Child with Selective Mutism communicating better during school because of speech therapy

Neurodiversity-Affirming Speech and Occupational Therapy for Kids

Joleen R. Fernald Pediatric Therapy Services provides individual therapy, parent consultations, and professional development services in the Tampa Bay, FL area.

Our Specialties

Our team specializes in using the DIRFloortime® model to support Autistic individuals, children with Selective Mutism, and those with Speech Sound Disorders.

Resources for Parents

You don’t have to navigate your child’s journey with Selective Mutism alone. Visit our Resources page for articles, books, and personal experiences that can help.

Caregiver Consultations

Are you ready to learn about your child's DIR® profile and connect with them more deeply? Book a DIRFloortime® Caregiver Consultation here.

Welcome to Joleen R. Fernald Pediatric Therapy Services

Empowering children to share who they are with the world around them.

Child participating in neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy in Tampa Bay, FL

We are a neurodiversity-affirming speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and families in the Tampa Bay, FL area.

Our team specializes in using the DIRFloortime® model to support regulation and communication. We celebrate each child’s differences, build upon their strengths, and work to improve their overall wellbeing in every session.

We also encourage parents to get involved every step of the way! Let’s work together to help your child thrive.

Specialized Therapy Services
for Children in Tampa Bay, FL

Selective Mutism

We provide a low-stress environment for children with Selective Mutism, allowing them to feel safe and comfortable. Our sessions are guided by your child's interests and play preferences while also incorporating regulation tools like swings and trampolines. Through a combination of play and the DIR® Selective Mutism Model, we will help your child:

  • Build self-esteem

  • Comfortably use their voice across all environments and with a variety of people

  • Advocate for themselves

Speech Sound Disorders

We make speech therapy fun by integrating sound practice into play! Whether playing a game or practicing speech sounds on a swing, we build repetition into motivating activities to support learning. Using evidence-based approaches, we will help your child:

  • Speak more clearly

  • Gain confidence in their speech

  • Communicate effectively with other children and adults (using speech and/or an AAC device)

Autism

Rather than focusing on your child's diagnosis, we will look at their unique profile and abilities. Our sessions incorporate sensory play and movement-based activities to support communication in a natural and meaningful way. Using the DIRFloortime® framework, we will follow your child's lead to help them:

  • Communicate with gestures, spoken words, or a speech generating device (AAC)

  • Authentically interact with others

  • Build confidence and autonomy

Language Disorders

In language therapy, we will follow your child's lead and help them express themselves in play while prioritizing regulation, engagement, and purposeful communication— without drills or flashcards! Your child’s language goals will be embedded into interactive experiences, helping them:

  • Improve their grammar, comprehension, and conversation skills

  • Successfully share about their experiences

  • Gain confidence in social engagement

Welcome! I’m Dr. Jo

Joleen R. Fernald, PhD, CCC-SLP, speech therapist and selective mutism specialist at Joleen R. Fernald Pediatric Therapy Services in Tampa Bay, FL

I am a speech therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, and a parent of an Autistic child who overcame Selective Mutism and is happily married and living her best life. I am proud to bring perspectives from both sides of the table— as a caregiver and as a clinician.

My team and I meet children where they are and take a bottom up, inside out approach to therapy. We celebrate children's differences, respect their desires, and work alongside parents to help them authentically connect with the world around them.

  • "...I was blown away with the results."

    “Joleen is one of a kind, AMAZING! My daughter has SM, and I was very leery of taking her to a therapist thinking it might exacerbate her anxiety. I thought we knew how to treat her SM, but after 1.5 years of effort, she was not progressing as we thought she should. We met with Joleen— her office was welcoming and she’s very personable. After TWO appointments with her, my daughter was talking and even talking at school! I had no expectations, but I was blown away with the results. My daughter looks forward to the appointments as do I. I highly recommend anyone whose child has SM to meet Joleen and consider her for treatment.”

    – Erin, mother of a daughter with SM

  • "Joleen is nothing short of amazing.”

    “Joleen has been a blessing in my son’s life. She was the perfect piece to [his] team of therapists. My son looks forward to his time with her every week. Joleen is nothing short of amazing.”

    – Amanda, mother of a son with Childhood Apraxia of Speech

  • "I will be forever grateful to Joleen Fernald..."

    “What a fantastic resource. We had so much trouble finding a provider in Massachusetts with Selective Mutism experience who would take insurance. Having access to such a knowledgeable staff and being provided with such a thorough evaluation was like godsend to us. The evaluation was very helpful in dealing with the school regarding my daughter’s IEP. My daughter, by the way, who never wants to go anywhere, still asks (a year later) when we can go back to the big gym with all the fun stuff. I will be forever grateful to Joleen Fernald and her SM clinic for the help they provided to my daughter and our family.”

    – Lisa, parent

  • "Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Joleen and her team..."

    For over four years before our evaluation with Joleen and her team, [our daughter] was not even able to speak in private therapy because her anxiety level was so high. We had tried everything under the sun and felt so helpless. We were thrilled to meet the team of clinicians at the SM Clinic. Finally, we were in a room with multiple professionals who could collectively evaluate, work as a team, and offer recommendations to address ALL of her issues. It was through their recommendations that we were able to put the proper program together for [our daughter].  After four long years, we were finally heading in the right direction, and [our daughter] made a huge breakthrough— speaking to her therapists again. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Joleen and her team for getting [our daughter] on the road to success.

    – Mother of a child with SM

How to get started with Joleen R. Fernald Pediatric Therapy Services in Tampa, FL

Autistic child participating in speech therapy using the DIRFloortime® model in Tampa Bay, FL

  • Reach out directly to get started with a free 30-minute consultation call. We will then give you a call to learn about your child’s needs. If our pediatric speech and OT services are the right fit for your family, we will schedule your first session.

  • Formal evaluations are not required to be seen at our clinic.

    Instead of a standardized evaluation, we may choose to begin with a diagnostic therapy session. This allows us to review your intake questionnaire and engage with your child for an hour while listening to your concerns. We will use the DIRFloortime® profile approach to determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth.

    If you choose to book a formal evaluation, the process will include:

    • A detailed intake questionnaire

    • Parent/child observations during play

    • Standardized assessments when appropriate.

    • Please keep in mind that standardized evaluations are typically normed on neurotypical individuals; therefore, they are not a representative measure of a neurodivergent child’s skills.

    In Florida, Selective Mutism is considered one of the rare disorders for the purposes of the Step Up For Students Family Empowerment - Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA). An evaluation by Dr. Jo can be brought to your family physician and they can sign off so that your child can access the minimum scholarship amount if they do not have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

  • Begin attending weekly sessions with our neurodiversity-affirming speech and occupational therapists. We will build a relationship with your child and support their communication skills in play.

    Caregivers are an active part of each session. We will provide education, strategies, and resources to help you support your child’s growth in daily life!

We’re accepting new clients for speech and occupational therapy in the Tampa Bay, FL area!

Follow us on Instagram
@dr.jo_selectivemutism_slp

✨ Exciting Announcement! ✨ Dr. Jo is presenting at the SLP Cultivate Spring Conference by Chatted PD! 🎉 Join us LIVE on April 5 as she dives into The SLP’s Role in Supporting Kids with Selective Mutism—a must-see session for SLPs lookin
🚨 Just Released! 🚨 I had the absolute pleasure of joining **Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC** on the **First Bite Podcast** to dive deep into **Selective Mutism, DIRFloortime®, and the DIR-SM approach!** 💜✨ We explored: 🔹 How **DIRFloort