Meet Our Team of Speech-Language Professionals
Mia Caraganis, CCC-SLP, Owner/Lead Therapist (she/her) grew up in Finland in a bilingual household speaking Finnish and English and received her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Helsinki in 2006. She speaks Finnish to her own children, English to her husband, and Spanish to most of her clients. Mia also speaks Swedish and French, and is studying Portuguese. Mia is trained in PROMPT and Orofacial Myology and has completed training on Auditory Verbal Therapy for children with hearing impairments. She enjoys working with children with motor speech disorders, developmental and language delays speech, dyslexia, and stuttering. She has experience with clefts, Down Syndrome and autism, as well as low tech AAC and Sound Generating Devices. She finds joy in working together with her clients and their caregivers to support improved social relations and behavior and to engage caregivers and family members in her interventions. Mia has supervised SLP-Assistants, graduate students and new clinicians earning their CCC. She is an affiliate clinical instructor for UNC-Chapel Hill. She has spoken at numerous conferences on topics related to ameliorating speech/language disorders of bilingual and minority language individuals and on the topic of cultural competence and humility. Outside of work Mia enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, dancing, snowboarding and drumming with her Brazilian drumming band, Batala Durham.
Rivers Caraganis, C-SLPA (he/him) is the co-owner of Small World Therapy and after spending years managing the practice decided to join in the fun as a clinician. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Tech and completed coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders at NC Central and Arizona State University. Rivers enjoys working with children with attention differences and autism as well as speech disorders and language delays. Rivers is creative both at work and outside of work hours and enjoys creating art like jewelry and painting as well as dancing and running.
Megan Vu, CCC-SLP, (she/her) is a Vietnamese American speech-language pathologist from Jamestown, NC. She earned her Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Carolina University in 2020. She grew up alongside two wonderful sisters, one with a communication disability, and gained a personal appreciation for the care that SLP’s gave her family. Megan treats children of all ages in the Triangle area for speech sound disorders, oral-motor planning difficulties, language delays, congenital disorders, and neurodiversity-affirming communication goals for Autistic children. In her spare time, Megan loves art projects and home decorating, outdoor activities with her husband and goldendoodle Lucy, and enjoying boba milk tea with friends.
Laura Tonkin, CCC-SLP, (she/her) grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and attended Duke University for college. After college she spent time living in a supportive intentional community for adults with development disabilities, leading her to pursue Speech-Language Pathology as a way of continuing to work with individuals with communication needs. She enjoys working with children of all ages and has worked with children in homes, preschools, and public school settings. Particular areas of interest include phonological disorders, language delays, and autism. After living in Colorado for 7 years during and beyond grad school, she and her husband returned to Durham, where they live with their two kids, two cats, two dogs and four chickens. When she’s not working, Laura spends her time sewing, working on house projects, and hiking.
Jessica Meredith, CCC-SLP (she/her), is a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist with experience in language, speech, and feeding disorders in ages birth-middle school. She has been practicing for the past 5 years and just moved to NC to pursue her PhD in Speech and Hearing Sciences at UNC-CH. Her focus of research is in autism and early feeding difficulties. She has a passion for coaching parents and forming a team to best serve the child. She has additional training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), autism spectrum, AAC, and feeding disorders. She has worked in Early Childhood Intervention, schools, clinic setting, and telehealth. Her specialty is in birth-3, autism, and feeding.
Mandy Morsell, CCC-SLP, (she/her) earned her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1998 and has been working with children in private practice, schools, and rehabilitation centers since her graduation. Her clinical experience includes evaluating, diagnosing and treating children with a variety of diagnoses including expressive-receptive language disorders, articulation and phonological processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, fluency disorders, social language disorders and apraxia. Her most rewarding moments as a therapist include helping children reach an important communication milestone, and seeing the joy and excitement on their faces and that of their parents. Mandy is a native of Burlington, NC and outside of work she enjoys hanging out with her family, reading and going for long walks. The beach is her happy place!
Amy Samuels, CCC-SLP (she/her), is an English-speaking SLP who grew up on Long Island, NY. She completed a bachelors of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology at SUNY Cortland and Masters of Science in Communication Disorders at Adelphi University. She worked for 8 years in the NY public school system before relocating to Chapel Hill, NC with her family. Amy has over 25 years of clinical experience serving preschool and school-aged children with speech/language disorders/delays. She is a firm believer in value of early intervention and has an expertise for helping young children improve their communication skills.
Crystal Estrada, SLP-Assistant (she/her), graduated with honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College with an Associates Degree in Applied Science Speech Language Pathology Assistant and an Associates Degree in General Education in May 2007. Crystal has been working since graduation as a bilingual therapist in the private practice setting with children ranging from 15 months to 10 years old. She gained experience in articulation/phonology, expressive/receptive language, learning disabilities, down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders.
Natalie Hernandez Smith, CCC-SLP, (she/her) is a bilingual SLP and received her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, in 2012. She also obtained an Initial Certification for New York State Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities and a Bilingual (Spanish) Education Extension Certification. Natalie completed her clinical fellowship year working with children in schools, preschools, daycares, and home settings, and has since provided speech services exclusively in the private sector.
Kim Rice, CCC-SLP, (she/her) is an English-speaking SLP who received her masters degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008 and has worked exclusively in pediatrics since her graduation. She has professional experience in a variety of settings including homes, schools, preschools, and daycares. Kim has experience with apraxia, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, children on the autism spectrum, and children with language delays. She is also skilled in using AAC.
Aracelly “Celly” Frederick, SLP-Assistant (she/her), was born in Panamá and currently resides in Sanford, NC with her daughter and son. Celly graduated with honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science Speech Language Pathology Assistant in May 2016. Celly has been working since graduation as a bilingual therapist in the private practice setting with children ranging from 15 months to 10 years old. She has experience in articulation/phonology, expressive/receptive language, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders. Prior to working as a bilingual therapist, she was working with the Sandhills Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) as an Interpreter Coordinator. As an interpreter, she has had the pleasure of serving children of varying ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and varying ethnic population for ten years.
Jamelle Salomon, CCC-SLP, (she/her) is a bilingual (Spanish/English) SLP who completed her Bachelor of Arts degree, Master of Science degree, and is now on faculty at UNC Chapel Hill as a Clinical Instructor. She is particularly interested in supporting children in the public school setting who are navigating a diagnosis of autism, a second language, or learning to communicate within the general education classroom. Jamelle also has specialized training in PROMPT and PECS.
Marguerite Waugh, CCC-SLP (she/her), is a bilingual SLP and received her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008. Since graduating, she has worked in private practices in Chatham, Lee and Orange counties. She is experienced in providing therapy in Spanish for children with speech and language disorders/delays, and provides therapy for children with feeding and swallowing issues.
Christine Alexander, M.S. CCC-SLP, (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist from Greensboro, North Carolina. She earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received special training in working with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Christine values collaboration between parents and professionals and routines-based, child-led therapy. She stays up to date on evidence-based practices and current research to ensure she is providing the most beneficial therapy possible. Christine enjoys providing a variety of therapeutic interventions for articulation and phonology disorders, receptive and expressive language delays, fluency disorders, augmentative and alternative communication goals, and social communication goals with the pediatric population, with a focus on children ages birth to three and elementary-aged children. She conducts her therapy with a trauma informed, neurodiversity affirming lens and treats each child as an individual. Christine has experience with multiple disorders and syndromes including FOXG1, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities, partial DiGeorge syndrome, and autism. She enjoys collaborating with related services including occupational and physical therapy to create holistic, integrated care for her clients. Christine works in homes, daycares, and the community to best serve her clients and incorporate functional communication in their daily lives. When she’s not working, Christine enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling with her husband and taking long walks with their dog!
Lena Ruthieaux, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her), is a multicultural English-speaking SLP who received her masters degree from Appalachian State in 2015. She loves traveling all over the world, especially to Palestine and Norway, where her family originates. She has experience in many settings including preschools, daycares, elementary and middle schools, and home health. Lena has worked with children with a range of diagnoses such as articulation and fluency disorders, phonological disorders, language and social/developmental delays, and children on the autism spectrum. In addition to working, Lena loves her 2 children, cooking or eating amazing international dishes, and has recently started making clothes.
Abby Combs, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her), is a speech-language pathologist who earned her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from North Carolina Central University. She grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, most famous for the Andy Griffith Show. Abby has experience working with children ranging from 1 year of age to 12 years of age in a variety of settings including the public school system, preschools, daycares, and home health. She has experience working with developmental delays, expressive/receptive language delays, articulation and phonological disorders, and autism.Abby enjoys working with the early intervention population and children on the autism spectrum. She conducts her therapy with a neurodiversity affirming approach, valuing each child’s individuality. In her spare time, Abby enjoys spending time with animals and nature, reading, and working on various textile projects such as quilting, embroidery, crocheting, and knitting.
Ashton Stanfield, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her), is a bilingual English-Spanish speech-language pathologist who was born in Chapel Hill, NC but grew up in Spartanburg, SC. She spent most of her summers growing up with her siblings visiting their grandparents in Burlington, NC where she now lives. She has a B.A. in Spanish language and culture with a focus on Early Care and Education from the University of South Carolina Upstate. She completed her Masters Program at North Carolina Central University in 2023 earning a M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed clinical practicums in several different settings: home intervention, private practice, headstart, elementary school and middle/high school settings with clients from various backgrounds and cultures and with a variety of different disorders. She has a passion for alternative and augmentative communication, bilingual language development and phonology in the early intervention population, and social aspects of communication. Ashton has found she most enjoys working with underserved populations and early intervention populations as she enjoys developing relationships with the families she works with and watching them grow. She believes play is an integrative part of learning and development and incorporates it in all aspects of therapy to make it functional to the family and the child. When she is not working, Ashton enjoys spending time with her friends and family in NC and SC (especially her 5 nephews), going to concerts, reading, baking, and exploring new places. She also loves vacationing in Emerald Isle, NC and attending different sporting events.
Jacquelyn King B.S. SLP-Assistant (she/her), received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Nebraska Kearney. She graduated in May 2021 with honors and a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. Jacquelyn has been working since graduation as a bilingual therapist in a private practice setting. She has experience working in daycares, schools, and head start programs. Jacquelyn has gained experience working with a variety of children from 18 months of age to 12 years old with developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders, expressive/receptive language delays, learning disabilities, tongue tie, and apraxia. During her work she has collaborated with other therapists including physical, occupational, developmental, and behavioral therapy to ensure her patients receive optimal treatment. Jacquelyn enjoys serving the Latino community and their families. She finds that it is beneficial to patients to serve them in their natural environments. Jacquelyn enjoys working with children in the 1-3 age groups. She feels that the most rewarding part of her job is giving a children a right to have a voice because they deserve it! At the end of her work day she is thrilled to come home to her husband Jordan and their three beautiful children. In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys being a wife and mother, spending time with her family, going to church, working out, walking with her husband and children, cooking, teaching their children, and enjoying North Carolina’s lovely weather.
April Ross, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her) April Ross is a North Carolina native, who is bilingual in Spanish. April earned a MA in Spanish at Middlebury College in 2010, and graduate Magna cum Laude with her BA degree in Spanish from Meredith College in 2002 and was a stay at home parent to her 3 daughters and worked as a Spanish teacher and bilingual coordinator for UNC Health Care before returning to earn her MS degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from ECU. She holds Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a member of the North Carolina Speech, Hearing, & Language Association (NCSHLA). April’s primary life goal is to make a tangible positive impact in the lives of those around her. She chose Speech Language Pathology as a compatible career that would enable her to use her Spanish language abilities to support the under-served Spanish-speaking population in a health capacity, supporting them in making quality-of-life improvements, while incorporating her love of creativity, song, dance, theatrics, and education. April has worked with all age groups as an SLP in homes, schools, an ENT office, outpatient rehab, and therapy clinics, for language, articulation, pragmatics, cognition, and traumatic brain injury. However, she is drawn to the preschool and young school-age population and enjoys language therapy the most. Her favorite activities are spending time with her husband and children and their myriad of animals including a dog, 6 cats, a bearded dragon, and fish. April also enjoys singing, dancing, travel, and personal growth. April runs Spartan obstacle races and has recently taken up fitness and weight training.
Leah MacMillan, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her), bio coming soon
Jackie Liles, M.S. CCC-SLP (she/her), bio coming soon
Nakesha Travis, B.A. SLP-Assistant (she/her), bio coming soon