meet our team
making a difference, one voice at a time
Meet the Team
SHOLEH SHAHINFAR
Founder, Owner, M.A. CCC-SLP, RYT
Speech Language Pathologist
Child Communication Specialist
Certified Oral Motor Therapist
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.
BAYLEE BROWN
M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Social Skills Specialist
Child Communication Specialist
Baylee has always found a passion for helping others. As a Speech Language Pathologist, she uses this passion to empower clients to find and develop effective ways to communicate. Baylee has a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from Wichita State University in Kansas. There she gained clinical experience in a variety of areas, ranging from disorders of written expression, autism spectrum disorders, articulation disorders, language disorders, developmental delay, to early intervention and identification. In her spare time, she enjoys going to Zumba, yoga, hanging out with her friends, and trying new restaurants. Baylee is new to California and excited to explore a new place, when you see her give her suggestions on places to eat and things to do in the area!
ASHLEY TAYLOR
MSEd, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Speech Sound Disorder Specialist
Child Communication Specialist
Ashley has always had a love and passion for supporting others to reach their goals. Being given the opportunity to help others every day brings Ashley a tremendous amount of joy and excitement. Ashley received her Master’s degree in science from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. There she was able to work with a wide range of clients in helping them reach their goals.
Ashley enjoys customizing her therapy approach to fit each client. She has a passion for clients that use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and clients with Speech Sound Disorders. Ashley enjoys problem solving and adapting each therapy session to help her clients. She has a deep love for helping give others a voice! Ashley is a new mom and enjoys going to the beach, reading, and cooking.
TAYLOR LASKY
M.S. CF-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Early Intervention Specialist
Child Communication Specialist
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.
SARAH GAUSEPHOL
M.S. CF-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Child Communication Specialist
Sarah attended the University of Southern California where she received her undergraduate degree in neuroscience. She then obtained her master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Chapman University, where she was distinguished as one of the top students in her class and received the Outstanding Student Clinician Award.
Sarah enjoys working with both adult and pediatric populations. She customizes therapy for individuals by utilizing the client’s strengths and passions to target their goals. Sarah strives to create a fun, positive, and safe atmosphere which is crucial to maximizing progress.
In her spare time, you will find Sarah gardening, playing pickleball, cooking at home with her friends and family, or caring for her cat.
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.
KATHY TIEN
B.A. SLPA
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
Child Communication Specialist
Kathy is a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. She attended California State University Long Beach, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders in 2014. After graduating, she worked as an SLPA within the clinical setting throughout most of her career, and has recently gained experience in the school district.
Her passion is early intervention and facilitating functional communication through play-based therapy. She focuses on building a language rich environment that supports each individual and their families. She loves seeing her clients make progress and thrive in therapy!
During her spare time, Kathy enjoys riding her bike, going to the beach, game nights, and traveling to new places.
