Today we’d like to introduce you to Johanna Hoffman
Hi Johanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I originally fell in love with speech-language therapy after I got my undergraduate degree in Sociology from San Diego State University. I provided behavior intervention services for Autistic children and had the opportunity to observe one of my client’s speech therapy session. I immediately knew that is what I wanted to do. I applied to graduate school in 2011 and was incredibly lucky to get accepted to San Jose State University. I graduated with my masters degree in 2015.
Out of grad school I worked for various school districts and then took a leave of absence when I had my daughter in 2018. During that time I began providing caregiver-children language enrichment workshops out of my home. Then began seeing client’s privately. At the time COVID hit and I moved all my services virtually including my 1:1 therapy and baby sign language and that was the start of my first private practice Santa Cruz Speech Therapy. My goal was to provide families with the support to grow their children’s early language development. My family then moved and I opened my second practice Rocklin Speech Therapy for a short period of time.
My most recent practice- True Colors Speech Therapy was brought to North County San Diego in August of 2023. I am originally from San Diego and a recent divorce brought be back to my roots.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, personal and professional challenges have tested me in each of my practices. The onset of COVID during my first, very new practice was my first big challenge. Moving and starting another new practice in a location where I had no professional connections challenged me in my second practice. My most recent challenges have been building a full time practice, increasing cliental and learning how to balance being a single parent while growing a business. Every personal and professional challenge for me also comes with a lesson in strength, perseverance and growth. I try to take the challenges as they come and see them as opportunities for learning.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about True Colors Speech Therapy?
True Colors Speech Therapy is an all mobile, speech-language therapy practice. I am the owner and sole Speech language pathologist. Day to day I provide 1:1 services to children ages 1-10 in the comfort of their home or school. My services focus on parent education and using the child’s interests and strengths to grow their communication skills. I use a child led, play-based, neurodiversity affirming philosophy. I work with a variety of children with various communication difficulties including, late talkers, Autistics, individuals with Down syndrome and other genetic conditions, as well as those with speech sound disorders. I also have training in myofunctional disorders and help children decrease thumb/finger sucking, strengthen their oral muscles and improve their overall health.
In addition to 1:1 therapy I also run caregiver-child language enrichment groups, early communicator baby sign language classes, preschool staff trainings and caregiver education workshops.
This area has so many amazing professionals that work so hard to support the families of San Diego.
I try to look at the child from a whole person perspective and find the best way I can support not only the child but the family as a whole unit. Every child comes with unique story- unique interests and strengths and it is my goal to use their “true colors” support their communication growth in many different ways.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I absolutely love what I do. Every day I get to play, teach and grow with every child I work with . I am incredibly lucky to work with so many wonderful families that welcome me in to their home and trust me to help them.
Pricing:
- I’d prefer not to have my prices listed in this article
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.truecolorsspeechtherapy.com
- Instagram: @true_colors_speech_therapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550721818834
