their family. With a grounded yet engaging approach, she aims to help children build meaningful connections with others and within themselves.
A big part of how Isabel connects with children is through music. Having grown up playing guitar, piano, and cello, she loves incorporating music into sessions to support speech and language development. Whether it’s using a familiar tune to practice speech sounds in a fun way or encouraging language through rhythm and song, music is one of her favorite tools in the therapy room.
When she’s not working, Isabel enjoys spending time with friends, trying new cafes, yoga, and going to the movie theater!
ALYSSA PHILLIPS
M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
NLA and Gestalt Language Trained Therapist
Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) Trained
Alyssa holds certifications in Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) for Gestalt Language Processors, Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) for Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and PROMPT for motor speech disorders. These specialized approaches allow her to address complex communication needs with precision and care, supporting children in achieving meaningful and lasting progress.
Alyssa is passionate about empowering children to reach their full potential through engaging, individualized therapy. She integrates evidence-based practices and child-led, play-based techniques to create therapy sessions that are both effective and fun. Her approach emphasizes the unique strengths and interests of each child, fostering a positive and nurturing environment for growth. She values collaborating with families to ensure therapy is not only effective but also a joyful and rewarding experience!
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family and friends and likes doing anything outside from snowboarding, and hiking, to relaxing at the beach!
