MEET
Dana Tappen
SLPD, CCC-SLP
California Licensed & Nationally Certified Speech-Language Pathologist
Helping Clients Feel Confident, Empowered, and Supported
With over two decades of experience as a speech therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping children and adults enhance their communication skills. Based on personal experience, I have a deep connection to empowering individuals with executive functioning and social communication difficulties as my husband has ADHD and I have several neurodiverse family members.
Since 2004, I have had the privilege of working in diverse settings, including charter schools, school districts, early intervention agencies, and as the director of a Non Public Agency. My extensive background also includes academic roles, such as a clinical supervisor at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and a part-time faculty member at California State University Northridge (CSUN).
I hold both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from San Diego State University (SDSU), a Special Education Advocacy Certificate from the University of San Diego, and a clinical doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP). My professional journey is further enriched by numerous certifications and specialized training, which equip me to address a wide range of speech and language disorders.
Despite my broad expertise, my true passion lies in working with children and adults who face executive functioning and social cognition challenges—also known as social learning or social communication difficulties. My approach to therapy is not diagnosis-specific; instead, I develop individualized treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of each client, whether they are diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, Social Communication Disorder, or other related conditions.
I firmly believe in a collaborative, team-based approach, working closely with family members and other professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for each client. My goal is to foster a supportive environment that promotes growth and success in all areas of executive function and social interaction.
Certifications & Trainings:
- Various Sarah Ward trainings in Executive Functioning & the 360 Thinking Method
- Tera Sumpter’s Seeds of Learning ®
- Kelly Mahler’s Interoception Awareness
- Social Thinking® Clinical Training Program
- Neurodiversity
- Courses by Barry Prizant including The SCERTS® Model
- Various trainings for Developmental Apraxia of Speech, Autism, language delays, articulation, and insurance billing & coding
Ready to get started?
Discover
Take a look around the website, read over the FAQs, and discover how I can support you.
Schedule
Schedule a FREE consultation to ask any questions and share your concerns and goals.
Get Results
Find a time to meet 1:1 or join a group, fill out some paperwork and let’s get started!
Schedule a FREE consultation today. Virtual services are available throughout California, with in-person options in San Diego.
