Meet Miriam Ohana of Mimi & Me Speech Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Ohana

Hi Miriam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From a young age, I have always been passionate about helping children and knew that this was my calling. At the time, I didn’t know what my career path would be, and thought maybe I would “grow up” to be a teacher. My journey began as a special education paraprofessional in a moderate-severe classroom, where I spent six years in the Beverly Hills Unified School District. In that role, I enjoyed customizing school activities to meet each child’s unique learning style, adapting techniques to highlight their strengths and support the curriculum. Additionally, students were able to express their wants and needs more effectively, while fostering meaningful friendships along the way.

Afterward, I spent a year teaching English abroad in Madrid, immersing myself in a new culture and approach to learning. Yet, no matter where I was, my focus always returned to empowering students to communicate effectively. These experiences fueled my passion for helping children communicate and build stronger connections, ultimately guiding my career as a speech-language pathologist.

I founded Mimi & Me Speech Therapy to offer families individualized, one-on-one support, ensuring that each child receives the utmost care they need to thrive in their daily lives. The most fulfilling part of what I do are the special moments where there is a breakthrough in speech or language skills. At times growth can feel incremental, especially in the beginning of working with a new child, but when the child is finally able to produce a word for the first time or pronounce their “R’s” correctly, it makes it all worthwhile. Witnessing the sheer joy on each child’s face when they are able to start communicating and being understood on a deeper level is what drives me to be the best therapist I can be every day. I will never forget the time when I was working with a child on producing the word “me” (to request items and also part of the child’s name) for a few months. When she was finally able to say “me” while pointing to herself, her face lit up with excitement and a sense of accomplishment. She then pointed to me and said, “MeMe” (“Mimi,” my nickname), which made her even more overjoyed. Later on, her mother excitedly shared that her daughter had been saying her name constantly since then. It is in those moments where I know this is what I’m meant to be doing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting my private practice, Mimi & Me Speech Therapy, has been a rewarding yet complex journey. Navigating the logistics of setting up a business and figuring out the rules and regulations was an intricate process that required careful planning and attention to detail. Building a client base also took time, as I needed to establish trust and awareness in the community. Despite this, every challenge has fueled my growth as a professional. The support from the families I work with and the progress I see in my clients is truly rewarding. As I learn to navigate the business aspects of my private practice, I recognize that every step brings me closer to helping children communicate and connect with the world around them.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mimi & Me Speech Therapy ?
Mimi & Me Speech Therapy offers in-home speech therapy in the West Los Angeles area and virtual sessions throughout California! I evaluate and treat children ages 18 months to 13 years with a variety of speech and language impairments. My expertise includes:

-Early intervention/Late talkers
-Articulation and phonology disorders
-Expressive language disorders
-Receptive language disorders
-Childhood apraxia of speech (PROMPT trained)
-Social Skills

I founded Mimi & Me Speech Therapy to offer personalized care in a familiar environment, where children can learn and thrive. After earning my master’s degree, I started providing therapy in a mix of school and clinic sessions. While I enjoyed being able to reach more kids through the schools, the group format and shorter sessions made it harder to tailor activities for each child, who would often have different needs. That’s what drove me to start my own private practice with longer, one-on-one individualized sessions; where the entire time is spent focusing on each child’s individual needs and progress.

My mission is to empower children to communicate confidently and effectively through a nurturing, holistic, and fun therapeutic approach. By collaborating closely with families and their care team, we are able to create treatment plans that encourage growth, independence, and overall development. I believe that building strong connections with families is essential for achieving the best outcomes. Parents can actively participate in the therapy process, gaining valuable insights and strategies to support their child’s speech and language development. With virtual sessions, I am able to provide high-quality therapy for families across California from the comfort of their own homes. Whether through in-home or virtual services, I am committed to nurturing each child’s strengths and learning style, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would like to send a big thank you to my family and friends, and especially my husband, Jake, for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout this journey. Their belief in me has fueled my motivation, and I appreciate all the ways they’ve cheered me on every step of the way!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mimi-speech.com
• Instagram: mimi_speechtherapy
• Other: Google Review: https://g.page/r/CftYvvl3MmiHEBM/review