Anna Ray, MA, CCC-SLP
Hi! I’m Anna Ray, CCHTX’s newest member of the team. I am a family-centered speech therapist specializing in working with kids 0-5. I’m also a Parent & Family Coach supporting parents and families of young children in building strong connection through effective communication.
I do all the things a pediatric speech therapist does (evaluate and treat kids with speech and language disorders, coach parents to facilitate and reinforce language/communication skills), but I take on the title “Parent/family coach” to emphasize the whole family approach.
Effective communication can be tricky for all children, neurotypical & neurodivergent alike, but it can be especially tricky for kids with disorders, and in neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autistic, Highly Sensitive, Gifted, etc.). Being neurotypical doesn’t mean you cannot have a language disorder, and being neurodivergent doesn’t mean you will automatically have one either. However, these two groups often have one thing in common: frequent communication breakdowns! Either your child isn’t understanding what you’re saying, or you’re not getting what they’re communicating leaving one or both of you frustrated.
My Philosophy: Connection First
Connection is seeing, hearing and valuing your child, and them feeling, seen, heard and valued by you. My approach fosters connection between children and parents because where there is connection, there can be communication.
When communication is off, connection is often off, too, and that can make parenting so stressful. I want to make it easier and more fun for parents to be with their kids! And I want kids to enjoy their parents and grow up to have thriving relationships because of the skills you’ve taught them.
When to call me.
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My kid isn't talking
Kids take years to learn to talk. What do you in the meantime? What about kids who struggle?
I help you build those skills (and other communication skills) in your child so they can tell you what they want, need, think and feel instead of relying on crying, yelling, kicking, hitting, screaming and throwing. (They will still inevitably do all of these things; they’re part of normal development. But with communication skills and your support, these behaviors diminish.)
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My child screams and slams doors when we don’t understand him!
Let’s work on this! There are probably very addressable reasons that your child is not being understood. As a speech therapist, I evaluate your child’s speech and language skills, and treat if there’s an issue. Part of treatment is working with you, the parent/s and/or caregivers, to not only bolster your child’s skills but improve your own effectiveness.
There are so many things we do as parents that make it harder for kids to communicate with us. I work with you to make it easy to be understood, and to better understand your child.
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My child has so many meltdowns
Meltdowns are so hard. First things first: you’re not alone. You’re not a bad parent. You don’t have a bad child.
As an SLP, I see meltdowns as a form of communication. Unskilled communication. Our work will be to give your kids skills to communicate in a way that doesn’t fry everyone’s nervous system.
First we find the cause/s of the meltdowns and build a new system for communicating whatever need/feeling/problem your child needs to express. Then we practice teaching the words and concepts, which includes you modeling them over and over to your child, repairing after meltdowns (and other breakdowns) and using low-demand communication strategies in your daily life.
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I think my child is Autistic
I’ll be up front with you: most kids I see are neurodivergent. Autistic, ADHD, Highly Sensitive, Gifted--and that’s just the start. If you have a family history of any of these, or anyone in the family who had speech therapy as a kid, talked after 3, didn’t get speech therapy but you think they should have, had missed/delayed milestones--you may be dealing with neurodivergence.
Part of our work may be identifying neurodivergence because often I find it helpful; however, speech therapy targets the child’s skills regardless of root cause. An Autistic child who doesn’t speak is a child who doesn’t speak. Therapy works according to a child’s skills, not their label.
If you’d like me to, I can screen your child for Autism and/or refer you for testing. I also provide education and tools for identifying Sensitivity, sensory issues, and temperament, among other things, as long as it supports the goals we’re working toward.
More about me.
I really love kids, people and language. Speech-language pathology is a field that found me as I was searching for a way to make a living out of my love for people and language.
I moved to Houston in 2013 and spent several years trying to find my place in the world. In 2023 I got evaluated for ADHD and learned I was twice exceptional, and my struggle made a lot more sense. Many of my kids face similar struggles, and I love that I’m able to use my ever-expanding knowledge of neurodivergence to benefit families.
I graduated from the University of Houston with my MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders. My work has mostly been in home health, which is why we will be doing some or all sessions at your house.
I’ve lived a few lives, but my favorite past life was in the Middle East, where I graduated from high school, started college and after getting my BA in Middle Eastern Studies, returned to help launch an international exchange programs office.
In this life, I get to live in West Pearland (the best Pearland) with my young daughter who is both a force and a joy. I love spending time with her, and I love learning, reading, exploring, laughing, puzzles, escape rooms, writing, wandering, reflecting and talking.
Are you in Bellaire or West Pearland? Catch me at my own practice Connection First Speech and Language Therapy.