Meet Taylor | Speech-Language Pathologist

Meet Taylor, speech-language pathologist at Solace Pediatric Home Healthcare. A member of the Solace team for three years, Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and speech-language pathology and a master’s in speech-language pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Describe your role at Solace:

I am a speech-language pathologist (or speech therapist) and work with children from a variety of backgrounds in the Denver Metro area. I work with a team of occupational and physical therapists to help children and families live their best lives! My main goals as a speech therapist are to help children communicate better and to eat a variety of foods appropriate for their age. Communication entails a variety of systems, including speaking in a way others can understand, such as using the correct sounds for /s/ and /r/, using “smooth” speech without stuttering, and formulating and understanding language- whether it be by speaking, reading, writing, comprehending directions or stories, or using assistive technology (AAC). I also provide support for new hires and recently started a position as a clinical mentor where I will lead a team of 6-10 therapists for monthly meetings and provide general support to the therapists on my team.

What do you like most about your job?

One thing I love about my job at Solace is seeing the “lightbulb moment” in children and parents. It is so empowering to teach a skill to a child or parent and see the moment they understand it and use it on their own. I have seen this with children who put in immense effort to produce a sound correctly and when they do it correctly for the first time it feels equally exciting for them and myself. It is such a fun moment of celebration. It is equally rewarding to see parents learn a strategy and then use it and see their children respond to them- whether it be imitating new words or dancing along to a nursery rhyme for the first time.

I am also a firm believer in the importance of work/life balance and love that my job allows me to have a balance between work and play/relaxation. I moved to Colorado after school for all the amazing things it has to offer and I am so grateful I get to enjoy it in every season.

What do you find most challenging about your role with Solace?

One thing I find challenging about my role with Solace is keeping up with a changing schedule. I am a planner at my core so managing the dynamic schedules of families with lives outside of therapy can be challenging, but it has also helped me become a more flexible person and has strengthened my problem solving skills as I am often looking for ways to adapt my schedule to meet the needs of scheduling changes.

What are your hobbies?

I love being outside and being in the mountains – whether it be hiking, backpacking, skiing, or sitting on a scenic patio. I also really enjoy traveling, and hope to resume international travel soon. I also enjoy staying home and reading a book or playing my fiddle and gathering with friends over a nice meal.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

In February 2020 I bought my first home and renovated it with the help of my dad. Home renovation is very new to me and although (and perhaps because) it was one of the hardest things I’ve done, it has given me so much joy to see my work and vision come to fruition. It has been especially fun to begin to share my home with others- whether it be cooking a meal with friends or hosting co-workers an after-work get together.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

I can’t say I have one specific person that sticks out but I look around me and am inspired by people I interact with all the time. I am inspired by my friends who process traits like humility, drive, and creativity. I am inspired by the kids I work with who take the time to work hard at their goals when other kids their age are playing or relaxing. I am also so inspired by working mothers and the young people who are working to make this world a better place, whether it be through combating the climate crisis, spreading unsolicited kindness, or working to eradicate social and racial injustices.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

People may be surprised to hear I speak Spanish fluently! I have spent about a year collectively in Spain, first as a foreign exchange student during high school and later working in Madrid and studying abroad in college. It is a tremendous privilege to have had the opportunity to live in Spain and learn the language. I absolutely love working with Spanish speaking families and feel so lucky to have the opportunity to use Spanish in my everyday work at Solace.

How would someone describe you?

I think most of my friends and family would describe me as being compassionate and easy-going. For those who enjoy personality assessments, I’m a 9 on the enneagram and an INFJ for Myers-Briggs.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working at Solace?

If I weren’t working at Solace I’d like to say I’d spend my days with slow mornings- reading, walking my dog, Nanna, playing a lot of fiddle, and traveling.