About Me
Your Child Is in Great Hands
Jacqueline Tovar -
About Me
I am a licensed and ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has dedicated my career to helping children develop the communication skills they need to feel confident, understood, and connected. I earned both my B.A. and M.A. in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Fullerton and have been practicing since 2013.
Throughout my career, I have worked primarily in educational settings, supporting children with a wide range of communication needs, including autism, speech sound disorders, developmental language disorders, visual impairments, and stuttering. These experiences shaped me into a clinician who values both measurable progress and meaningful connection.
While I serve children from ages 2–12, I have a particular passion for working with young children during their early developmental years. The preschool and early elementary years are a critical window for language growth, and early, intentional intervention can have a profound impact on long-term communication and academic success.
As a bilingual Spanish–English speech-language pathologist, I am committed to supporting families in a way that honors and strengthens their home language. I provide therapy in English, Spanish, or bilingually depending on the needs of the child and family. I also offer bilingual assessments and serve as a consultant for Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs), ensuring families receive culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations.
In private practice, I am able to provide the individualized attention, thoughtful planning, and personalized care that every child deserves within the context of their home. My goal is not simply to help children meet goals on paper, but to help them communicate more confidently and effectively in their everyday lives.
I feel incredibly grateful to work in a field that brings me genuine joy each day — partnering with families and watching children discover the power of their own voice.
My Approach
I believe meaningful progress happens when therapy is both intentional and deeply connected to the child in front of me.
The foundation of my work is building genuine relationships. I take the time to understand each child — what motivates them, what excites them, what makes them laugh, and what captures their attention. Whether it’s a favorite toy, character, game, or hobby, I use those interests as the entry point for learning. When children feel understood and engaged, they are more willing to take risks, try new skills, and grow.
While sessions are playful and engaging, they are also thoughtfully structured. I carefully design each session to systematically target goals and progressively increase therapeutic demands. Every activity has a purpose. Every interaction is an opportunity for growth. My goal is to make each minute count while ensuring therapy remains meaningful and enjoyable.
My background in school-based settings shaped my commitment to efficiency and effectiveness. Working within large systems required me to be strategic, flexible, and creative in order to help children make measurable progress. In private practice, I bring that same level of planning and intentionality to each child I serve — with the added benefit of being able to individualize more deeply.
I also believe therapy should feel natural and relevant to a child’s everyday life. For young children especially, some of the most powerful learning happens during play. Even when sessions appear unstructured, there is always a plan guiding my decisions. I follow the child’s lead while thoughtfully embedding strategies that create repeated opportunities for communication practice.
I specifically chose to work within the child’s home environment so that skills can be practiced in real-life contexts. This approach strengthens the connection between therapy and daily routines, helping children carry their progress beyond our sessions and into their world.
Above all, I strive to create a space where children feel safe, capable, and excited to communicate.