Child-Led Therapy with Gestalt Language Processors (live registration)

Presenter: Nicole Casey, Speech-Language Pathologist

Relevant Financial Relationship: Nicole Casey is the creator and author of the *Great Language Partner Workbook*, which is a resource available for purchase. She receives financial compensation from the sales of this workbook. Additionally, Nicole hosts live workshops and webinars for purchasers of the workbook, which may also generate income.

She is the owner of The Child-Led Therapy Center, a private speech therapy practice, and derives income from providing therapy services, consultations, and related professional activities.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Nicole has no relevant non-financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Presenter Biography: Nicole Casey is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with a passion for child-led, neuroaffirming therapy. She is the founder of The Child-Led Therapy Center where she specializes in supporting autistic children, gestalt language processors, and their families. Nicole is dedicated to empowering parents and professionals with tools to nurture authentic communication, honor multimodal expression, and build meaningful connections.

She is the creator of the Great Language Partner Workbook, a comprehensive resource designed to help families and professionals support gestalt language processors in practical and engaging ways. Nicole also hosts workshops and shares her expertise through her podcast and ongoing advocacy for neurodiversity-affirming practice.

In her free time, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family, including her two toddlers, and finding new ways to support and inspire her community.

Learner Outcomes

• Participants will list two key differences between gestalt and analytic language development and identify characteristics of a gestalt language processor
• Participants will explain two principles of child-led therapy
• Participants will list how to model language and utilize play to promote multimodal communication with GLPs

Agenda

• Welcome & Introductions (5 minutes)
• Brief introduction of Nicole Casey and her background.
• Overview of the presentation goals.
• Quick audience engagement: “What brings you here today?
• What is Gestalt Language Processing? (10 minutes)
• Explanation of GLP and how it differs from analytic language development.
• Key characteristics of gestalt language processors.
• Understanding the stages of language development for GLPs.
• The Importance of Child-Led, Neuroaffirming Therapy (10 minutes)
• Why honoring a child’s strengths and communication style matters.
• The role of play and collaboration in fostering communication.
• Common misconceptions to avoid.
• Actionable Strategies to Support Communicatio (20 minutes)
• Modeling language at the right developmental stage.
• Creating a supportive environment for natural language growth.
• Using multimodal communication tools (gestures, AAC, visuals).
• Examples of language-building activities and play ideas.
• Case Examples & Success Stories (10 minutes)
• Real-life examples illustrating effective child-led approaches.
• Q&A and Closing (5 minutes)
• Open the floor for questions from attendees.
• Final thoughts and takeaways.
• Provide resources for continued learning.

Cost: Free

Audience: Assistants, Students, Early Career Professionals (under 5 years), Related Professionals

Topic Area: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Language and Learning in School-Age Individuals, & Language in Infants Through Preschoolers

To be reported to ASHA CE, participants must indicate their preference to be reported on the post-webinar assessment and achieve a minimum score of 80% accuracy. Unlimited attempts are permitted, but partial credit is not available. The assessment must be completed within one week of the webinar.