Michelle Yackow, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Social Skills Specialist
our goal
Michelle Yackow, SLP services children in both Nassau & Suffolk County. Our goal is to have preschool to high school students engage in successful and meaningful social experiences with their peers. Our goal is for your child to have self-confidence and self-advocacy skills when navigating social situations in their home, school and local activities.
In School Push In Services
Individual social communication therapy
Support with strategies used in sessions also to be used at home
Playdate, birthday party, extra-curricular activity preparation
Local neighborhood outings
in school services
we push into your child's classroom to facilitate positive social interactions between peers & provide supportive strategies throughout the school day.
Using a sensory approach to reach full learning potential, we go into your child's classroom. Based on your child's specific needs, modifications will be put in place and communication with classroom teacher, as well as the therapy team will begin.
Carry over of social skills strengthen when instruction is provided during natural social environments. The child will learn to utilize these strategies between home, school, playdates, birthday parties, etc.
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Upon request, the SLP will provide informative workshops to teachers, administrators, other therapists on the team. This way, similar language and strategies are used across settings to help facilitate carry over of skills.
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Reach out for more details and how we can customize this to specifically fit your child's needs.
School Day Push-In Services
Applicable to all ages*
prospective clients
someone with or without a label/diagnosis
someone who keeps "getting in trouble" in school and is unsure why
someone who may struggle with making friends and/or maintaining those friendships overtime (might not be aware if the friendship drifts or why)
someone who has difficulty understanding others' perspectives
someone who has challenges working with others (i.e. finding their role in the group)
​someone who does not often initiate a play interaction with peer (may prefer to play alone)
someone who struggles with or is unaware of nonverbal language
someone who lacks self-awareness (i.e. trouble labeling their own emotions or gets too close to others' space)
someone who has difficulty sizing problems and listing possible solutions to match the size of the problem
someone who has challenges with change (i.e. new class, new schedule) and transitions (i.e. going from music class to lunchroom)
someone who feels there is a missing piece to their current treatment plan
consulting
we're flexible.
completely customizable to fit you & your child's needs.
Our goal is for the child to generalize pragmatic (social) skills across different settings. We provide a hands-on approach when going into the classroom to identify exact triggers and provide solutions to create a regulated state in order to access learning and support social engagement.
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Together as a team, we will discuss and implement strategies, provide classroom support and communicate with all team members to promote carry over skills among different environments.
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We believe in a interdisciplinary approach that involves collaboration between parent, child, the classroom teacher and all supportive therapists on the team.
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We bring our strong speech-language background perspective to the table when devising plans to overcome challenges. A positive learning experience is critical for the future of their academic career.
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individual sessions
Every child is different. Every situation is different.
There are social experiences everywhere. Some are trickier to navigate than others. With given strategies and discussion of potential obstacles and expectations, we will support your child to feel more confident in social settings.
Some possible events may look like:
new classroom
after-school activities (i.e. sports classes)
camp
birthday parties
playdates
new school
Individual sessions may also focus on more day-to-day challenges that arise.
These challenges may include:
struggles in school
difficulty making friends
*Session targets are completely individualized based on the child's needs and wants.
Pragmatic language targets may include: turn taking, problem solving, prediction, abstract thinking and more.
individual session
Every adult is different. Every situation is different.
Ordering at a coffee shop. Waiting in line at the bank. Going for a manicure.
There are social experiences everywhere. Some are more complex to navigate than others.
Some possible social situations may look like:
entering a coffee shop and understanding where to stand + order
observe others in social settings and picking up on social cues and body language
supermarket strategies that are not explicitly explained
work dinners
social gatherings with friends
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With given strategies and discussion of potential obstacles and expectations, we will support and guide you in these type of everyday events. Each session is designed based on the client's needs and wants. It is completely customizable to target your specific interests and wants.
philosophy
We believe in running with individualized passions, client-led sessions in order to build intrinsic motivation. Pragmatic (social) language is targeted through problem solving, turn-taking, perspective taking, nonverbal cues and gestures and conversation strategies. The goal is to build self-confidence and self-advocacy in their social world. Where applicable, we help guide the child's family to achieve these outcomes for their child through an interdisciplinary approach. We believe it's crucial to build a strong academic foundation during these early school years. As a team, we will create a positive learning environment for your child. Social language isn't explicitly explained or innately developed to some people. That's where we come in. Open ears to listen and understand your perspective as well.
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about
Michelle graduated from Hofstra University with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2012. It wasn't until she ran Social Development Intervention groups for the ASD Nest Program, when she discovered her passion for supporting children's pragmatic language (social skills).
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Ever since her own child entered nursery school, she developed the urge to assist kids who are experiencing challenging times during the early school years. She believes a strong foundation in social language skills is crucial for both the academic journey and in all aspects in life.
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Michelle is a mother of two young children. For years, Michelle only viewed her work through therapist's eyes. Now being a mother, it puts her therapy approach in a whole new perspective.
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Let her support your child as they navigate the social world.
let's chat
We offer a free 15 minute zoom or phone conversation to discuss what you’re looking for. Please fill out this form and we will set up a time to chat to see if this is the right fit for your child and family.