top of page

ABOUT US

OUR STORY

jessica updated .JPG

.Jessica Sekhon MS CCC-SLP is the Owner and Founder of Thrive Speech Therapy PLLC. Jessica received her Bachelor's degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Texas Tech University. While earning her Bachelor's degree, Jessica worked in long-term care at a skilled nursing facility with patients at the end of life. While there, she gained a passion for patients with communication deficits. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master's degree in Communication Disorders from Texas Woman's University. While in graduate school, she began her career as a Speech Language Pathologist - Assistant, working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, speech sound disorders, language delays, and fluency difficulties. She worked in the school setting, while developing a family-centered approach to therapy. Jessica has worked with clients from birth to end-of-life, but her passion is empowering her clients to use their unique strengths to expand communication. Every person deserves the tools and opportunities to interact with the people they love, and the world around them. Every person deserves to express him or herself and to THRIVE!

Meet Our Team!

IMG_1186 2.heic
IMG_6086.heic
team 3.23.heic
team 1.23.heic

Davinder Sekhon

Chief Operating Officer

Davinder graduated with a Master’s degree in Industrial Technology in 2008 from California State University. He is a former President of an oil & gas company who left the corporate world to further his career making a difference in children's lives! Davinder has over 15 years of experience in operations. While growing up in India, Davinder mentored underprivileged youth, creating a safe environment for them to pursue their ambitions. He has a passion for improving processes, utilizing technology and systems, which helps Thrive to work efficiently. Davinder's heart for service is seen throughout the company across the Greater Houston area.

Ashley Figueredo

Billing & Office Admin

Ashley graduated with her Associates in science and has been working in the medical field for more than 4 years as a Financial Coordinator and Clinical advisor. Ashley is bilingual, fluent in both english and spanish. She has a wide range of experience in the area of behavioral and speech therapy and with children in settings such as day cares and schools. 

 

Shelby Elrod

Billing & Office Admin

Shelby is currently studying to receive her Bachelors Degree in Education. She is very passionate about working with kids of all ages. She has a vast knowledge and experience working with children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old in schools and childcare settings. She has always had a love for serving others and works to help each child and their family Thrive!

ray_edited_edited.jpg

 

Ray Zaidan

HR & Marketing Administrator 

Bio coming soon!

Thrive Speech Therapy - Towne Lake

10242 Greenhouse Rd #601, Cypress, TX 77433

IMG_4653 2.jpg

 

Ashley Kramer, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist & Towne Lake Office Director

Ashley graduated with her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May of 2016 from Texas State University - San Marcos. While in graduate school, Ashley worked in a school setting with children from preschool - 5th grade who had a variety of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, speech sound disorders, language delays/disorders, and specific learning disabilities. She also had the opportunity to work in an ENT clinic where she evaluated and treated adults with voice and swallowing disorders. Over the past 5 years, Ashley has had the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary private practices where she collaborated with BCBA's, PT's, OT's, RBT's and Clinical Psychologists. With 7 years' clinical experience, Ashley's passion is to provide quality assessment and evidence-based intervention to her clients in an organized, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and family-centered way. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, friends and furry friend, Brody. She also enjoys traveling the world, snowboarding, and being outdoors! 

IMG_7568_edited.jpg

 

Leigh Prine, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Leigh graduated from University of Houston in 2014 with a B.A. in Psychology, and completed a post-baccalaureate program through the University of Houston to become an SLP Assistant in 2018. She also completed a Communication Sciences and Disorders certificate program through University of Texas Health and Science Center in 2023. She discovered her love of the field of Speech Language Pathology through previous work as Registered Behavior Technician. Providing quality patient care that is effective, fun, and encourages positive outcomes is Leigh's top priority as an SLP Assistant. 

Diana Ferrer_edited.jpg

 

Diana Ferrer, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Spanish/English

 Diana graduated from the Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May of 2022. 

She is a bilingual Speech Language Pathologist Assistant, fluent in both English and Spanish. Prior to earning her Bachelor's degree, she worked with children and adults as a Register Dental Assistant.  

Since her graduation, she gained experience as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant in a variety of settings including pediatric private practices, teletherapy and home health. 

leigh_edited.jpg

 

Lacey Knowles, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Lacey set out to continue pursuing her education once her two children had graduated high school. Her dedication and passion for children, families, service, and science led her to pursue a career in speech-language pathology. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston where she graduated with the honors of Summa Cum Laude and earned a 4.0 GPA. 

 

Lacey strongly believes every client deserves an individualized approach to therapy and that integrating families into the therapy process leads to the strongest outcomes. While at UH, she concentrated her studies on cultural and linguistic diversity to learn how to best serve all clients and to support a variety of backgrounds during therapy. She is passionate about using play-based therapy approaches to build connections with clients and to make therapy a fun and exciting part of their day! She loves seeing the confidence and autonomy of her clients grow as their communication skills improve.

 

 

As a member of the Houston Association of Communication Disorders, the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and the National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association, she attends various conferences and workshops to expand her knowledge on speech-language disorders and treatment. 

 

Thrive Speech Therapy - Fry RD

8118 Fry Rd, Unit#1303, Cypress, TX 77433

IMG_5574.heic

 

Jacey Crawford M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist & Fry Rd Clinical Director

Jacey graduated from The University of Houston with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Child Professional Services from Texas A&M University. Jacey is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist in the state of Texas and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Prior to joining Thrive, Jacey’s clinical experience included working in schools, acute care, and the home health setting. She has performed diagnosis and treatment in the areas of articulation/phonological processing, receptive/expressive and pragmatic language, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), fluency, and dysphagia. Jacey is passionate and excited about working with her clients and helping them achieve their goals!

ana_edited.jpg

 

Adriana Vasquez, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Spanish/English

Adriana is a bilingual speech-language pathologist assistant, fluent in Spanish and English. She graduated from Easter New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders with a minor in Human Services in June of 2022. 

 

Prior to becoming a SLPA, Adriana worked in hospitals throughout the Houston area as a Certified Nurse Assistant, as well as a Milk Bank Tech for Texas Children’s Hospital. Her passion for pediatric healthcare led her to pursue a career in speech-language pathology. After graduating, she gained experience as a SLPA in home health setting and School setting, giving her the opportunity to work with children ranging from the age of 18 months to 17 years old. 

 

In the future, Adriana wants to pursue her Master’s degree in both business and healthcare Administration, with the goal of opening her own speech therapy clinic. 

 

Allison Dyer, B.S., SLP-Assistant

 

Allison is a Speech and Language Pathologist-Assistant who graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor degree in Speech-Language Sciences and Technology and a minor in Spanish. She has always had a love and passion to work with children ever since she was little. Allison is interested in eventually pursuing her masters degree to become an SLP. She has worked in multiple settings ever since becoming an SLPA that include home-health, high school and elementary school, ABA centers, private clinic and daycares. Allison loves what she does and thrives off of the connections she makes with her patients and teaching them how to talk back! She has an appreciation for every single patient and family she comes in contact with and puts her best into every speech session.

IMG_3155_edited.jpg

 

Rebecca Johnston, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Rebecca is a Speech Language Pathologist-Assistant.  She graduated in May of 2023 from the University of Houston with her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies.

 

Prior to her degree, Rebecca worked as a teacher's aide for an elementary school, which is where she discovered her love of working with children.  Rebecca decided to pursue Speech Therapy and returned to college when her son was 18 months old.  

 

Rebecca fell in love with the field of Speech Therapy! She adores helping kids reach their full potential. She plans to obtain her Masters degree someday and become a Speech Language Pathologist. 

Thrive Speech Therapy - Katy

2043 N Mason Rd #702, Katy, TX 77449

jessica updated _edited.jpg

 

Jessica Sekhon, M.S., CCC-SLP

CEO / Founder / Katy Clinical Director

As the CEO and founder of Thrive Speech Therapy, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals of all ages unlock their full potential in speech and language development.

With a deep commitment to excellence, Jessica also holds the pivotal role of Clinical Director for Thrive Speech Therapy Katy. In this capacity, she oversees critical evaluations and provides invaluable supervision to a team of dedicated professionals. Her expertise and leadership ensure that each client receives tailored, evidence-based treatment plans, setting them on a path toward enhanced communication skills and improved quality of life.

Jessica's unwavering dedication to her clients, coupled with her innovative approach to speech therapy, has earned her a reputation as a trusted expert in the field. Her mission is clear: to empower individuals to thrive in their communication abilities, fostering connections and enriching lives. Under her guidance, Thrive Speech Therapy continues to be a beacon of hope and progress for those seeking to overcome speech and language challenges.

gia_edited.jpg

 

Gia Duong, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Vietnamese/English 

Gia graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science. She is fluent in both English and Vietnamese. Prior to earning her Bachelor’s degree, she worked with English speakers and Vietnamese speakers in verbal communication as an interpreter. 

After graduation, she gained experience as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant in a public school setting and worked with children from preK to middle school. In the future, she wants to pursue a Master’s degree and become a Speech Language Pathologist. 

IMG_6120_edited.jpg

 

Laura Ramirez, B.A., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Spanish/English 

Laura graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2017. She is a bilingual Speech Language Pathologist Assistant who is fluent in both English and Spanish. Laura moved to Katy, Texas at the age fifteen from Colombia to pursue a better education and to learn a second language. Laura began working with children of different ages in settings such as daycares, gym facilities and home settings prior to getting her Communication Sciences and Disorders degree. Her passion to help members of the community and her empathy motivated her to direct her career goals towards the area of clinical pediatrics where she provided services to children from ages 1 to 21 years of age. Laura is a compassionate and dedicated professional who advocates for her clients’ rights and addresses speech, language, articulation, phonology and pragmatic needs in a fun and safe environment.

 

Halima Sheikh, B.A., SLP-Assistant

Multilingual Farsi/Urdu/English

Halima graduated from St. Joseph's College in New York with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. I have worked with children and adolescents for over 15 years in various settings. I worked mainly in classroom environments, where I encountered many children with special needs who inspired me to pursue my studies in communication and speech disorders. Since then, I have worked as an SLP-A in home health, clinics, Montessori, and daycares. I am very passionate about helping children find their voice and gain confidence in themselves. I believe that communication with families is key in helping children accomplish their goals. I love to make therapy a positive and enjoyable experience for kids through the use of fun games and activities. 

IMG_6119.jpg

 

Mariana Valle, B.S., SLP-Assistant 

Bilingual Spanish/English

Mariana graduated with her B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Houston in 2018. Mariana is a Bilingual (English/Spanish) SLP-A who has worked with children with various speech and language delays/disorders. She has experience working in multi-disciplinary settings with children preschool to 18 years of age. Prior to becoming an SLP-A, Mariana worked in various settings centered around children, such as schools, non-profits, and hospital settings. Mariana has always been passionate about helping children find their own voice while having fun in the process! 

Thrive Speech Therapy - Memorial

7660 Woodway Dr, Suite #395, Houston TX 77063

AM_edited.jpg

 

Abigail Moore, M.S., CCC-SLP 

Speech-Language Pathologist & Memorial Clinical Director

Abigail Moore MS CCC-SLP is the SLP and clinic director at the Fry location. Abigail received her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from Texas Woman's University. While in graduate school, Abigail worked with a variety of children in both elementary and middle school. The students she had included those with autism Spectrum Disorder, speech sound disorders, language delays, and fluency difficulties. She also had two hospital setting rotations at Methodist in the Houston Med Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast. Abigail enjoys how each day as an SLP brings something new to learn or grow in. She enjoys watching children become confident in their own skills through therapy. She is most passionate about pragmatic language therapy and early intervention. She joined Thrive in December of 2022 after working for a school district for three years. Outside of work, she loves to play with her puppy Hank, read books and travel to the mountains to ski! 

MR _edited.jpg

 

Madelene Ramos, B.S.,SLP-A

Madelene Ramos graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Science and Disorders. She has a heart to serve!

Madelene's professional background includes working with individuals diagnosed with varying disabilities. She is MBSImP certified as well as MoCa certified. Her future plans include completing her Master's Degree in Speech & Language. Her future plans include completing her Master's Degree In Speech & Language. She strives to see each of her clients Thrive! 

 

Madelene Ramos, B.S.,SLP-Assistant

Madelene Ramos graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Science and Disorders. She has a heart to serve!

Madelene's professional background includes working with individuals diagnosed with varying disabilities. She is MBSImP certified as well as MoCa certified. Her future plans include completing her Master's Degree in Speech & Language. Her future plans include completing her Master's Degree In Speech & Language. She strives to see each of her clients Thrive! 

Kate_edited_edited.jpg

 

Katelyn Clubb, B.S.,SLP-Assistant

Katelyn has always wanted to work with kiddos. Growing up, her mom had a daycare and interacting with kids became second nature. During college, while engaged in nanny duties, Katelyn had the opportunity to work with a child undergoing speech therapy. Actively participating in helping the child achieve their speech goals at home, the therapist eventually extended an invitation to Katelyn to join one of the therapy sessions. From that point forward, a strong interest and passion for speech therapy developed. Katelyn has been an SLPA since 2014 and can't imagine doing anything else!

Thrive Speech Therapy - Willowbrook

12777 Jones Rd Suite# 320, Houston, TX 77070

courtney_edited.jpg

 

Courtney Boyd, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Director 

Courtney graduated from The University of Houston with a Masters of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Courtney is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist in the state of Texas and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has clinical experience with individuals from infancy through geriatrics. Courtney has provided speech therapy services in private practice, public-school, and acute care settings. She has performed diagnosis and treatment in the areas of expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation, phonological processing, social pragmatics, voice, fluency, cognition, and dysphagia. Courtney loves building relationships with families to help her clients reach their goals.

carla r_edited.jpg

 

Carla Riojas, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Spanish/English

Carla fell in love with speech pathology when she moved to Houston about 25 years ago, after she was hired as an interpreter  for speech therapy sessions. Once she changed my major, she realized she was exactly where she was meant to be. She graduated from the University of Houston in 2007, with her bachelors in communication disorders, and a minor in Spanish. Her work experience includes clinical setting, home health, and working for the public school system. Over the years she has confirmed communication is the most important connection between humans. She is passionate about helping every client find his or her individual voice in whatever way possible.

 
IMG_4280_edited_edited.jpg

 

Yessenia Olvera, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Bilingual Spanish/English

Yessenia graduated in 2019 from the University of Houston with her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She decided to pursue the field of speech pathology after my niece began receiving speech therapy. She always knew she wanted to work with children, and after researching more about the career, she enrolled in her first course. The four years flew by and she learned so much, but it wasn't until she began her first therapy session that she knew she had made the correct choice. Yessenia has been working since July 2019, and she’s had the privilege of working with children with different diagnoses in the home health setting. Every one of them has taught her so much. She has treated many children in both English and Spanish, and she is so blessed to be able to communicate with the parents. She loves offering Spanish speaking families her services. She hopes to become an SLP in the future and be able to assess and treat in both Spanish and English. 

 

 

Thrive Speech Therapy - Missouri City

4220 Cartwright Rd, #402 Missouri City, TX 77459

IMG_4684.jpg

 

Jeanette Layfield, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Director

 

Jeanette received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from University of Houston. She is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the state of Texas and is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Jeanette has worked in pediatric outpatient clinics and provides bilingual therapy in Spanish. She has experience in feeding disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, and utilization of behavior principles. She enjoys collaborating with patients and their families to improve communication across all settings. Outside of work, Jeanette plays with her basset hound, Porkchop, and attends events with her husband, Darth Vader, as his handler.

IMG_1211_edited.jpg

 

Amanda Affonso, B.A., SLP-Assistant

Speech Language Pathologist - Assistant

Amanda is a speech-language pathologist assistant who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. Over the years, she has gained experience in treating a variety of speech and language disorders. She has worked in various settings with children of all ages with varying diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, articulation delays, and expressive/receptive language delays. Amanda is interested in eventually pursuing her master’s degree to become a speech language pathologist. She loves what she does and thrives off the connections she makes with her patients while teaching them how to talk back! 

coming soon.png

 

Abigail King, B.S., SLP-Assistant

Speech Language Pathologist - Assistant

Abigail graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders and a minor in child and family development. 

 

Prior to working for Thrive Speech Therapy,  Abigail was a home health SLPA. 

 

She plans to go on to earn her masters in speech-language pathology and eventually become a bilingual therapist. 

 

Abigail has a passion for making a difference in children’s lives and loves the career she chose! 

bottom of page