Dramatic Pragmatics Speech and Language Services | Speech Therapy, Social Skill Development, Social Skills | Stamford, Greenwich, Fairfield, Westchester

Barbara Laufer, M.S. CCC Director

Barbara received her Masters Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1975 and is ASHA certified and New York state licensed. She has 30 years experience in the field treating children with various speech and language deficits. She is skilled in early speech and language intervention, language processing disorders, oral narrative development and language based learning disabilities. Barbara has maintained a private practice in Rye Brook, NY for the last seventeen years with a specialty in language development as well as pragmatic language disorders. Together with her daughter, Alexandra, Barbara developed the original Dramatic Pragmatics ™ Social Language Groups in 2002, and has been leading these social language groups for the past six years, helping students develop and improve their pragmatic language and social thinking.

Additionally, she consults to local school districts using the specific techniques and strategies she developed through her program. Barbara’s ability to individualize to each student through the writing of original scripts, monologues and stories, as well as her background in acting/drama make her uniquely qualified to successfully provide intervention for students who are struggling to decipher the social code of interaction.

Alexandra Laufer Lobo, M.S. CCC-SLP, Co-Director

Alexandra co-founded Dramatic Pragmatics Speech and Language Center in 2008. She co-developed the Dramatic Pragmatics methodology and continues to create new strategies and concepts for social communication groups for both children and teens, individualizing to meet each client's unique needs. She has vast experience working across the age-span helping clients to maximize their communication abilities. Additionally, she brings her creative and unique expertise in how to reach and empower teens and young adults to acquiring more effective pragmatic language and social skills. She has consulted locally and internationally on the use of the Dramatic Pragmatics methodology.

She received her Masters Degree from Boston University. Before re-locating to NY, Alexandra worked at The School for Accelerated Learning in Waltham, MA from 2005-2008, where she created, developed and implemented a daily, school-wide pragmatic language/social skills curriculum for elementary through high school students with language and learning disabilities that impact social development, as well as provided daily individual speech/language therapy. Her experience in working in a school setting has helped her to make speech, language and pragmatic therapy most effective for carry-over for academic and social success in the school environment. Additionally, Alexandra worked at The Ely Center in Newton, MA, a private practice specializing in social language development from 2004-2008, where she led social language groups for children, adolescents and young adults, provided individual therapy and assisted with consultation to local school districts. Over the summers, Alexandra co-directed Camp Goodtimes, a former Massachusetts program for social skill development, where she trained and supervised the staff in using the most effective social skill treatment interventions. At the Drama-Play Connection, another summer program for social skills, Alexandra was in charge of implementing their pragmatic language program. Alexandra is PROMPT trained. Specific clinical interests include pragmatic language disorders and social skill development, the interplay between language and executive functioning, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and school-aged language and learning deficits.

Emily Grant, M.S. CF

Emily earned her bachelors degree from Penn State University and her Masters in speech-language pathology from Hunter College. With a strong clinical skill set and a warm, child-friendly personality, Emily is able to help children progress towards their speech and language goals while engaging them in the process. Prior to full-time employment at Dramatic Pragmatics, Emily provided speech-language therapy at both a NYC developmental pre-school and a public elementary school.

Emily has experience treating children with a variety and language and learning needs including autism spectrum disorders, language processing disorders, receptive/expressive language delays, articulation and phonological disorders, executive functioning deficits and pragmatic language disorders. Prior to going back to school to earn her Masters degree in Speech-language Pathology, Emily taught both learning disabled and typically developing students full-time in elementary schools in NYC and Westchester. Emily is able to use her teaching background to help support students with curriculum based language goals as well as social language goals. Additionally, Emily is PROMPT trained. Emily offers her dynamic teaching abilities with her enthusiasm, professionalism and passion for speech-language intervention.

Briana Skelly, M.S. CCC-SLPP

Briana is a full time clinician at our center who combines her clinical knowledge, enthusiasm, and creativity to each client on her caseload. With dedication and professionalism, Briana utilizes her clinical expertise to individualize treatment to children with a variety of communication disorders through individual language therapy and pragmatic language groups. Her specific clinical interests and expertise include: assessment, language and learning disorders, articulation disorders, autism spectrum disorders , early intervention, as well as the area of pragmatic language disorders/social thinking.

Formerly a speech language pathologist at Prime Time Kids, Briana treated both group and individual children, and also held the title of Service Coordinator at Prime Time Kids. Her responsibilities included overseeing the clinical speech and language staff, promoting growth and development among the SLPs , leading the clinical team in delivering the highest caliber of therapy to best fit the needs of the students and collaborating with parents for maximum carryover of the skills. Briana's ability to evaluate as well as design and execute treatment programs for children with various cognitive linguistic deficits span across all age groups from preschool through school age. Her energy, clinical judgment, and outgoing personality make her a favorite with both parents and children. Her understanding of how to motivate children and make it fun while delivering the skills is evident to all of the families who work with her.

Lauren Hurwitz, M.S. CFY, received her B.S. from University of Pennsylvania and her M.S. in speech-language pathology from Columbia University. Before her current full-time position at Dramatic Pragmatics, Lauren provided speech and language therapy to children from kindergarten through eighth grade at The Bank Street School in Manhattan. At Bank Street, Lauren treated children with a variety of learning differences, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, language delay/disorder and articulation/phonological disorders. Additionally, Lauren evaluated and treated a variety of children at The Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center. There, she provided individual language therapy as well as planned and facilitated social language groups to children with language and learning disabilities. Areas of experience and clinical interest pragmatic language disorders, autism spectrum disorder, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency, cleft palate and language delay/disorders. Lauren's vibrant, energetic and warm personality helps her connect with children of all ages. Her top-notch clinical skills are evident to each family that she works with.

Hillory Peters, M.S. CCC-SLP

With over 10 years of clinical experience, Hillory is a seasoned speech-language pathologist who has expertise in treating a broad range of speech and language disorders in the preschool, school age and adolescent population. Her specific clinical interests include assessment, disorders of language comprehension and expression, auditory processing, fluency disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, and pragmatic language disorders. Her professional experience has included working as a senior therapist at The Crimson Center for Speech and Language, a private practice in San Diego, CA. Additionally, she was a clinical therapist at Children's Hospital in San Diego. After moving to NY, she worked as an SLP at Park Slope Speech Therapy where she evaluated and provided therapy to children with varying speech and language disorders in a private practice setting. Most currently, Hillory worked for Interactive Therapy Group in Manhattan before relocating to Westchester. She is PROMPT trained and is also bilingual in Spanish and English, with basic skills in American Sign Language as well.

Hillory ‘s professional demeanor and out-of-the-box thinking make her a valued clinican at DP. With her clinical expertise and warm, child friendly therapy approach, she is skilled at helping our children progress toward their speech and language goals while having fun!

Caitlin Wyatt, M.S. CCC-SLP

Caitlin brings her confidence, warmth and enthusiasm to each client in our center. A dynamic, and highly skilled speech-language pathologist, Caitlin is experienced and a "natural" in treating children from infancy to adolescents with various presenting speech and language deficits. Presently at Blythedale Hospital, Caitlin possesses clinical expertise in all areas of speech and language. Her specific clinical interests and expertise include: assessment, language and learning disorders, feeding intervention as well as the area of pragmatic language disorders. Prior to working at Blythdale, Caitlin treated children and adolescents at a pediatric private practice and worked for Early Intervention. Caitlin's passion for working with her clients and their families is evident, as is her ability to hook clients into the process of learning!

Kate O'Connell, M.S. CCC-SLP

Kate is a talented, experienced speech pathologist who brings her varied experience and warm, up-beat demeanor to all of her clients at Dramatic Pragmatics. Kate served as a full-time speech-language pathologist for the Katonah-Lewisboro school district for three years, working with students in both elementary and middle school. Additionally, Kate worked at Alcott pre-school full time, providing speech language therapy for young children with language and learning disabilities. From her experience working in schools, she is able to create speech and language goals and strategies that are applicable for academic success and carry-over. Additionally, she has been extensively trained in the Wilson Reading Program and is able to use this method to help support and improve her clients reading and writing abilities. Kate currently works full time at Blythdale Children's Hospital treating children across the age span. Kate brings her love of children of all ages and dynamic teaching abilities to every client she works with.

Alexandra Oros, M.S. CCC-SLP, a dynamic speech pathologist, achieved a B.A. degree in Psychology from Stanford University and a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. While at UW-Madison, Alexandra participated in intensive clinical and research-based training related to various areas of communicative disorders. Currently, a full-time clinician at Blythedale Children's Hospital, Alexandra has additional work experience at both private and public elementary schools and high schools in White Plains and Rye. Clinical interests include: EI, preschool and school-age children with oral motor, feeding, articulation/phonological and language delays and deficits as well as social communication/pragmatic language disorders. Alexandra brings her clinical skill, creativity and child-friendly demeanor to every client with whom she interacts while helping children progress towards their goals.

Karem Isaac , M.S. CCC SLP, a seasoned bilingual speech pathologist hailing from Columbia, South America. Karem has worked as a speech-language pathologist at the British American School, The Manhattan Center for Early Learning and The Kennedy Child Study Center. Most currently, Karem is a senior speech-language pathologist at Stepping Stone Day School where she developed a program on a grant to implement the use of visual supports in the classrooms and to train teachers and other related staff on the use of visual aides to support children with language and learning disabilities. She also works at Ace Preschool where she supervises clinical fellows, as well as evaluates and treats children with language and learning needs. At both school settings, Karem treats children both individually and in groups to address deficits in receptive/expressive language, phonology, and pragmatic language. Karem is PROMPT trained and uses the TEACHH method in her school settings. Karem is particularly skilled in working with our "difficult to motivate" children and is able to reach any child through her strong creative intervention skills.

Kikki Short, Executive Functioning Coach, Academic Tutor

Kikki Short has both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Yale, and has been teaching both learning and non-learning disabled students for the past 14 years. She excels in helping students write, study, organize, and learn in their own best way. She has served as an "executive functioning coach" teaching and empowering students to plan, initiate and break down their assignments into manageable, achievable steps. Having studied everything from Biology to Stage Performance, Kikki is able to support students in a variety of subjects at many different levels. She trained at The Windward School and has been tutoring students privately for 8 years.

Mary Hillman- Play Connections Facilitator

Our Multi-sensory Play-Connections Group is implemented by our other "magical" teacher, Mary Hillman. We are fortunate to have Mary as part of our team as she brings a wealth of experience to the understanding of children with social learning differences and child development. Mary is a gifted special educator who received her undergraduate degree in psychology. She earned her Masters degree in education and New York State certification in special education at Manhattanville College. She has taught kindergarten, first grade and is currently teaching Pre-K in the Ossining Public School district. Through her district, she received a grant to write curriculum which integrates a multi-sensory approach into the content areas by using music and movement. Mary also works part-time as a SEIT and has experience working with children in classroom settings, small groups and individually. One of Mary's goals is to instill a love of learning/school in the children with whom she works. She builds upon strengths and differentiates instruction to meet the needs of each of her students.

Kristina Cafagno, Office Manager

Kristina Cafagno, a speech pathology student at Mercy College is our valued Office Manager and the “glue” that holds all of us together at Dramatic Pragmatics! With her upbeat and friendly personality and attention to detail, Kristina is sometimes the first person our parents come in contact with and she sets the tone for the warmth and caring that we try so hard to give to our families here at Dramatic Pragmatics. Possessing a background in sales and client services, Kristina is able to combine her knowledge of speech pathology with her interpersonal and organizational skills to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently.

Where Language Competence Meets Social Empowerment

The Dramatic Pragmatics Speech and Language Center is a unique, comprehensive speech, language and social development center that provides an individualized approach to remediating communication disorders for students from the preschool age to elementary school through young adulthood. We offer the highest quality individual and group treatment to individuals with speech, language and pragmatic deficits. We have recently expanded and re-located to our two thousand square foot, charming new location in Rye Brook, NY in order to provide a greater range of services and recreation activities for our clients. Our center has several individual and group treatment rooms along with space for professional training and parent workshops.

Additionally, the new center is stocked with the latest video game systems and other fun recreational activities that will be used during “drop-in nights” to facilitate naturalistic, positive social interaction while supervised by Dramatic Pragmatics staff members. Our younger children also will have the opportunity to utilize age appropriate recreational equipment as well. These activities will additionally be used as rewards during session time.