Word Play Team

Hi, I’m Ali Manahan, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, mom of two, and the founder of Word Play Speech Therapy.

My journey into this field began with a paper about speech therapy in high school. After earning both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Saint Louis University in 2010, I dove into the world of speech and language with a passion for making therapy meaningful, playful, and motivating.

Over the years, I’ve worked with children of all abilities and communication styles, from first words to AAC devices, from motor speech disorders to gestalt language processing. I’m trained in PROMPT, Hanen, and Natural Language Acquisition, and I specialize in apraxia of speech, phonological delays, late talkers, gestalt language processing and receptive/expressive language delays. I’ve also had the privilege of supervising over 60 graduate students and teaching Speech Sound Disorders at Maryville University.

In 2022, I took a leap and opened Word Play Speech Therapy to create a company that fully aligned with my values,  child-led, strengths-based, neuro-affirming therapy, built on strong collaboration with caregivers and teachers. My sessions are full of the things your child already loves: books, sensory bins, bubbles, games, trains, swings, and most importantly, joy.

I currently provide in-person therapy in homes, daycares, schools and at the Enchanted Playroom. I also offer teletherapy across the state of Missouri. Whether I’m working with a toddler just finding their voice or a school-aged child refining theirs, I consider it an honor to be part of their communication journey.

When I’m not playing and laughing with my clients, I’m home in O’Fallon with my husband Jim, our daughters Ruby and Millie, two dogs, and one mildly tolerant cat. Thank you for trusting me with your child’s voice. I’m so glad you’re here.

Hi, I’m Mindy, Administrative Assistant at Word Play Therapy, I love helping families feel welcomed and supported from their very first interaction with our clinic. I enjoy connecting with families, assisting our team, and helping create a positive experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

I graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. My passion for supporting children and families is also personal. As a mom of three boys, I understand the importance of finding the right support for each child. My oldest son has a stutter, and my middle son wears hearing aids for moderate hearing loss. These experiences have given me a deeper appreciation for the impact speech, language, and hearing services can have on a child’s confidence and success.

Outside of Word Play, I enjoy spending time with my family, cheering on my boys at their activities, and being involved in our local community.

Hello, I'm Tara! I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist. I believe in child-led therapy that is enriched by play, literacy, meaningful communication, and connection.After 13 years of school-based experience, I'm thrilled to embark on a new adventure with Ali and WordPlaySpeechTherapy!During my time in the schools, I worked with preschool through 8th-grade students, addressing a wide range of communication and speech-language skills. This included articulation, phonology, receptive and expressive language, vocabulary, fluency, word retrieval, and social skills. For many years, I worked with students with complex communication needs to help them find their own voice as we addressed foundational communication skills. I had the privilege of collaborating with an incredible multidisciplinary team and often co-treated with other specialists. I discovered a passion for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Over the years, I've supported educational staff and families in creating individualized plans to foster communication opportunities for students using AAC, both at school and at home. My family and I recently moved from the northwest suburbs of Chicago to O'Fallon. The last few months have been a wild ride, but I am so grateful that I was able to squeeze in some bonus time with my three kiddos along the way before beginning this new chapter in my career! I can't wait to meet you!

Hi I am Josie Reale. I have been a school-based speech language pathologist based in St. Louis since 2014. I graduated with both my undergraduate bachelor degree and graduate master degree from the University of Missouri. I spent the first ten years of my career working for a charter school in St. Louis city with students in Preschool through 12th grade. In 2024 I transitioned into early childhood and have been enjoying it ever since!  I have experience working with children of all ages but I especially enjoy preschool and early elementary! My areas of expertise include early language development, multi-language learners, articulation and phonology, and language disorders. I also have additional experience working with and supervising SLP clinical fellows and SLP assistants. I am a mom to my two rambunctious little boys and enjoy spending time with them. I am also a big blues hockey fan! I enjoy exploring local parks, cooking, listening to audiobooks, and collecting pokemon cards with my son. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you and your child!

Hi, I am Kristen! I am a Speech Language Pathologist passionate about helping children grow in confidence through speech, language, and AAC. I love creating fun, engaging, and individualized therapy sessions that support communication in meaningful ways. Whether we're working on speech intelligibility, developing language skills, or exploring AAC, my goal is to help every child feel successful and excited to communicate.

Hi there! I'm Larissa O'Shea, a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist serving children and families throughout the Saint Louis area. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton before receiving my Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Louis University.

I believe every child learns best through play, connection, and meaningful interactions. My therapy approach is play-based, child-led, and individualized to each child's unique strengths and interests. I value partnering closely with parents and caregivers, as they play an essential role in helping children build communication skills that carry over into everyday life.

I specialize in working with late talkers and children in early intervention, as well as those with articulation and phonological disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs. I also have experience providing pediatric feeding and swallowing therapy, as well as tongue thrust and tongue tie intervention.

I provide therapy in homes, daycares, and schools throughout the Saint Louis area, and I look forward to partnering with your family to help your child communicate with confidence and reach their fullest potential.

Hi!  I'm Nikki Sigona and I've been a pediatric occupational therapist for 26 years.  I graduated with my Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in 2000.  I have experience with kids birth to age 21 in a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient and the preschool and school aged settings.  I believe in child led, neuro-affirming therapy that meets the child where they are at emotionally, physically and developmentally.  I have experience with fine motor, sensory processing, feeding, visual motor and bilateral interventions.  I believe in bridging the gap and educating families on ways they can help their child in the home setting.  I look forward to working with you and your child.

Hi there! I'm Lauren Pickrell and I've been a pediatric occupational therapist since 2021. After graduating with my undergraduate and Master's degree from the University of Missouri, I spent time as a therapist in the school setting, working with children ages 3 to 21. I have experience with fine motor skills, visual motor skills, sensory play, activities of daily living, executive functioning skills, and finding calm through co-regulation. I hope to expand my practice to offer services supporting picky eaters and kids navigating sensory feeding challenges. I am passionate about supporting families and increasing children's independence in their daily activities. My goal is to make each session look and feel like play! I can't wait to work with your family!