The Stone Circle Difference

We tailor our therapy to each child’s strengths, preferences, and needs, while partnering closely with families to create meaningful, lasting progress.

Research shows that supporting parents in making tiny changes in their daily routines is the most effective way to improve toddlers’ and preschoolers’ communication. Because of that, we don’t have a clinic - we come to you! This way, we integrate new skills right into your everyday routines, and kids’ skills grow fast.

Our providers prioritize communication and collaboration with parents and caregivers. With our parent coaching approach, you gain the skills needed to support your child’s communication growth every day. This way, your child gets tiny doses of new learning throughout each day, rather than just once a week in a clinic.

Respect is a top priority. Forcing kids to participate in therapy, trying to get them to do specific activities, and thinking there is something wrong with them (or you) when they resist is not how we operate. We put your relationship first. Our family-first approach works for speech and language delays, hearing loss, autism, speech sound disorders, and reading delays.

These key elements set Stone Circle apart

  • In-home therapy

    We come to your home for therapy sessions. This is not only convenient for you as a parent, it is also best practice for early intervention because children and families learn best in their natural environment. Using toys, tools, and surroundings already familiar to the child reduces stress and improves generlization of skills. Being in the home also allows therapists to gain valuable insight into real family routines and behavior patterns.

  • Respectful and affirming

    We believe that all communication is valid, relational, and meaningful. While we participate in diagnosing delays and disorders when needed for health insurance reimbursement, your child’s communication and personal identity is so much more than any diagnosis. Our therapists use affirming, individualized approaches that respect each child’s unique way of experiencing and interacting with the world. We respect a child’s right to say ‘no’ during therapy sessions.

  • Progress is made between sessions

    Parents and caregivers are a child’s most important teachers. We’ll show you practical, sustainable ways to support your child’s communication during everyday moments like meals, story time, and play.  Parent coaching is the cornerstone of every therapy session with Stone Circle and bridges the gap between professional support and daily life.  Equipped with these new strategies, families experience rapid and meaningful growth between therapy sessions.

Simple changes to daily routines—when guided by caregivers—can have a powerful impact on how toddlers and preschoolers learn to communicate.

You know your child best. Let’s work together to support them. Contact us to learn more about our parent-first approach to speech therapy.

Is in-home better than clinic-based speech therapy?

While receiving treatment at a large, high-tech hospital or clinic facility is great for injury or illness, it is actually not the best enviornment for early-intervention services like speech or occupational therapy.

The research is very clear - natural learning enviornments (the home) are the most effective setting for early intervention therapies for infants and toddlers. Multiple studies recognize that being in the home allows therapists to implement strategies diretly into everyday routines rather than trying to recreate pretend home-like routines in a clinic setting, avoiding any adjustment period for new skills (also known as generalization).

Natural environments promote a coaching model where caregivers (not the therapists) become the primary agents of change. Embedding therapy with daily family routines produces more sustainable progress.

The evidence for home-based early intervention is so compelling that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that eligible infants and toddlers recieive services in natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate and should only receive services in settings other than the natural enviornment when those services cannot be achieved satisfactorily otherwise. If an early intervention service is not provided in the natural environment, a justification must be documented as to why the alternative service setting is needed for the child to meet the developmental outcomes identified.

Simply put, a clinic, hospital, or service provider’s office are not natural environments for infants and toddlers without disabilities, therefore those settings are not considered natural environments for infants or toddlers with disabilities. While there are always exceptions to the norm, the evidence is clear - in most situations, therapy at home is best.

If the evidence shows that in-home speech therapy is best, why do so many clinics offer care for 0-3 year olds?

The demand for evidence-based in-home speech therapy is very high. Waitlists for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers can be extremely long, especially for providers who accept insurance. Clinics feel the pressure (and see the opportunity) to fill this gap and operate as a one-stop-shop for all needs.

For providers, clinic-based care is easier logistically. Traveling between client homes is time consuming and travel time is unpaid. Operating from a clinc or office eliminates travel time and allows providers to see more children in a single day. Additionally, some clinics accept insurance and some do not due to the small allowable charges from insurance plans.

Clinic-based therapy is appropriate for school age children, but at the end of the day children ages 0-3 are best served in their homes.

People love working with us

“ ... Jennifer is a warm supportive mother-figure AND extremely skilled speech language therapist all rolled into one. Every parent deserves Jennifer in their corner and I will never stop recommending her.”
— Kelly
“Jennifer is a true gem in this field! She brings comprehensive expertise as a therapist, researcher, and mother while also recognizing every child and family is their own unique story. As a colleague, she is an incredible collaborator and writer. To have Jennifer as a part of your team is truly the best!”
— Jacquelyn

Email us today to ask questions and schedule a free phone consultation to see if Stone Circle Speech Therapy is a good fit for your family.

Quick Information:

  • We currently serve clients who live or play within 15-20 minutes of South Durham, North Carolina. Clients outside our radius are considered on a case-by-case basis with an additional travel fee.

  • We do not accept insurance but we are happy to provide you a reciept to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement according to your plan limitations.

  • Each 45-minute speech therapy or coaching session costs $175. If cost is a barrier to treatment, please email with us.

  • No, you do not need a referral or a diasnosis to begin speech therapy or receive a speech and language evaluation.