Meet the Team
Allyson Hope Messier
MS, CCC-SLP
Founder, Clinical Director
Speech-Language Pathologist
Meet Allyson, the founder and clinical director of Words with Hope Therapy, LLC.
With a high-honors Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Worcester State University, the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) through the National American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), and a wealth of experience across ages and settings,, she is dedicated to enhancing communication skills for clients across Rhode Island and California.
Allyson specializes in a variety of speech and language challenges, including articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency (stuttering) disorders, voice disorders, , phonological awareness (basis of Dyslexia), and language delays. In our warm and inviting environment, she empowers individuals of all ages to find their voice and achieve their communication goals.
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Our dedicated therapist is energetic and kind, always striving to empower clients and their families. With a passion for making sessions both motivating and fun, she focuses on building essential skills for success. She has extensive knowledge with Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) which helps support Gestalt Language Processors (GLP) in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She also offers parent coaching to support all family members.
Join us on this journey to enhance communication and confidence!
Kris Desmarais
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kris graduated with their Master’s degree in Speech-Language-Pathology from the University of New Hampshire. They have their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued from the National American Speech and Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Kris is currently licensed in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Kris worked for four years as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant at a private practice before attending graduate school. They have experience diagnosing and treating individuals with speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive learning delays, social pragmatics, fluency, and voice disorders. Kris has over two years of experience working with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
While working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Kris learned about Natural Language Acquisition (NLA). Many people with ASD are Gestalt Language Processors (GLP) and will use echolalia (also known as scripting or gestalts) to communicate. The NLA framework recognizes these gestalts as meaningful speech and works to assist the GLP with their language development. This process involves helping the client move through the stages of gestalt language development to get to self-generated language. Kris provides support to families of GLP to discover the meaning behind the gestalts their child is using, as NLA focuses on the context of the situation rather than the content of the message.
Kris has a compassionate and empathetic personality and prioritizes the comfort of their clients to ensure that they have a positive and engaging experience during therapy. This includes establishing rapport and tailoring the sessions to their client’s interests and hobbies.