About Us

All in 1 SPOT with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC is a pediatric and adult rehabilitation center servicing Queens and Nassau counties. All in 1 SPOT with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC originated from Dr. Irene Christoforou-Gioules’ speech therapy private practice in Whitestone, Queens, called TheraTalk. TheraTalk expanded by adding physical and occupational therapy to provide a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, all in one location: All in 1 SPOT with TheraTalk. This facility includes a state of the art sensory gym that enhances all therapeutic services provided at the location.

Directors

Dr. Irene Christoforou-Gioules, the founder of Theratalk Speech-Language Pathology, P.C., has been in practice since 1999. Dr. Gioules received her bachelor's and master's degrees from St. John's University and her doctoral/Ph.D. degree from Columbia University. Her initial training was in an acute care setting in which she worked with infants in the neonatal care unit, adults with neurological problems, and children with speech and language problems. Dr. Gioules then focused her work in the pediatric population by working in the early intervention setting, and finally opened a private clinic that grew instantly. The population in the private clinic, Theratalk Speech Language Pathology, consisted primarily of children and adolescents (0-18 years) with various speech/articulation deficits, and language delays/disorders, and some adults with neurological disorders.
Dr. Gioules began her doctoral work at Columbia immediately after receiving her master's degree, during her clinical fellowship. Her doctoral work focused on swallowing/feeding and motor development in children. Dr. Gioules' dissertation was titled "The Developmental Coordination of Breathing Movements and Swallowing." She is currently publishing her most recent research. Given that Dr. Gioules' education surpasses the requirements for becoming a speech language pathologist, she has enlightened her staff with the most effective treatment programs for various speech/language disabilities. Dr. Gioules has treated over hundreds of children and has trained over 10 speech therapists. Dr. Gioules guides her therapists to offer many of the innovative treatments and new technology that are endorsed by research. Dr. Gioules has substantial experience with dysphagia (swallowing disorder), feeding deficits, motor speech disorders (apraxia, dysarthria) and speech/language delays/disorders.

Maria Panayiotou-Mamounas, co-director of All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC received her bachelor's degree from New York University, and her master's degree from St. John's University. Maria completed a Master's thesis titled "Temporal Patterns in the Speech of Persons with Parkinson's Disease: Compensatory Shortening and Final Lengthening." Her research was conducted at Columbia University's Motor Speech Disorders clinic, where she worked closely with neurologists specializing in movement disorders.
At the present time Maria is co-director of All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC and has supervised over 10 clinical fellows. Maria is an active member of the American Speech and Hearing Association. She works closely with pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists, occupational and physical therapists to provide a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Maria is a PROMPT trained therapist with experience in behavioral feeding, apraxia, speech/language delays, developmental/neurological disorders and autism. Maria frequently provides training to her staff and medical colleagues on augmentative/alternative communication devices, behavioral feeding and other various speech and language disabilities. Maria programs augmentative/alternative communication devices and aides parents in obtaining funding for these devices. She is the supervisor of speech at various affiliated schools.

Speech Therapists

Nikole Arnitsis, M.S., SLP, received her Master of Science degree from Columbia University, Teachers College and her Bachelor of Art degree from St. John's University. She successfully completed 3 internships during her course of study. During her first internship at All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC she gained experience treating children with autism spectrum disorder, articulation disorders, and gained knowledge about the utilization of Augmentative Alternative Communication devices. At the Bank Street School of Education, Nikole's second internship, she treated children with selective mutism, language deficits, and feeding issues. Nikole has also performed Modified Barium Swallow studies, treated adults with dysphagia secondary to laryngeal cancer, and provided voice therapy during her internship at Long Island Jewish Hospital. Her interest in bilingualism and dual language acquisition led her to pursue her bilingual certification in Greek. Nikole is currently working towards receiving her Certificate of Clinical Competence as she completes her Clinical Fellowship Year at All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC.

Melissa E. Schwartz, MA, SLP, has been with All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC since October of 2007. Melissa graduated from St. John's University with a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Hofstra University in the field of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Melissa is well suited for her role at Theratalk having completed internships at both North Shore-LIJ's Center for Autism and North Shore University Hospital. Thus, Melissa has been exposed to and has experience in a multitude of communication disorders across the lifespan. Recently, Melissa completed her Clinical Fellowship Year at Theratalk under the supervision of clinic directors, Irene Gioules, Ph.D., CCC-SLP and Maria Panayiotou-Mamounas, M.A., CCC-SLP, and is eager to begin her career as a newly certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Melissa has also received training in PROMPT at the PROMPT Institute for treatment of apraxia/dyspraxia of speech, articulation and phonological disorders, as well as to facilitate verbalizations for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Melissa hopes her knowledge, experience, passion, and dedication to the field will serve to enhance quality of life for her clients at Theratalk.

Kathryn (Katie) Pantaleo, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD. Katie graduated from Queens College in June 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in the area of Linguistics and Communication Disorders. She went on to graduate from Adelphi University with her Master of Science and NYS Teaching Certification in December 2006. During her coursework, Katie gained her experience in a skilled nursing facility and sub-acute setting working with adults, as well as at a NYC Public School servicing children from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade. During those placements, Katie was exposed to a variety of speech, language, swallowing, and feeding disorders.

Katie began her Clinical Fellowship at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in February 2007. Since then, Katie has become the primary Speech-Language Pathologist on the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Coma Recovery (CR) Unit at JHMC. She also covers the medical-surgical units, intensive care units, and pediatric ward. Katie’s expertise on the TBI/CR Unit includes diagnosing and treating patients with speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive disorders resulting from strokes, motor vehicle accidents, substance abuse, cardiac complications, etc.

Katie has been employed by All in 1 SPOT with TheraTalk since March 2007 working Part-Time/PerDiem hours. Katie’s caseload includes children with developmental disorders, articulation disorders, language impairments, and feeding/behavioral issues.

Katie enjoys the balance between the adult and pediatric populations.

Michelle Colletti, OTR/L, head Occupational Therapist. Founder of Water’s Edge Healing Occupational Therapy has been in practice since 1991.  Michelle received her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Binghamton and her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Buffalo.  Her initial training was in geriatrics and adult rehabilitation working at Montefiore Hospital and New York University’s Rusk Institute.  Michelle then focused her work in the pediatric population with school aged children and in early intervention.  Michelle is a constant seeker of knowledge.  She has attended numerous workshops on sensory integration including, Judith Bluestone’s HANDLE® Approach, and Dr. Greenspan’s Floortime® Approach.  Michelle is a three year veteran of Rebecca School in Manhattan and presented many case studies to the staff and via telephone conference to Dr. Greenspan.  Michelle’s seeking has also led her to study the complimentary alternative modalities of reflexology, polarity and cranial sacral.  She incorporates many of the principles and techniques from these alternative modalities into her work with special needs children.  She has also taught parents a reflexology protocol they can use at home with their special needs child to help him or her have a calmer body.  She has done extensive literature reviews on mirror neurons and has written several articles explaining their significance in the brain and with the autistic population entitled, “Mirror Neurons and Autism,” Imitation, Mirror Neurons and Autism,” and “Motor Planning, Mirror Neurons and Autism.”  She has also written articles regarding sensory integration both for the autistic and the learning disabled population entitled, “The Mixed-Up Sensory World of Autistic Children,” Mixed-Up Sensations,”  and “Internal Senses.”  They can be downloaded from her website: www.watersedgehealing.com.

Officer Manager

Sima Mobasheri is currently the executive office manager at All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk,SLP, PT, OT, PLLC holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business. Sima has experience as office manager and obtains expertise in billing, insurance, and invoices for the Board of Education. She has been working full-time at TheraTalk for the past three years and takes on various secretarial responsibilities. She is an important part of the Theratalk staff and is dedicated in obtaining customer satisfaction.

TheraTalk Speech-Language Pathology, P.C. All in 1 S.P.O.T. with TheraTalk, SLP, PT, OT, PLLC 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 Tel: (718) 767-0091/0071 Fax: (718) 767-0086 www.spotwiththeratalk.com Driving Direction

Expertise in the following:

• Speech/Language Delays/Disorders
• Apraxia and Dysarthria
• Sensory Processing Disorders
• Dyspraxia
• Swallowing & Feeding Disorders
• Articulation/Phonology
• Developmental Coordination Disorders
• Autism
• Voice and Fluency Disorders
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Cerebral Palsy
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Mental Retardation
• Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
• Down’s Syndrome
• Augmentative/Assistive Communication Devices
• Genetic Syndromes
• Cognitive Disorders/Learning Disabilities (ADD/CAPD)
• Adult Language Disorders (Aphasia secondary to Stroke)
• Adult Neurological Disorders (Parkinson’s Disease, MS, ALS)