Megan was recently diagnosed with Aphasia.
After weeks in the hospital following her stroke, it was time for her to go home.
While she had made steady improvements over that time, things would be different now.
Megan had difficulty talking to others and understanding what was being said. She had lost all confidence in her ability to communicate, and when she tried to talk, she felt shy and uncomfortable.
Her demeanor changed from happy and active to isolated and fearful. She refused visitors and stopped speaking on the phone to her best friend.
Something needed to change.
After weeks in the hospital following her stroke, it was time for her to go home.
While she had made steady improvements over that time, things would be different now.
Megan had difficulty talking to others and understanding what was being said. She had lost all confidence in her ability to communicate, and when she tried to talk, she felt shy and uncomfortable.
Her demeanor changed from happy and active to isolated and fearful. She refused visitors and stopped speaking on the phone to her best friend.
Something needed to change.
Josh experienced a life-altering head injury during a recent automobile accident.
Since then, he’s had trouble organizing his thoughts or maintaining basic responsibilities. His relationship with his family and friends has become strained and troublesome.
He’s lost his ability to work or concentrate, and even following simple conversations has become difficult.
He began to feel inadequate as a husband, father, and provider and wondered why everyone kept saying he was fine when he knew he wasn’t.
He needed help.
Mary was very difficult to understand.
She didn’t want to begin college or start her career with this impediment.
She had tried speech therapy before but was unable to fix her R pronunciation. Sometimes her friends teased her about it, and while she tried to maintain a sense of humor, deep down it was hurtful and frustrating.
She couldn’t figure out what she was doing wrong and why she struggled so much with this problem. It pained Mary’s mother to see her daughter suffer, and she felt guilty that she had not found proper help sooner.
They hoped it wasn’t too late.
Trish injured herself in a horse-riding accident and has been struggling to balance her hormones since.
She had always been academically gifted with no difficulty concentrating, but that all changed after her injury.
She began to notice that her menstrual cycle was different since the accident as well. Around this time, she was suffering more headaches, had difficulty sleeping, and was struggling to regulate her thoughts and emotions.
She further worried about the biological repercussions this might have on the future goal of being a mother.
Doctors assured her that the injury was mild, and she was fine – but she didn’t feel fine at all.
She had always been academically gifted with no difficulty concentrating, but that all changed after her injury.
She began to notice that her menstrual cycle was different since the accident as well. Around this time, she was suffering more headaches, had difficulty sleeping, and was struggling to regulate her thoughts and emotions.
She further worried about the biological repercussions this might have on the future goal of being a mother.
Doctors assured her that the injury was mild, and she was fine – but she didn’t feel fine at all.
*All these stories are composites based on the typical clients that I have helped.
Megan and her husband reached out to me, and we worked to restore her confidence in herself and reclaim the joy she had lost.
Josh and I worked together to regain some of the autonomy the injury had taken from him and help him realize that he still has plenty to offer his family. He even got a part-time job to practice his skills.
Mary got in touch with me and soon began to see improvements in her speech. She began to feel hopeful for her future and like a better life was possible.
Mike’s family knew his road to recovery was long, but they wanted to see him through it. They reached out to me, and together, we helped him develop new methods of communication.
It wasn’t until Trish began working with me that she learned how the brain affects hormones. Suddenly, she felt like there was an explanation to the struggles she’d been experiencing.
Megan and her husband reached out to me, and we worked to restore her confidence in herself and reclaim the joy she had lost.
Josh and I worked together to regain some of the autonomy the injury had taken from him and help him realize that he still has plenty to offer his family. He even got a part-time job to practice his skills.
Mary got in touch with me and soon began to see improvements in her speech. She began to feel hopeful for her future and like a better life was possible.
Mike’s family knew his road to recovery was long, but they wanted to see him through it. They reached out to me, and together, we helped him develop new methods of communication.
It wasn’t until Trish began working with me that she learned how the brain affects hormones. Suddenly, she felt like there was an explanation to the struggles she’d been experiencing.
...No matter what you've been told, there is hope.
Even if you've had therapy before
Even if it's "mild"
Even if you've been told you "plateaued" or are at "maximum potential."
Even if you've had therapy before
Even if it's "mild"
Even if you've been told you "plateaued" or are at "maximum potential."
If you're concerned about a loved one's or your speech, language, or thinking abilities?
Or you're concerned about your child's speech, language or cognitive development ...
Or you're concerned about your child's speech, language or cognitive development ...
Hi, I'm Michelle ...
My mission is to assist you in reclaiming your faith and trust in the rehabilitation process because no matter where you are in your recovery, you’re not broken.
I have seen patients after years of giving up on speech therapy make massive strides forward. I have seen the brain change if you give it the right tools and mechanisms that promote new pathways and healing.
As your therapist, I offer you those tools, strategies, and interventions focusing on functional therapy that is essential to your everyday life and goals.
We work as a team, showing up on days that are both daunting and great. We celebrate together those small steps and large wins that prove your speeding forward toward success!
Therapy isn’t meant to be easy. Here, we actively work to make the changes and improvements you want to see.
As a result, my patients and families experience better relationships, stronger communication and cognitive skills, higher self-confidence, and renewed excitement about their lives.
READ MORE ON MY ABOUT PAGE ....
I have seen patients after years of giving up on speech therapy make massive strides forward. I have seen the brain change if you give it the right tools and mechanisms that promote new pathways and healing.
As your therapist, I offer you those tools, strategies, and interventions focusing on functional therapy that is essential to your everyday life and goals.
We work as a team, showing up on days that are both daunting and great. We celebrate together those small steps and large wins that prove your speeding forward toward success!
Therapy isn’t meant to be easy. Here, we actively work to make the changes and improvements you want to see.
As a result, my patients and families experience better relationships, stronger communication and cognitive skills, higher self-confidence, and renewed excitement about their lives.
READ MORE ON MY ABOUT PAGE ....
TESTIMONIALS:
"Michelle started working with my husband about a year ago, and we are extremely pleased with the experience and results so far. My husband has multiple speech impairments caused by a stroke several years ago. He had been making some progress with previous therapists, but seemed to hit a plateau with a long way left to go. Michelle was a breath of fresh air for him!! She is incredibly patient with him, cheers him on for every accomplishment, encourages him when he is hard on himself, and helps him to understand the “why" behind what he is learning. She has a multitude of tools, exercises and programs for his specific needs, and is always ready to try new things or switch things up when he needs a break. Her professionalism shows through her work, and her personality is such a great fit for him! The results speak for themselves. In just a year my husband’s conversational abilities have improved tremendously, and he is able to pull the words he needs using the tools Michelle has taught him! It’s nice when we run into people who haven’t seen him in a long time and they are blown away at his progress. The addition of remote-capable sessions has been a game-changer. In these uncertain times, my husband’s progress is not at risk. We are so grateful to continue working with Michelle! " - Amanda DeMaar
"Michelle is the BEST. She has been treating my son who has speech difficulties due to a brain injury. She is personable, talented, creative and treats her patients as individuals, getting to know them and what motivates them to personalize treatment and maximize outcomes." - Michele C.
"I took advantage of Michell’s DUTCH 90-Minute Intensive and found it extremely helpful. Michelle and I had a great conversation, and I was very impressed with her pro-active approach to menopause. In trying to educate myself about the changes I was going through after a complete hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy several years ago, I became frustrated to the point of tears many times over conventional doctors who dismissed my symptoms as “you’re getting older, that's just the way it is,” or refused to discuss hormone testing because “it’s not an exact science anyway.” Even the paleo community was no help, focusing, I found, on young, healthy, athletes. Or if paleo programs did touch on menopause, it was among women who were going through it slowly and naturally, not among those, like me, who woke up from surgery in a full-blown menopause-without-ovaries hormonal nightmare. Michelle is the first health coach who has taken the time to really listen and look at what is going on in my body and to offer a solid protocol to calm my symptoms, maximize healthy hormone levels, and support my return to a more balanced self. I highly recommend working with her!" ~Susan
"Before working with Michelle, I would read every email about health and start something and switch to the next thing that came through my inbox. I was overwhelmed with all the conflicting information and confused as to what to really do. Michelle cuts through the fads and hype and helps you come up with a simple and doable plan to get you to optimal health. She has expert knowledge in nutrition and vitamin supplements that help get your body healthy with using food as medicine. She is a busy mom and understands the various pressures and demands that affect your health and relationships as a woman and mother.
Working with Michelle, meant more than working on health. I felt so comfortable with her and was able to open up on a new level. In addition, she is extremely intuitive. She was able to give me guidance on how to awaken my own intuition. This has helped me improve my own spirituality and in turn helped improve various areas of my life besides my health. Michelle, thank you for your kind nature and making working with you so easy. You take the overwhelm and confusion out of health. I felt like I was talking to a girlfriend on our calls and will always appreciate the time you gave me!" ~ Veronica
Contact: 757 - 529-0600
Fax: 757-447-2636
michelle@coastalstw.com
237 Hanbury Rd. E. Ste 17 - 270
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Fax: 757-447-2636
michelle@coastalstw.com
237 Hanbury Rd. E. Ste 17 - 270
Chesapeake, VA 23322
All rights reserved by Coastal Speech Therapy and Wellness