Community Highlights: Meet Grace Bernales of Graceful Expression

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Bernales

Hi Grace, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and founder of a small private practice called, Graceful Expression. I first received my B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, then decided to further my studies at Eastern Washington University for my M.S. in Communication Disorders, completed in 2014. I’ve had 17 years of experience working with a variety of children. For 5 years, I worked as a behavioral therapist to autistic children and Down syndrome children. During this time, I grew to learn about the field of speech-language pathology from my clients. Through research/volunteer opportunities, my passion to become a SLP began. Since then, I knew that I would eventually open up my own private practice, inspired by my father, who was a family practitioner with his own clinic.

Now 5 years after I’ve opened my practice, I’m beyond happy and proud of how far it’s come! I’m extremely lucky to work with such wonderful clients and their families. In the past 2 years I’ve specialized in orofacial myofunctional therapy. This requires additional training in which I’m assisting individuals from 4 years old and into adulthood, on proper tongue posture, improving nasal breathing, and proper swallowing/chewing. Additionally, I am still providing speech therapy to children who have expressive delay, receptive delay, and articulation/phonology difficulties.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t easy. I previously worked for a comparny prior to starting my business, which burnt me out. I then decided to completely leave that job, and went all in to focus on my business. I opened my practice the summer of 2019, and it took me about 1 month or so to gain my very first client. Finally by December of that year (nearly 6 months later), I had somewhat of a consistent caseload of clients, which were referred to me by the early intervention program. If I wasn’t a vendor for this early intervention program, it would’ve taken me even longer to gain clients. It was initially difficult to have a steady income at this time. Grateful for my husband though for being so supportive!

With the inconsistent calls from potential clients, It was discouraging especially since I wasn’t getting any potential clients. I received calls on occasion throughout the week, however, I would rarely hear back from them. With that said, it definitely took a lot of patience. It was tough not to compare myself to other private practices, who just started and already had a steady number of clients, and/or were hiring therapists. I consistently reminded myself that this was all temporary.and that I would have more clients of my own, which eventually happened.

Another challenge I had was providing in-home speech therapy, rather than renting out an office. The pandemic hit a few months after I opened my practice, causing me to lose some clients due to them not wanting to have speech therapy via Zoom. Thankfully, half of my clients still continued with teletherapy. In the summer of 2021 I returned to see clients in-person, however families were not comfortable with me going into their homes yet. We met outside of their home or at a park, which as you can imagine, was excruciating on days when it was over 90 degrees! With that said, going house to house (or to parks) was not ideal for me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Graceful Expression ?
Graceful Expression was actually a name that my best friend came up with! I knew I wanted something to incorporate my name and the service I provide, so she came up with the clever name.

At Graceful Expression, I provide speech and language therapy for children as young as 16 months old and into middle school. Oral motor therapy is provided for children between the ages of 2 to 3 years old, while orofacial myofunctional therapy is provided for 4 year olds and into adulthood. With speech and language therapy, I specialize in treating expressive/receptive language delays, and speech sound disorders, such as articulation/phonology. I enjoy providing early intervention using play based therapy, for those under 3 years old. In this age range, children learn best through play, therefore, I use various toys/games to target their speech and language goals. I also encourage parents to be part of the speech sessions, to collaborate with them, and to show them speech strategies during the session that they can incorporate at home.

Oral motor therapy focuses on improving the function of the tongue, lips. and jaw for speaking and eating. This may include toddlers who have dificulty in the following areas: moving their tongue around their lips to remove food residue, moving tongue laterally, difficulty elevating tongue, difficulty with rounding their lips or sounds or actions (blowing bubbles, blowing kisses), tongue often resting low or between the teeth, unable to chew/swallow correctly/picky eater, and difficulty nasal breathing.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy also addresses the similar goals mentioned in oral motor therapy, however it is geared for older children and adults, as it requires volitional control and self monitoring. Elimination of oral habits (thumb/finger/blanket sucking, etc.), proper swallowing, proper tongue posture, as well as nasal breathing are addressed. Myofunctional therapy is also required for pre/post therapy for tongue/lip tie releases.

As a private practice owner, I enjoy attending conferences and taking various trainings. I truly believe in the power and importance of networking/collaborating with like-minded individuals. Working with other providers (dentists, orthodontists, occupational therapists, other SLPs, ENTs, physical therapists, chiropractors, craniosacral therapists, etc.) helps me, help my clients succeed. This makes therapy even more effective when everyone on the child’s team knows the child’s speech and/or myofunctional therapy goals, as well as how their progressing in therapy. I’m extremely grateful for these providers I can count on and refer my clients to. Lastly, I aim to provide high quality therapy. I try to provide the best therapy as much as possible. I understand the importance of seeing clients as a “whole”, making sure to listen to their concerns, using evidenced based methods tailored to their individual needs, providing parent education as needed, as well as using a family-centered approach that is implemented during each session.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.graceful-expression.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracefulexpression.slp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracebernales.slp/