Our Therapists

Kristie Gatto, MA, CCC-SLP
Kristie graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders in 2000 and received a minor in Psychology. Kristie received the honors of Magna Cum Laude. She graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2002. Kristie's experience includes working in public schools, private schools, private practice, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, early childhood interventions sites, pediatric/childrens' hospital, and audiology clinics. She has performed diagnosis and treatment of receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, aural habilitation with an emphasis in intervention post cochlear implant, articulation, phonological processing, oral-motor functioning disorders, voice, fluency, dysphagia, and pragmatic language disorders in infants, pre-school and school-aged children, and adults. In addition to her work as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Kristie has served on committees regarding eligibility for school-aged students for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, is a counselor for sexually assaulted children and adults, has worked for the Alzheimer's Association/Greater Houston Chapter, worked for The Parish School, and is currently seeking a sponsor to gain certification in Auditory-Verbal Therapy.

Jennifer Swearengin, MA, CCC-SLP
Jennifer graduated from University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders in 1999 and received Minors in Psychology and English. She was a Member of the Honors College and received the honors of Magna Cum Laude. Jennifer graduated from University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2001. She received the Outstanding Clinician Award from University of Houston while attending graduate school. Jennifer's experience includes working in private practice, public schools, early childhood intervention, hospitals, and on two aphasia research projects - "Intensive Speech-Focused Treatment for Chronic Aphasia" and "Treatment for Aphasia and Related Disorders: Subproject 3: Contrasting Treatment for Sentence Production Deficits." She has performed diagnosis and treatment of expressive language, receptive language, articulation, voice, fluency, dysphagia, and pragmatic disorders in pre-school and elementary age children and adults. Publications include L.M. Maher, F. Singletary, J.A. Swearengin, C.C. Clayton, L.K. Vincent, A.B. Moore, C.E. Wierenga, B. Crosson, D. Kendall, L.J. Conzalez Rothi. (in press) An errorless learning approach to sentence production in aphasia. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society; Co-author on poster presented at the 3rd Annual VA RR&D Research Conference (2002) and poster and published abstract at the International Neuropsychological Society Meeting (Toronto, 2002): "An Errorless Learning Approach to Sentence Production in Aphasia"; Co-author on poster presented at 2003 ASHA Convention: "Impact of Different Stimulus Attributes on Narrative Discourse in Aphasia"

Kathy Ann Swiney, M.A., CCC-SLP, BRS-FD
Ms. Swiney holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology with specialty recognition in fluency disorders from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). She received her A.A. from Stephens College, B.S. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and M.A. from Oklahoma State University.

Ms. Swiney is an active member of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA). She is a frequent speaker at the Annual Conventions of the organization. TSHA awarded Kathy its Certificate of Appreciation three times for her service to the organization. She is a fellow of the Texas Speech and Hearing Foundation and has received special recognition for her fundraising efforts on behalf of that organization.

Ms. Swiney is an active member of the Houston Association for Communication Disorders (HACD). HACD awarded Ms. Swiney with its President’s Award in 1999, Certificate of Appreciation in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. In 2004 she was the recipient of the Tina E. Bangs Service Award for long term service to the association and Houston community.

Ms. Swiney serves on the AGS/Pearson National Speech and Language Pathology Advisory Board. She is a nationally known speaker, author of several on-line professional articles, and co-author of:

Gilbert D. & Swiney, K.A. (2006). Sound Strategies for Sound Production: A Multisensory Approach to Articulation Remediation. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed

Katey Mathes, MA, CCC-SLP
Katey graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 2003 with Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders; she was recognized with highest university honors. Katey completed graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin in 2005 with a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. During her first year of graduate school, she was honored as the most outstanding graduate student in speech-language pathology and was awarded a University Presidential scholarship. She also authored a thesis based on original research, which was titled An Acoustic Analysis of Vowel Production in Apraxia of Speech. Katey’s clinical experiences have primarily been in adult/pediatric hospital settings, although she has also worked in private practice, outpatient clinics, early childhood sites, and private schools. She has performed diagnosis and treatment of receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, articulation, phonological processing, oral motor functioning disorders, voice, fluency, dysphagia, and pragmatic language disorders in pre-school and school-aged children and adults. Katey has been certified in both Facial E-Stim and DPNS, which are used for speech and swallowing rehabilitation following a stroke. Katey joined the Speech Emporium in January 2006.

Patricia Breaux, MS, CCC-SLP
Patti graduated from Nicholls State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders in 1999. She graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Master of Science in Communication Disorders in 2002. Patti is certified by the American Speech Hearing Associaiton (ASHA) and is licensed by the Texas Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology. Patti’s experience includes working in public schools, private practice, and a rehabilitation center. She has performed diagnosis and treatment of receptive language, expressive language, articulation, phonological processing, oral-motor functioning, voice, fluency, dysphagia and pragmatic language in toddlers, preschool and school-aged children, and adults. She has experience with individual and group therapy, augmentative communication (including pictures and device based communication), social stories, play-based therapy, LINC (language intervention in the classroom setting), and the Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment Approach. Patti has experience working with children with developmental delays, various syndromes and autism. She attends continuing education classes to remain current on the most up to date therapy techniques and approaches.

Lesa Skiles, MS, CCC-SLP
Full Bio coming soon!

Allison Bihm, MS, CCC-SLP
Full Bio coming soon!

Tiffany Tucker, MA, CCC-SLP
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Kimberly Tanner, MA, CCC-SLP
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Denise Boyd, MA, CCC-SLP
Full Bio coming soon!