Meet Anne
Anne Hodits, M.A., CCC-SLP/L
Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist
Recognized By Apraxia Kids™ for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Anne is a devoted speech-language pathologist (SLP) with over a decade of experience in the field. She earned her master’s degree in Speech, Language, and Learning from Northwestern University and has since practiced in a variety of educational, medical, and clinical settings.
Anne believes in making therapy engaging, fun, and meaningful. Many Strive to Thrive families have said that she just “gets” their child; a testament to her ability to build rapport and trust with her clients. Anne goes above and beyond as a practitioner— consulting with parents, teachers, school speech therapists, pediatricians, and other providers to ensure that her clients receive the most quality treatment. She attends her clients’ IEP meetings, visits their workplaces, and works hard to bridge the gap between the therapy room and the real world.
Anne has pursued extensive training in Childhood Apraxia of Speech, leading to her formal recognition as an apraxia specialist from the Apraxia Kids organization. She is a graduate of the Apraxia Kids "Apraxia Boot Camp", an intensive training program designed to train and advance the clinical expertise of selected speech therapists in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Anne has presented at the Apraxia Kids Conference in 2021 and 2023, and at the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Conference in 2022.
Anne has also been presented with an ACE Award from the national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for her dedication to professional learning. Along with her clinical contributions, Anne is currently serving on the Board of Directors for a special needs preschool that will be opening in Fall 2022. She is grateful for these opportunities to give back to her community.
When she is not working, Anne values the time she gets to spend with family and friends, especially her husband, young son, and beagle. She loves to work out, run, explore Chicago, and try new steakhouses!
Advanced Training & Certifications
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Apraxia Kids Recognized for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech
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Award for Continuing Education (ACE) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The ACE is a formal recognition of professionals who have earned at least 70 continuing education hours in a 3-year period
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PROMPT I, Bridging Training, and Practicum Completed (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Motor Phonetic Targets)
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Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing
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Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol
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AAC Trainings
Meet Lauren
Lauren Lozneanu, M.S., CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Lauren earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication Science and Disorders at Elmhurst University. Her clinical experiences include both the clinic and school settings, where she has worked with children and young adults in various areas such as speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), receptive and expressive language, AAC, executive functioning, and social aspects of communication. Her clinical areas of interest include CAS, receptive-expressive language, autism spectrum disorder, and social-pragmatic language.
Lauren has pursued further training through an online training course taught by Dr. Edythe Strand to grow her clinical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of CAS using dynamic temporal and tactile cueing (DTTC) and in implementing the Developmental Individual Differences and Relationship Based (DIR)/Floortime Framework, having completed Introductory Course to DIR. Lauren’s therapeutic approach is characterized by her love for using play and personal interests as a means to build connections with clients and to foster communication and language development. She believes in establishing a meaningful relationship first with clients and is committed to empowering both the client and family to be active team members in the decision-making process.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys fellowship with her family and friends, working out, soaking in nature, and playing pickleball!
Meet Jessica
Jessica Gallagher, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jessica is a licensed speech-language pathologist in her third year of practice. In 2020, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in English and Psychology from Augustana College. In 2022, Jessica received her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst University. She currently works in a preschool in addition to her part-time work at Strive to Thrive Therapy. She has experience working with individuals in early childhood, elementary school, high school, and clinical settings. Jessica’s areas of interest include early childhood speech and language, multilingual/multicultural treatment and assessment, working with individuals who are d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing (d/DHOH), and childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Jessica holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a Professional Educator License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education, and is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has training in Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing through the Once Upon a Time Foundation and in Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment by Dr. Toni Linder. In addition, Jessica completed the Multicultural/Multilingual Emphasis at Elmhurst University.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching TV shows and movies, reading, knitting, and crocheting.
Meet Michael
Michael Southwell
Literacy Clinician
Michael Southwell brings 5 years of classroom experience to Strive to Thrive Therapy. He graduated with his master's degree in Elementary Education from Lewis University in 2020 and earned additional endorsements in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education.
Michael currently teaches 4th grade dual language and has experience teaching all content areas in English and Spanish. Michael is especially passionate about social studies and inquiry-based learning to stimulate critical thinking. He is trained in the Orton Gillingham Approach for reading intervention.
Outside of the classroom, Michael enjoys reading, playing the oboe in a community band, and exploring new places.
Meet Billy
Billy Southwell
Literacy Clinician
Billy Southwell is a 5-year seasoned educator in the Northwest Suburbs. He graduated with his master's degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University in 2019 and earned his English as a Second Language Endorsement in 2021.
Billy currently teaches 6th grade and has experience teaching all content areas, including intervention groups, for 5th and 6th grade students. He prides himself on applying evidence-based practices and integrating skills across the content areas to increase learning outcomes. He is also trained in the Orton Gillingham Approach for reading intervention.
When he's not in the classroom, he enjoys playing in a local community concert band, reading, and spending time with his French Bulldog named Houdini.
