Meet Larissa O’Shea, M.S., CCC-SLP: Empowering Children to Find Their Voice Through Play
At Word Play Speech Therapy, we believe every child deserves to be heard, understood, and celebrated for who they are. Larissa O’Shea, M.S., CCC-SLP, brings that belief into every therapy session, combining evidence-based practices with meaningful play, family involvement, and unwavering encouragement. Her goal is simple: to help children discover their voice while reminding them—and their families that they can do hard things.
Inspired by a Sister’s Journey
For Larissa, becoming a speech-language pathologist was deeply personal.
Growing up, she watched her younger sister navigate a language disorder alongside ADHD and anxiety. Thanks to early intervention, a dedicated speech-language pathologist, and a mother who tirelessly advocated for her, Larissa’s sister learned to overcome challenges that once seemed overwhelming.
Throughout countless therapy appointments, one message remained constant:
“You can do hard things.”
That phrase has stayed with Larissa throughout her career and now serves as a foundation for how she supports every child she meets.
“I want to be an advocate for my clients, cheering them on along the way and reminding them that they can do hard things.”
Passion for the Earliest Years
Larissa especially loves working with children from birth through age five.
The first years of life are filled with incredible opportunities for growth, and she enjoys helping families build strong communication skills during this critical window of development.
“There is so much you can work on with children this age just through play and talking with them.”
By supporting children early, families can help create a strong foundation for future learning, relationships, and confidence.
Functional Therapy That Fits Everyday Life
Larissa describes her therapy style as play-based, child-led, and functional.
Rather than practicing isolated skills, she focuses on helping children use meaningful words and phrases that naturally fit into their daily routines.
Whether it’s requesting help during snack time, asking for another turn with a favorite toy, or communicating with family members, therapy is designed around real-life moments.
She also believes parents are an essential part of the therapy process.
“I emphasize the importance of family involvement by welcoming parents into sessions, answering questions, and providing education and home activities for carryover.”
When families feel confident using strategies at home, children have even more opportunities to practice and grow.
Why Play Is So Powerful
To Larissa, play is much more than entertainment it’s one of the most effective ways children learn.
“Play enables children to be their full authentic selves while experiencing real-life situations that require communication and problem solving.”
Through play, children naturally develop:
- Communication skills
- Independence
- Problem-solving abilities
- Social interaction
- Compassion
- Confidence
When children are engaged in meaningful play, learning happens naturally.
Early Intervention Matters
If there’s one message Larissa hopes every family hears, it’s this:
You can never start intervention too early.
“The earlier you get your child evaluated and into speech therapy, the better.”
She encourages parents to trust their instincts if they have concerns.
Some early signs a child may benefit from a speech evaluation include:
- Not responding to their name
- Limited vocal play or gestures
- Small vocabulary
- Difficulty imitating sounds or words
Speech and language evaluations can begin as early as infancy, allowing families to access support during the years when the brain is developing most rapidly.
Simple Ways to Support Language at Home
Parents often ask what they can do between therapy sessions.
Larissa’s advice is wonderfully simple:
- Narrate your day as you go about everyday routines.
- Play with your child.
- Read together every night before bed.
These everyday interactions provide countless opportunities for children to hear new vocabulary, practice communication, and strengthen their connection with the people they love most.
Favorite Therapy Activities
Larissa loves using activities that naturally encourage communication.
Some of her favorite speech-building toys include:
These toys create opportunities to practice requesting, asking for help, taking turns, following directions, answering WH questions, categorizing, labeling vocabulary, and so much more.
She also incorporates music whenever possible.
“Super Simple Songs has a wide variety of tunes that help expand vocabulary while encouraging children to move, imitate actions, and engage with others.”
Breaking a Common Myth About Speech Therapy
One misconception Larissa hears often is that speech therapists are “just playing.”
In reality, every playful interaction is carefully planned.
While children are having fun, therapists are intentionally modeling language, expanding vocabulary, encouraging engagement, increasing speech opportunities, and building communication skills in ways that feel natural and motivating.
Another myth is that articulation therapy is simply repetitive drills.
Larissa believes speech therapy should always be engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable even when working on challenging speech sounds.
Why Word Play Feels Like Home
One of Larissa’s favorite things about working at Word Play is the shared commitment to child-led therapy and family partnerships.
“I enjoy being part of a team that emphasizes child-led therapy while integrating parents and family members into every child’s journey.”
She appreciates that every child receives individualized, high-quality care built on strong relationships and meaningful collaboration.
Just for Fun
When she needs a little boost during a busy day, you’ll usually find Larissa with an iced matcha latte made with almond milk in hand.
A Final Word
For Larissa, speech therapy is about so much more than helping children say new words it’s about helping families build confidence, celebrate progress, and discover what’s possible.
By combining play, connection, and family education, she empowers children to communicate in ways that are meaningful to them while reminding every family that growth happens one small step at a time.
At Word Play Speech Therapy, we’re so grateful to have Larissa’s compassion, enthusiasm, and heart for early intervention on our team. Her belief that every child can do hard thingsperfectly reflects our mission to help children communicate, connect, and thrive.