Welcome to Building Language Connections

EVALUATION & THERAPY SERVICES

Where we empower individuals of all ages to enhance their communication skills and foster meaningful connections through engaging and supportive speech and language services.

Our mission

At Building Language Connections, our mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based speech and language evaluation and therapy services that empower individuals to communicate effectively and confidently.

We are dedicated to fostering meaningful connections through personalized interventions that address each client's unique needs. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where clients of all ages can develop their communication skills, enhance their social interaction, and achieve their full potential.

Parents play an important role in the therapy journey. That’s why we provide education and home practice activities to keep the learning going between sessions. Together, we will help your child reach their full potential!

Our Services

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Our Services ~

Evaluations and Screenings

Bilingual and Monolingual Children Ages 3-12

Our thorough evaluation and screening services utilize the most current evidence-based practices to deliver an in-depth assessment of speech and language skills. We start with a detailed case history review and conduct interviews with parents and teachers to gather vital information. By engaging in careful observations and analyzing work samples, we create a comprehensive understanding of each individual's communication capabilities. We employ dynamic assessment measures and adapt standardized assessments as needed to provide a well-rounded perspective on each client's strengths and areas for growth. Our skilled therapists apply clinical judgment throughout the evaluation process, ensuring that each assessment is customized to address the unique needs of every individual.

Literacy Skills

Reading Comprehension & Fluency • Spelling • Writing • Dyslexia

Are you ready to help your child become a confident reader? We will build upon your child’s strengths to overcome their challenges and use the Orton-Gillingham approach to teach foundational literacy skills for reading and writing.

Receptive and Expressive. Language Delays

Bilingual and Monolingual Children Ages 3-12

Our bilingual language therapy sessions are designed to support your child in understanding spoken language and expressing their thoughts in both Spanish and English! We incorporate a range of engaging, play-based activities to ensure that therapy remains enjoyable and motivating for children of all ages.

Social Skills Therapy

Social Communication & Pragmatic Disorders • Autism • ADHD

Let’s enhance your child’s social skills and watch them flourish! Our therapy sessions include real-life social situations that provide your child with the opportunity to practice self-advocacy, turn-taking, and conversation skills in a supportive environment with their peers.

Meet Your Speech Therapist

Raquel Guerrero, M.A., CCC-SLP-BE-TSSLD

Owner, Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist

Meet Raquel, a bilingual speech therapist with over 12 years of experience providing speech-language services to children in the Washington Heights area of New York City. Her background also includes 10 years of teaching pre-K and elementary school students in both general and special education settings. Raquel is passionate about helping children discover their voices, articulate their needs, and reach their goals in a supportive and nurturing environment!

Raquel, a native New Yorker, was born and raised in the Bronx. Her first language is Spanish, and she started learning English as her second language in kindergarten. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, she earned two Master's Degrees— one in Education from Bank Street College of Education and another in Speech-Language Pathology from The City University of New York Lehman College— providing her with valuable perspectives on facing and overcoming educational inequities

At Building Language Connections, Raquel's sessions are always centered around the family's values and the child's unique needs. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, she encourages children to take risks and become lifelong learners.

Beyond her professional commitments, Raquel cherishes the time she spends with her family and loves exploring new cultures through travel. She is excited about the opportunity to learn alongside your family!

Advanced Training & Certifications

  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-SLP)

  • Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities TSSLD Certification

  • NYS Bilingual Certification (Spanish/English)

  • Reading Reform Foundation Trained (Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Approach to Reading)

  • Lively Letters Trained

  • Sounds In Motion Trained

  • We are eternally grateful...

    "Thank you very much for your help and support with our son. We are eternally grateful for helping our family, and all of your recommendations. Many blessings to you."

    - J.P., Parent

  • He has shown tremendous progress...

    "Thank you very much for your support with our son this school year. He has shown tremendous progress while you worked with him."

    - M.H., Parent

  • You are the best!

    "You are the best! Thank you for being an amazing support for Z."

    - S.P., Parent

  • Thank you for providing my son with high quality therapy...

    "Thank you for providing my son with high quality therapy this school year. May God bless you and always protect you."

    - G.Q., Parent

  • ...the best speech therapist ever.

    "Thank you for being the best speech therapist ever."

    - E.H., 12-year-old student

  • Thank you for advocating for my son.

    "Thank you for all you did for my son and my family while you provided him with his therapy. He is doing really well. Thank you for advocating for my son. May God bless you always."

    - L.M., Parent

Here’s How you can get started:

Building Language Connections provides high-quality evaluation and therapy services for children in New York City including Washington Heights and the Bronx, as well as Westchester County in New York.

We meet families with their children in their most convenient setting— in clinics, daycare centers, and community-based locations. Online therapy is also available to families located anywhere in New York.

STEP ONE

Contact us for a free consulation to discuss your child's needs at this time.

STEP two

Based on your concerns we will determine whether or not your child warrants a screening or full evaluation.

STEP three

Therapy services will begin either in-person or through teletherapy.

Billing & INSURANCE

Building Language Connections currently accepts private pay clients and can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company if necessary.  

At this time we are working towards establishing partnerships with various insurance companies to expand our coverage options. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to enhance our offerings for families.

"Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn."

~ Benjamin Franklin

"Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind." ~ Roy T. Bennet,

"Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind." ~ Roy T. Bennet,