Britta Kinney, M.A., CCC-SLP

Licensed & Certified Speech-Language Pathologist

Mission Statement

I believe that communication is the most critical area of human development.  Communication skills determine our success not only in our personal relationships, but throughout academic and professional endeavors.  Our communication skills can either promote or limit our achievement.  Teaching individuals how to communicate effectively empowers them and allows them to actively participate in all areas of today's society.

My goal is to provide each client with a comprehensive evaluation to create a custom therapy services treatment plan that will address their total communication needs.  Through these tailored and individualized therapy services, I aim to promote efficient and meaningful communication skills to ensure success in all other areas of life.

I have become an expert in helping individuals' improve their communication skills, including the communication areas of speech production, language comprehension and production, and pragmatic language use and social skills.  In addition to obtaining my Master's degree at a top-ranked university and completing national and state SLP certifications, I also annual complete rigorous continuing education studies.  Please visit my "Methods" page to see the details of my advanced training.  

All of my assessment and treatment services are based on evidence- including review of research and my own clinical experience.   I develop individualized communication goals and treatment services that are personalized, family-centered, and emphasize total communication needs by incorporating many speech and language facets simultaneously.  Your individual strengths, needs and preferences will be taken into account when determining goals and in therapy techniques utilized.  As part of the treatment services, I provide comprehensive homework programs and caregiver-education and support to ensure generalization of gains and maintenance of skills for long-term growth and communication success.

Professional Experience

I have extensive experience as a SLP in school districts and private practice, providing diagnostic and treatment services to individuals with speech, language, and social impairments, including the areas of articulation/phonology, voice, fluency, receptive and expressive language, and pragmatics/social skills.  During my years working in the schools I collaborated with other professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team to meet the unique needs of both general education and SDC students with multiple diagnoses.

I have provided consultation services to teachers, parents and staff, including parent education presentations , acting as SLP representative in the Autism Specialty department, heading an SLP committee for development of standardized referral procedures, and providing teacher in-services on supporting the development of language skills.

I have had additional training in and extensive experience with developing appropriate Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and I am qualified to provide my clients with educational consultation to review and provide feedback on IEPs, goals, academic programming and services, to ensure they are appropriate, educationally relevant and comprehensive.   I am also thrilled to collaborate with other professionals to address comprehensive communication needs.

I am also an Autism Specialist SLP.  I began my career as an Intervention therapist for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, providing intervention services using the full spectrum of treatment methodologies from child-led play-based therapy (such as Floortime/DIR) to structured ABA therapies.  This background has helped me to be a better speech therapist, as I am trained in many different therapy methodologies and techniques, but has also given me experience in designing unique curriculum to address regulatory and processing challenges, foster appropriate behaviors, enhance social skills, and reach specific developmental goals.  In addition to working as an intervention therapist, I completed specialty studies and fieldwork to complete my Autism Specialty in he Transdisciplinary Autism Specialty Program at San Diego State University's School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. 

Credentials

  • Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

  • Speech-Language Pathology License - California State Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board

  • Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential - California Commission on Teacher Credentialing 

  • Autism Specialist - Transdisciplinary Autism Specialty Project at San Diego State University's School of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

Education

  • Master of Arts in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences - San Diego State University 2009

  • Bachelor of Arts in Human Development- University Of California San Diego 2005

 

Personal

My family is my most important priority, followed by striving to be the best therapist I can be.  One of the reasons I decided to go into private practice to was have more quality time with my young boys. 

My hobbies include reading, beach activities (swimming, surfing and scuba diving), hiking, skiing, and expressing myself through art and crafts projects.  I grew up in a small mountain community, where I learned to value family and the great outdoors.  I moved to San Diego in 1999 to study at the prestigious University of California, San Diego, and decided to make Southern California Home.  I am proud to be a part of the North County Coastal community, and am grateful to be raising my family in such an amazing city.