Today we’d like to introduce you to Brigid Shamburg.
Hi Brigid, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was 15 when I began volunteering at a local summer camp for kids with disabilities — ESP, Extra Special People.
It was the mid-’90s, and I didn’t yet understand that many autistic kids were still being isolated and children in wheelchairs weren’t included in mainstream classrooms. People casually used hurtful words to describe children with Down syndrome and disabilities. But at ESP, things were different. I was blessed to experience a place where children were loved and accepted and participated in swimming, bowling, going to the mall, everyday activities, with everyone else.
And then came the moment that led me to where I am today.
It was a hot Georgia afternoon, and my buddy that summer was Keegan — a 4-year-old who, at the time, didn’t speak. Out of nowhere, Keegan sang the entire “Bubblegum Song” — every word. I was stunned. How was it possible that a child who hadn’t spoken a single word could suddenly sing a whole song?
That moment sparked something in me. I started researching music therapy, fascinated by how music could open communication in such a powerful way. By the time I finished my undergraduate studies, I was already applying to graduate programs in speech-language pathology. I knew I had found my calling: helping children find their voice —in whatever mode was possible.
I met my husband, Daniel, in Tennessee during grad school, and in 2006, we moved to California. We’ve been proud to call the beautiful community of Leucadia and Encinitas home ever since.
Life here is full — in the best way. Between Little League, skateboarding, boogie boarding, flag football, play dates, piano lessons (still taught by my me!), and raising three amazing boys and one blessed little girl, we spend as much time outdoors as possible. Camping, hiking, reading — those everyday joys are at the heart of our family.
Like many families, the pandemic brought both challenges and growth. We homeschooled two of our three sons while I continued offering speech therapy, both in-person and via telehealth. Through it all, Daniel and I were reminded — again and again — just how essential strong relationships are to a child’s development and well-being. That realization led me to become a certified DIRFloortime® practitioner and, ultimately, to open our practice, One of a Kind Children’s Therapy.
In addition to my clinical work, I spent 10 years singing competitively with the award-winning San Diego Chorus. The vocal training I received there has deeply informed how I approach speech, vocal, and sound production in therapy. Music continues to be woven into both my life and my work.
Today, I’m honored to help children — and their families — build connection, communication, and confidence every step of the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Obstacles – oh, you mean opportunities for growth? Everyday life with a marriage and 4 kids from toddler to teenager! And learning best business practices.
As a therapist, my strengths have always been building relationships, providing treatment, and connecting with families. But making the leap to open our own private practice? That was a whole new challenge.
Business, sales, and marketing didn’t come naturally to me — and they definitely weren’t part of my graduate school curriculum. I still recall that when I had to sell donuts as a kid for a fundraiser, I’d just use my own money to buy them and give them away to the neighbors.
Through this recent process of building our practice, I’ve learned to have resilience and know my own worth.
Another challenge has been searching for the right therapist to fit into and help grow our practice. We are very blessed that after over a year and a half of looking, we found one!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
One of a Kind Children’s Therapy provides speech and language therapy services for children up to age 18 years. As speech language pathologists, our scope of practice is broad. While we are often thought of as “speech teachers” who help children learn their sounds — and yes, we do that — our work goes far beyond articulation.
We at One of a Kind Children’s Therapy work with a wide range of children, including autistic children, children who stutter, children with voice disorders, and many others with diverse communication needs. We specialize in partnering with families to integrate therapy strategies into daily life — whether it’s increasing engagement with a child, managing stuttering, clarifying speech sounds, or improving vocal quality. Our focus is always on evidence based, practical, meaningful progress that fits naturally into each family’s routine.
Our main goal at One of a Kind is to give children a voice; to facilitate their communication. How do we do that? We build relationships and we play! “Play” can sound so daunting to many parents. But what many parents learn is that play can happen anywhere and is a powerful form of communication. Take, for example, a dad who’s feeling frustrated because his child isn’t following directions. A simple shift — getting down to the child’s level, tuning in to what interests them, and engaging from that place — can change everything. Suddenly, the child is more attentive. The parent is less frustrated. The child feels seen and heard. And communication takes off.
We also look at the whole child. Picture this and ask yourself how you would communicate – You’re at a little league field on a very bright day (and you forgot your sunglasses) trying to focus on your kid who is up at bat. Meanwhile, your 18 month old daughter is trying to climb the bleachers and eating old sunflower seeds off the ground. Loud walk-up music blares from the speakers, someone is smoking nearby, and your 7-year-old is tugging on your arm, shouting for a snack over the noise. How do you respond? Even as an adult with a fully developed nervous system, it might be difficult to respond calmly and effectively.
Now imagine a child processing these types of sensory challenges (auditory, visual, smell, touch) every day — and being expected to communicate clearly and effectively at the same time. The children we work with face these obstacles constantly. Their behaviors are a form of communication. Our role is to be detectives: to observe, listen, and help uncover the best ways to support their communication needs.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My family! I’m grateful to my mother for putting me in a position (so many years ago) to help others who needed it and learn humility and for my children for hanging on for the ride, providing me constant practice to hone my skills, and making me a better person.
One of a Kind Children’s Therapy wouldn’t exist without my husband, Daniel. From the very beginning, he believed in the vision and encouraged me to take the leap. He’s been a steady source of hope and support throughout this entire journey. Today, he serves as our Director of Operations — which we like to define as handling everything that isn’t clinical!
Our faith as a family keeps us constant in the knowledge that each human is unique and valuable and has a voice to be heard.
Also, a team of therapists along the way have helped me in my growth. I “grew up” in my profession during a time in which private practices were isolated and in competition. As I’ve grown in my own practice, there have been several local private practice owners and former colleagues who have been extremely supportive, including Lindsey Stark at Optimize in San Diego, LuAnn Lower, and Molly Carrera of Talky Tots in Encinitas. These therapists have been so generous with their time and expertise to answer questions and share information. It’s a blessing to feel like you have a team behind you and are not out there on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oneofakindslp.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/oneofakindslp
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigid-shamburg-89a93611/
