Speech Therapy in Winnetka, IL
Building the communication skills children, teens, and adults need to express ideas, participate, and advocate for themselves.
As children get older, communication becomes more complex.
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It is no longer enough to simply answer a question correctly. Students are increasingly expected to explain their reasoning, organize ideas, participate in discussions, give presentations, understand complex language, and navigate more sophisticated social situations.
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When communication does not keep pace with these demands, children and teens may know more than they are able to effectively express.
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At Speak with Stephanie, I provide individualized speech therapy in Winnetka for children, teens, and adults with speech sound, language, stuttering, and other communication concerns.
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In-home and online options are available.​
BCBS PPO and Cigna PPO accepted.
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Communication Skills for Increasingly Complex Demands
My goal is not simply to help a client perform well during speech therapy.
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I want clients to be able to take those skills into real situations:
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Answering an unexpected question
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Explaining a complicated idea
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Participating in a group discussion
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Giving a presentation
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Starting or maintaining a conversation
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Asking for clarification
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Advocating for what they need
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Therapy is individualized around the person's strengths, challenges, age, and actual communication demands.
Pediatric Speech & Language Support in Winnetka
Speech Sound Clarity
Speech sound errors may become increasingly frustrating as children get older.
Therapy may address:
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/r/, /l/, /s/, /th/, and other sounds
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Speech intelligibility
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Persistent articulation errors
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Phonological patterns
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Generalizing accurate sounds into spontaneous conversation
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Treatment progresses beyond practicing isolated words and sentences toward using clearer speech naturally.
Language Therapy for School-Age Children & Teens
Some language difficulties become more noticeable when schoolwork requires greater independence and more sophisticated communication.
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A child or teen may have difficulty:
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Organizing an explanation
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Retrieving precise vocabulary
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Formulating complex sentences
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Summarizing information
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Understanding what they read
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Making inferences
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Explaining cause and effect
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Telling a cohesive story
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Participating effectively in discussions
Therapy may address:
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Vocabulary and word relationships
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Sentence complexity and grammar
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Verbal reasoning
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Narrative organization
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Reading comprehension
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Inferencing
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Summarizing
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Explaining and supporting ideas
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These skills support both academic communication and greater independence.
Stuttering Therapy for Children, Teens & Adults
Stuttering may feel especially difficult in situations where there is pressure to respond quickly or speak in front of others.
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That may include presentations, introductions, classroom participation, ordering independently, interviews, or conversations with unfamiliar people.
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Therapy may focus on:
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Increasing comfort speaking
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Understanding stuttering
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Reducing avoidance
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Developing individualized communication strategies
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Navigating challenging speaking situations
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Strengthening self-advocacy
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My goal is to help clients become more confident communicators rather than teaching them that successful communication requires perfect fluency.
Supporting Self-Advocacy
As children enter adolescence, learning how to communicate what they need becomes increasingly important.
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Depending on the client, therapy may incorporate skills such as:
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Asking for repetition or clarification
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Explaining a communication difficulty
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Requesting additional time
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Participating despite uncertainty
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Identifying strategies that genuinely help
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Communicating with teachers, peers, and unfamiliar adults
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The long-term goal is increasing independence rather than creating dependence on therapy.
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Adult Speech Therapy in Winnetka
Adults may seek speech-language therapy following changes in communication or because of longstanding concerns.
Treatment may address:
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Aphasia
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Word-finding difficulties
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Speech clarity
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Cognitive-communication concerns
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Stuttering
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Therapy is designed around practical needs in professional, social, and family situations.
Why Winnetka Families Choose Speak with Stephanie
Clients work directly with me throughout treatment.
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You can expect:
✓ One-on-one individualized therapy
✓ Consistency with the same speech-language pathologist
✓ Treatment that evolves as communication demands change
✓ Focus on independence and real-world carryover
✓ Support for children, teens, and adults
✓ In-home and online options
✓ Collaboration with other professionals when helpful
✓ BCBS PPO and Cigna PPO accepted
About Stephanie
I’m Stephanie Jeret, MS, CCC-SLP, founder of Speak with Stephanie.
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I provide personalized speech therapy throughout Winnetka and Chicago’s North Shore.
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One of the most important parts of my work is helping clients move beyond simply “getting the answer right.”
I want clients to understand their own communication, develop strategies that genuinely help them, and become increasingly confident handling communication independently.
What Happens When You Reach Out?
1. We Talk
Tell me what you have noticed and what you hope will become easier.
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2. We Determine Whether an Evaluation Is Needed
If additional information is needed, an evaluation helps identify communication strengths and areas that may benefit from support.
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3. Therapy Is Individualized
When therapy is recommended, goals are developed around meaningful communication rather than a preset program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with older children and teenagers?
Yes. I work with children and teens, including students who need support with higher-level language, speech clarity, stuttering, and functional communication.
What if my child can do the skill during therapy but not in conversation?
Carryover is an important part of therapy. As skills improve, treatment should increasingly target less structured and more natural communication situations.
Do you address reading comprehension?
Language therapy may include reading comprehension when the underlying difficulty involves language skills such as vocabulary, inferencing, narrative organization, or understanding complex information.
Do you provide in-home therapy in Winnetka?
Yes. In-home speech therapy is available in Winnetka depending on location and scheduling. Online therapy is another option.
What insurance do you accept?
I accept BCBS PPO and Cigna PPO plans.
Help Communication Feel Easier
If your child knows what they want to say but has difficulty communicating it effectively — or if you are seeking speech therapy for yourself — reach out.
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We can discuss what is happening and whether speech-language therapy may be an appropriate next step.
Call or email me to schedule your free Speech consultation
In-home speech therapy for individuals
in Skokie, Wilmette, and surrounding Illinois areas