OWNER + SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Rachel Best, MS, CCC-SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York | ASHA + CPR Certified; Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM)
EDUCATION
Boston University | M.S. Speech + Hearing Sciences
Bridgewater State University | B.A. Communication Disorders
Rachel founded Small Steps Therapy, LLC in 2013 as a way to share her passion for helping children and families learn to communicate, talk, and eat. Rachel began her career in the medical and outpatient settings working with both adults and children with a variety of speech, language, and swallowing challenges. Additionally, Rachel spent several years in the academic setting working with students ranging from kindergarten to middle school. During Rachel’s time in the hospital and school settings she felt a strong calling towards private practice and providing services in a unique, family-centered model. She visualized a clinic that was not subject to the strict sterile protocol of a hospital or the structured hours of a school day. Thus, Small Steps Therapy, LLC was born to serve the needs of both a passionate speech language pathologist and the community.
Rachel is also the mother to three amazing children and uses her daily life experiences to relate to clients and create treatment plans that are manageable for busy families like her own.
Additional Certifications
Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
Food Chaining (Fraker and Walbert)
Orofacial Myology Certification
ToTs (Tongue Tie) trained
DIRFloortime Professionals Training Course
Various trainings in Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Social Thinking, and Pediatric Feeding
Notable Achievements:
Presented at the 2012 ASHA Convention poster session on The Immersion Model
Author of a paper and poster for the 2013 ASHA Convention on Social Thinking Within the Immersion Model
Rachel worked on several interdisciplinary feeding teams and enjoys working with "picky eaters".
2019 & 2022 recipient of ASHA’s Award for Continuing Education (ACE)
2020 ASHA paper “A Parent’s Perspective on Interdisciplinary Support Services for Tethered Oral Tissue (ToTs) in Children Aged Birth to Three”
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Alyssa Loberti, MS, CCC-SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island | RI Educators License | ASHA | CPR | CPI
EDUCATION
Worcester State University | M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Rhode Island College | B.A. Communication- Speech, Language, + Hearing Science
Alyssa is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who has a passion for working with young children and their families. Alyssa began her work in the early intervention setting working with infants and toddlers using a family coaching model. Here at Small Steps, she continues to use this approach to ensure every person in the child/client's life is incorporated into their treatment and is in full support of our family-centered model. Alyssa specializes in working with very young children who are pre- or minimally-verbal and approaches treatment using a total communication approach. She has attended various professional development courses on the diagnosis and treatment of infants and toddlers with ASD as well as sCAS. Alyssa enjoys collaborating with other professionals and community support to ensure all areas of the child's development are well-supported. Alyssa has clinical experience and professional development training in working with children who are medically complex and/or with multiple-disabilities to incorporate their vision, hearing, and feeding needs into treatment. Alyssa advocates for equal access to care across all socio-economic sectors and understands the impact that mental-health and racial inequity have on young children's development and family well-being. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys doing things outdoors, such as going for walks with her dog, spending a night by the fire, or dining al fresco.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Hailey Picard, M.Ed. SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island | Connecticut | Georgia
EDUCATION
The University of Valdosta State | M.ED. Communication Sciences and Disorders
The University of Valdosta State | B.S. ED Communication Sciences and Disorders
Hailey is a passionate CF-SLP who specializes in working with the pediatric population for early intervention with children who present with expressive and receptive language delays. She also enjoys working with school-aged children who present with articulation and phonological disorders. While living in Georgia and attending graduate school, she worked as an SLPA treating a variety of speech and language disorders in a pediatric clinic.
During sessions at Small Steps, she implements various client centered communication strategies for children with delayed expressive and receptive language delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, articulation/phonological disorders, and various other challenges. Hailey places a heavy importance on a family centered therapy approach, implementing parent coaching strategies for families to use outside the treatment session in their everyday life. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, binge watching Survivor and exploring beautiful Rhode Island.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Elizabeth Lewis, MS, SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island | Massachusetts
EDUCATION
Emerson College | M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Elizabeth is a kindhearted speech pathologist that began her time at Small Steps Therapy through her pediatric clinical externship. She continues to carry her passion for speech pathology as she works with us towards her clinical fellowship. Elizabeth specializes in working with children of all ages who present with articulation and phonological disorders. She also enjoys working with augmentative alternative communication (AAC), children on the autism spectrum (ASD), expressive and receptive language disorders/delays, and disfluency (stuttering).
Elizabeth’s passion for speech originated with her own family’s experiences growing up, and she loves to ensure a family centered approach with all of her clients. Elizabeth aims to help children learn through play and can always be found incorporating literacy activities into her child-centered approaches. During her free time, Elizabeth enjoys spending quality time with her family, curling up with a new book, and of course drinking Starbucks!
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANT
Marissa DiBiase, BA, C-SLPA
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island | ASHA + CPR Certified | SPEAKOUT!/LOUD Crowd Certified | LSVT LOUD Certified
EDUCATION
Rhode Island College | B.A. English
Charter Oak State College | Speech Language Pathology Certification
Marissa serves as our talented Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and Vocologist. Marissa specializes in treating children and adults with voice disorders, speech sound disorders, language disorders, and motor speech disorders. Marissa ‘s unique background as a sought-after vocal instructor and coach throughout New England provides her with a highly specialized approach to speech and voice challenges. She is able to look at each individual through the lens of a speech therapist and a professional vocalist. Marissa has studied voice for sixteen years both in a private setting and at the collegiate level. When Marissa is not in the clinic she can be found in the role of Assistant Music Director at The Church of St. Rocco in Johnston, RI. She can also be found in her private music studio where she passionately shares her gifts in the form of training children and adults proper singing techniques. Marissa has been performing as a vocal soloist in classical settings from a very young age and has been teaching voice for five years. We are so blessed by her ability to use her skills to help our clients perform to the best of their ability. She studied music with a concentration in voice at Anna Maria College and completed her SLPA certification program at Charter Oak State College. Marissa is currently pursuing a degree in Respirator Therapy at the New England Institute of Technology.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Haley McCreight
Haley is finishing a career as a student-athlete at Wheaton College with a degree in psychology. She has loved helping in all areas of the clinic while working towards the process of earning her master’s degree. She joined Small Steps in June of 2021 as an intern, and now works as our administrative assistant. Haley has been able to learn so much about the field of speech pathology to prepare her for a future as an SLP. Outside of work and school, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and playing volleyball.
Speech Language Pathologist + CLINICAL DIRECTOR (HOPKINTON LOCATION)
Abbey Citro, M.S. CCC-SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island + Massachusetts | ASHA
EDUCATION
Worcester State College | M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Rhode Island College | B.A. Communications with a specialization in Speech and Hearing Science
After completing her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology, Abbey specialized in treating adult populations in acute, sub-acute, and long-term care settings specializing in dysphagia, aphasia, and cognitive/communication disorders. Abbey's transition into pediatrics with Small Steps Therapy has allowed her to find a new passion in the profession. Her experience with the pediatric population has ranged from working with children on the autism spectrum, articulation disorders, and expressive/receptive language disorders. Additionally, Abbey's clinical expertise in dysphagia has allowed her to carry-over those skills to treat pediatric feeding and sensory difficulties.
In her free time, Abbey enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and their two Bengal cats. Abbey loves spending time outside hiking, riding her scooter, and snowshoeing. Abbey also enjoys reading and cooking.
Abbey is so grateful and honored to be a part of the Small Steps family. She wants to continue to support and serve families in the community and surrounding areas with compassion and heart in all she does
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Marisa Michetti, MS, CCC-SLP
STATE LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
Rhode Island | Massachusetts | Connecticut | ASHA
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Orofacial Myology Trained | PECS Level 1 | PROMPT Level 1 | Hanen Trained (More Than Words and It Takes Two to Talk) | Beckman Oral Motor Trained (as of January 2022) | Behavior Analyst (BCBA) May 2015
EDUCATION
Boston University | M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Bridgewater State College | B.A. Communication Disorders
Marisa is a fun loving therapist who is always striving to create fun and engaging lessons for her clients. Whether it be an adult with a myofunctional disorder, or a young toddler with a language delay, Marisa works to tailor her lessons to each individual, focusing on their interests and motivations. Marisa specializes in working with adults and children with myofunctional disorders including; tongue tie, lip tie, TMJ disorder, and sleep apnea. She also has experience working with children with articulation disorders, Apraxia, Autism, listening comprehension, functional communication and mixed language delays.
In her free time, Marisa enjoys spending time at home with her husband, 2 year old daughter and yorkie. Marisa loves reading, hiking, running, spin, and enjoying time with family and friends.