Samantha Outhouse is a commited Speech-Language Pathology Assistant who attended the University of Pittsburgh where she majored in Communication Science Disorders and minored in Secondary Teacher Education.

Her inspiration behind becoming an SLPA is her passion for working with children. Since she was young she knew she wanted to help people, and as she got older her passion lead her to working with children with special needs. She was a nanny and pre-school teacher, which solidified her passion for working with children. She loves to talk, and when she had to go to speech therapy as a child, she loved it, and knew it was something she was interested in.

Samantha has worked with many different populations. Her areas of special interest include early language development, and swallowing and feeding disorders. Her approach to working with clients is centered around empathy, patience and individualized care. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and strives to build a trusting relationship by creating a supportive and encouraging environment where clients feel comfortable and motivated. Building rapport with children and families by creating a supportive environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. With children, she takes time to connect through play, active listening, and following their interests so they feel safe and engaged during sessions. She also values patient and family centered care by respecting each family’s unique background, routines, and goals.

What she loves about being an SLPA is having a direct role in helping people find their voice, literally and figuratively. She says it’s rewarding to see a child grow more confident in their communication.