How I went from the confused and defeated clinician to helping thousands of SLPs create assessment and treatment plans that actually work.
Before there was ASD from the Inside Out...there was a confused and defeated therapist.
Frustrated about lack of progress.
Questioning my therapy approaches.
Wondering if these kids would ever "make it" in the real world despite knowing that I had their absolute best interest at heart.
Ice Cream, Imagination, and a Bad Case of Imposter Syndrome
It was not a walk in the park to get here.
While I was thoroughly trained in my first job by not one, but three incredible mentors, and my transition from trainee to clinician was fast-paced and smooth...
The road to finding myself as a therapist was not fast or smooth.
I was hit with a major case of imposter syndrome. When I would see the silhouette of a supervisor peeking through the observation window on my door...being a therapist felt harder and scarier than it should. There were a lot of evening ice cream sessions. I dreamed of better days ahead.
My imagination brought me from there to here. I would say from A to Z, but it wasn't that linear or simple. It was more like "over the river and through the woods..."
When I started to rethink my assessment process and redesign my treatment sessions....
I started making a greater impact.
It wasn't as easy as 1...2...3
I was ready to make a difference but it wasn't going to be easy.
One of my clients was a 3 year old boy who was nonverbal. Did I mention our sessions were 3 hours long?!
I tried anything and everything (and I mean everything) to connect with this boy.
It was time for me to submit a video for all of the clinical supervisors to review. I was terrified.
I took a video of him dancing on the table and jumping off into my arms. He was the most connected and engaged I'd ever seen him. I was sure these supervisors had never seen him like this. I was so excited for them to see it.
By the way, if you didn't see this coming, a little word to the wise: Do not submit a video to your supervisors in which you are encouraging a toddler to stand and jump off of furniture. Lesson learned.
But I also learned that sometimes it takes wildly unconventional ideas to truly connect with a child.
I was on a mission.
I discovered that in order to make a difference, not only in a child's communication skills, but in his life, I needed to think in a new way.
So I did a "brain dump" of everything I knew about working with kids on the spectrum. And I learned:
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Language and social skills are not the only areas that SLPs should be assessing
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Intrinsic motivation is a key element that is often overlooked
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A child's learning starts with human connection
And after I had too many "ah ha" moments to count...
I created an Autism Core Skills Evaluation that helped me morph into confident therapist ready to change the world...one kid at a time.
And the best part is...
I have the honor of helping therapists just like you.
How?
With a simple & quick informal assessment.
Are you ready to make a greater impact?
Start diving inside out.
A Little About Me
Mom to two always adorable and mostly sweet little boys, Connor (4) and Tucker (2)
Founder of Pediatric Therapy Playhouse, a multidisciplinary clinic in Los Angeles
Contributor to the American Speech Language Hearing Association magazine
Viral video creator
Board member of the California Speech Language Hearing Association
Hometown is Carmel, California
Have had my mini-horse, Fritz, since I was 9 years old
Publications
Kick It Into Overdrive
The American Speech Language Hearing Association Leader
Four Simple Steps to Social Skills Success
The American Speech Language Hearing Association Leader
Replacing the Countdown for Young Kids with Autism
The American Speech Language Hearing Association Leader Live
Focus on Fun: Words Will Follow
The American Speech Language Hearing Association Leader
Help Kids with Autism Plan, Not Just Execute
The American Speech Language Hearing Association Leader
Treatment of Pragmatic Language Disorders in Preschool and School-Aged Children
The Speech-Language Pathology Casebook
Presentations
Motivate Every Child to Communicate:
Floortime-Based Speech and Language Therapy
American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention
Thinking-Based Approach to Social Interaction: Organizing and Implementing Social Skills Groups
American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention
Simple Steps to Social Skills Success
FACTx Conference
Challenging Neurological Disorders
California Speech Language Hearing Association Convention
1 in 100 Babies Born with Cytomegalovirus
California Speech Language Hearing Association Convention
Early Language Development & Autism
University of California, Los Angeles Guest Lecturer
The Autism Breakthrough
San Joaquin County Office of Education
Treating Children with Complex Communication Needs
California State University, Fullerton Guest Lecturer
Increasing Engagement in Children with Autism:
A Parent Coaching Model for Teletherapy
BrIQht Ideas
Press
How to Enhance Your Child's Speech Development
Mother Mag
Toddler Separation Anxiety and Other 2-Year Old Social Milestones
Care.com
Meet Jessie Ginsburg of Pediatric Therapy Playhouse
Voyage LA
Alumni Spotlight: Jessie Ginsburg
Chapman University
Intrinsic Motivation Featuring Jessie Ginsburg
SLPs Wine and Cheese Podcast, Episode 83
The Power of Intention and Taking Action in this Unusual Time with Jessie Ginsburg
Stacking Your Team Podcast, Episode 107
Teletherapy, Autism, Motherhood & Entrepreneurship with Jessie Ginsburg:
The Power Mom Minute Podcast, Episode 12
Growing her Private Practice, Her Education Business, and Her Impact with Jessie Ginsburg:
Private Practice Success Stories Podcast
Let's Try Using Intrinsic Motivation with Jessie Ginsburg:
SLP Coffee Talk Podcast, Episode 28
