hi!
I’m Beth Pursell, MAT, MS, CCC-SLP, a licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with dual master’s degrees in Teaching and Communication Disorders. I’ve worked in both clinical and educational settings, providing interdisciplinary services with a focus on feeding, oral motor development, speech sound disorders, language acquisition, and structured literacy.
My professional background includes:
- BA in English
- MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) – Secondary English and Middle Grades Language Arts
- MS in Communication Disorders
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) – awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Extensive post-graduate training in pediatric feeding and dysphagia, including:
- Infant and toddler feeding evaluation and intervention
- Tongue and lip tie assessment, release prep, and post-op therapy
- Myofunctional therapy and oral-motor intervention across the lifespan
- Deep knowledge of structured literacy frameworks, including Orton-Gillingham–based instruction, for children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities
- Experience in interdisciplinary team collaboration, including ENTs, pediatricians, lactation consultants, dentists, and occupational and physical therapists
- Advocacy and support for autistic and neurodivergent children, including non-speaking and gestalt language processors
I bring not only academic rigor and clinical precision to my work — but the perspective of a mother who has walked this road herself. I’m raising three young children, including twins, with their own speech and feeding challenges, and I approach my work with empathy born of lived experience.
I live just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, and I treat patients in both Kentucky and Indiana, both in person and via telehealth.
I created The Whole Child to give families the tools I wish I had before becoming a parent — and to invite fellow professionals into a community rooted in science, clarity, and compassion.
philosophy
I believe that behavior is communication, and that no child is ever “just being difficult.” Whether a child struggles with feeding, speech, language, or literacy, I work to uncover the root causes — not just treat the symptoms.
My guiding principles include:
- The whole child matters — not just milestones, but emotions, environment, and neurodiversity
- Parents are partners — they deserve real information, practical tools, and respect for their instincts
- Semantics matter — language shapes perception, and honoring inclusive, accurate wording isn’t “just semantics”
- Progress is not linear — success looks different for every child, and I celebrate the poetry in every inch forward
The Whole Child serves to bridge the gap between professional knowledge and lived parenting experience — with honesty, humor, and heart.
contact
bethpursell.slp@gmail.com