Avid

/ˈæv·ɪd/ adjective 1. Having a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.

Meet the Team

Avid
/ˈæv·ɪd/ adjective 1. Having a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.

Narissa3-WEB-150x150 About
Narissa VentressDirector, M.A., CCC-SLP
With a background enriched by 12 years of clinical practice and 4 years of teaching, Narissa brings a unique blend of skills and insights to her role as clinic director. Her depth of knowledge enables her to offer superior care to every client. She continually seeks to enhance her therapeutic relationships and create innovative programs designed to align with clients’ long-term goals.
Ari-profile-e1689189507769-150x150 About
Arianna BrackM.S., CCC-SLP
Arianna is summa cum laude graduate with a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from Washington State University. Her expertise in ABA therapy, strengthened by her research in Autism Spectrum Disorder, fuels her passion for pediatric speech therapy. Arianna cherishes the direct relationships with her clients and their families, the synergy with her professional team, and the constant journey of learning and implementing cutting-edge practices to promote client success.
JennyWEB-150x150 About
Jenny NyhusAdministrator
Jenny is a cornerstone of a well-run clinical practice. She has a B.A. Communicative Disorders and has demonstrated her passion for pediatric speech therapy for over 15 years. She now serves families by coordinating treatment and ensuring a total-care client experience. Born and raised in Southern California, Jenny is a mother of 2 and spends personal time with her family, cooking, reading, and traveling.
DSC_0039WEB-150x150 About
Jason KinaOperations, SLPA, Languages: Japanese
Jason is highly skilled pediatric clinician with a passion for child development. He is a licensed SLPA and is an active member of the California Speech and Hearing Association. After graduating from Orange Coast College in 2009 with an A.S. in Speech Language Pathology Assisting, he’s practiced speech therapy in both the public school and private practice sectors. Jason brings more than just technical know-how, he’s adept at dealing with all of the dynamics involved in communication, from moderate to severe populations.
Kara-WEB-e1558462532666-150x150 About
Kara GeherskyM.A., CCC-SLP, Languages: Spanish
Kara is a licensed SLP and part-time lecturer and clinic supervisor at California State University of Long Beach. Before completing her Masters in Communicative Disorders in 2014, Kara studied Linguistics at UC Santa Cruz and in Spain. She specializes in early intervention, performing assessments, treatment, and language translation (Spanish) for varying disabilities and diagnoses (e.g., autism, fluency disorders, articulation disorders and social groups).
Leslie-WEB-e1558462763406-150x150 About
Leslie Persona-LancasterM.C.D., CCC-SLP
Leslie is a licensed SLP and ASHA member. She received her B.A in English before completing her Master of Communicative Disorders degree at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Her success implementing therapies in an acute rehab environment sets her apart, treating speech-language, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing deficits. She has also demonstrated proficiency diagnosing and treating dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria, and expressive/receptive language disorders secondary to CVA, TBI and dementia.
Elyse4-e1689191955107-150x150 About
Elyse PellerinClinician, SLPA
Trained in specialized interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders and a strong advocate for early identification of communication disorders, Elyse excels in executing dynamic treatments. She holds a Masters degree in Teaching, a B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders, and a SLPA Clinical Competency Certificate. With her strong educational background and commitment to excellence in pediatric development, she enriches the team’s proficiency and the lives of our clients.

Qualifications and Training

  • California Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competency

  • California Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential

  • Certification in Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

  • The Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol, K-SLP

  • It Takes Two to Talk® — The Hanen Program®

“The greatest sign of success for a speech therapist … is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.”
Avid Speech • (inspired by Maria Montessori)