About
Chitter Chatter Therapy is founded and owned by Jenna Thomas, MS, CCC-SLP. She is a NC licensed and ASHA certified speech language pathologist. She has over eighteen years of providing speech language therapy to a wide variety of children in collaboration with other skilled professionals such as special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, behavior specialists and psychologists. She founded Chitter Chatter with the belief that, with early intervention and consistent team support, families can be given the skills to ensure that children are able to reach their highest potential.
Our In-Home Speech Therapists
Jenna Thomas
Jenna Thomas is a native of eastern North Carolina who graduated in 1998 Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Communication from North Carolina State University where she was also a Teaching Fellow. Jenna studied at the University of Florida for graduate work and received a Masters of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University and the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in 2001. Jenna has spent over seventeen years serving pediatric populations in homes, daycares and schools with an emphasis on infants and toddlers, both English and Spanish speaking, with communication delays in various areas such as Developmental Delay, Apraxia, Language Delay, Fluency Disorder, Articulation Delay, Autism, Downs Syndrome, Learning Disabled, and Other Health Impaired. Jenna’s passion is connecting parents with their children by developing functional communication routines specific for each family, both with English and Spanish speaking families. Jenna maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association as well as her North Carolina Speech Language and Hearing Association license. She has experience with families from CDSA branches across eastern North Carolina. Jenna is the owner/operator of Chitter Chatter LLC as well as a practicing therapist. She resides in Wake Forest, NC with her husband Mark and two children, Payne and Blair.
Carol Crabb
Carol obtained both a B.S. and M.S. degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in Speech-Language Science. She worked as a Speech Pathologist in the Champaign Illinois Public School System before discovering life in beautiful North Carolina. In Durham, Carol worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for a preschool parent involvement program for four years followed by 25 years serving students with speech-language delays and disorders in the public school setting. Carol loves working with children who have unintelligible speech, children with Down Syndrome, autism, learning disabilities and various other developmental delays. She particularly loves the preschool age group and co-taught weekly lessons in the Wake County Public School System with the classroom teacher for an Autistic Preschool program. She has a passion for working on functional speech-language skills and includes the family in the therapy sessions so generalization to daily communication is enhanced. Carol has an upbeat personality and feels at ease with youngsters and their families. Her lessons are individually designed to capture the imagination and interest of her clients. Carol has presented at the NC Speech-Language annual convention on the topic of evaluating and providing therapy for severely unintelligible children. She is a member of both the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and the North Carolina Speech Language and Hearing Association. In her free time she volunteers as the speech coach for a group of disabled adult actors who belong to a group called S.T.A.R (Special Theatre Arts of Raleigh.) and volunteers in a special needs classroom in Raleigh.
Sarah Wilson
Sarah graduated from Meredith College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Child Development and a minor in Psychology. She then earned a Master of Science
degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004. Sarah has experience working with toddlers, preschoolers and school age children in a variety of settings. She has provided services for children with a wide range of diagnoses and disorders including autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Rett Syndrome, visual impairment, childhood apraxia of speech and developmental delay. She also has extensive experience providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services for children through the implementation of a variety of communication systems including low tech systems and high-tech voice output devices. Sarah has a special interest in early intervention and working with young children and their families to promote the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners. She currently lives in Raleigh with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and visiting the beach.
Liz DePalo
Elizabeth is originally from Fayetteville, NC. She received her Bachelor’s of Art in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011, after which she spent time teaching in Cumberland County Schools. Elizabeth later earned her Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University in 2015.
Elizabeth has worked with toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children in the private practice and school settings, providing one-on-one and group speech and language therapy for patients with communication disorders and delays due to cleft lip/palate complications, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Language Delays and Disorders, and Fluency Disorders (Stuttering). Elizabeth has taken a special interest in the accompanying communication barriers posed by Autism Spectrum Disorder identified in toddlers and preschoolers, and earned certification with the Hanen “More Than Words” program, which uses a parent coaching framework, providing parents with strategies and skills to promote their child’s ability to communicate throughout daily routines.
Elizabeth is licensed by the Board of North Carolina and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. Elizabeth lives in Raleigh with her husband, young daughter, and large Labradoodle. She enjoys spending time with her family outdoors whenever possible.
Heather Blankenship
Heather received a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas in 2007, and a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Communication Disorders from Harding University in 2005. She has her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC’s) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as well as her North Carolina Speech Therapy license. Heather has worked for Chitter Chatter Therapy since 2014, and provides Speech Therapy services in the home and daycare settings. Prior to working for Chitter Chatter she worked in public/private schools and at a pediatric therapy clinic. Heather loves children, and strives to make each therapy session fun. She believes that learning best takes place when children are actively participating and having fun! She also loves connecting with families, and tries very hard to be approachable and understanding. Heather is a mother of two herself, with both a son and daughter. Heather resides with her husband and two children in the Clayton/Flower’s Plantation area. Heather is also a big fan of Disney World, and every year she and her husband’s extended family take a vacation there.
Beth Barnes
Beth received her Master’s and PhD in Speech Language Pathology and degree from the University of South Carolina. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill, where she studied speech and language development in children with fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and Autism. She has worked clinically in rehabilitation and public school settings and is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina. Beth is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners and accredited by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. She is currently serving school age students in elementary and middle School.
Jennifer Harwell
Jennifer attended North Carolina State University where she was awarded the Charlotte Anne Elleman Outstanding Clinician Award. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Communication Disorders in 1994. She went on to earn her Master of Arts from Appalachian State University in Communicative Disorders in 1996. Jennifer has worked in a variety of settings throughout Eastern North Carolina including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, homes, daycares, private schools, and public schools. She particularly enjoys helping children with significant communication needs reach their full potential. Jennifer is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners, and maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association. She was born and raised in North Carolina, and now lives in Raleigh with her husband Roy and two children. When she is not working or carpooling her children to activities, you can find her training for her next marathon or pulling for the NC State Wolfpack.
Tracy Anghie
Tracy serves as the Office Coordinator for Chitter Chatter, LLC. She graduated from UNC- Chapel Hill in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from East Carolina University in 2000. Tracy has been with Chitter Chatter since May of 2015 and handles new client intake information and billing. In her free time, she serves as the Chairperson of the Staff Appreciation Committed at her children’s elementary school and volunteers heavily in their classrooms. Tracy lives in Cary, NC with her husband, Niall, and their three children.
Judith Blaine
Judith received her undergraduate education at the University of Virginia and her Masters degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina Central University in Durham. She worked in Wake County and Durham County Public Schools for 22 years serving students from age 3 to 21. Her greatest interests were working with children who were difficult to understand and children who are just developing language skills while discovering that communication can help them engage and build relationships with families and friends. Working with children in their natural environment – a classroom or home – provides the most supportive environment for learning. Judith has provided therapy in small group settings, classrooms, daycare centers, and in the home. Judith loves to add variety and fun to therapy tasks so that children enjoy learning and continue to develop.
Judith is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Judith lives in Wake Forest. Her non-work interests include reading, traveling, swimming, and spending time with her grandchildren who live in Virginia.
Kelly Gibbons MS CCC-SLP
Kelly graduated from The University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then went on to obtain her Masters of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University, in her hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. Kelly maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) as well as her North Carolina Speech Language and Hearing Association license through completion of continuing education classes each year.
Kelly has clinical experience working in a variety of pediatric settings, including home-based early intervention, public schools, and clinic settings. Kelly has provided both diagnostic and treatment services to children with communication disorders, including articulation disorders, apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, as well as receptive and expressive language delays. Kelly especially enjoys connecting parents and children through communication and enriching the relationships of her clients. She has a special interest in school aged articulation and language development therapies. Kelly currently resides in Wilson, NC, with her husband Walton, and their three dogs.
Stefani Dean
Stefani received both her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Central Florida. Over the years, Stefani has been a Life Span Therapist, working with both children and adults. Stefani gains the most pleasure helping young children understand the benefit of communication. It is always great to see a non-verbal child be able to communicate their wants and needs to their family and caregivers.
Lindsey VanHouten
Lindsey is a mom to a 12-year-old son and 9-year-old twin girls. Lindsey chose to specialize in infant and toddler development after her son was diagnosed with Autism at age 3, and she gave birth to twin girls, one of whom has significant health issues including hearing impairment, tracheotomy, and g-tube due to Goldenhar syndrome. After her daughter spent 3 months in the NICU, Lindsey saw how therapists helped her daughter grow stronger and watched her learn to do so many things she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to do. Her daughter now rides horses, swims, and runs on the playground with friends. It is Lindsey’s goal to help other children achieve his or her full potential by never assuming a child will never be able to do something, and always giving them the opportunity to try and learn. She loves to work with infants and is knowledgeable in trach and g-tube care, Autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, parenting skills, and learning to parent/cope with a special needs child. She has a Master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Child and Adolescent Development. She loves to provide support for the parent AND child by helping both grow stronger when needed. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, photography, volunteering with local animal rescues, and spending time with her husband and family.
Misty Deyo
Misty received a Master of Science degree from East Carolina University in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina State University in 1998. She has her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC’s) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as well as her North Carolina Speech Therapy license. Misty joined Chitter Chatter Therapy in 2018 after staying home with her two children during their preschool years. Prior to working for Chitter Chatter, she worked in a private ENT practice for 9 years, where she primarily worked with children birth to five diagnosed with language delays as well as articulation and phonological disorders. She also has experience treating voice disorders in children and adults. Misty loves children, and strives to treat each one as if they were her own. She believes that learning best takes place in a flexible and fun environment. Her favorite part of her job is connecting with families, and she tries to treat each one with empathy and compassion. Misty resides in Wake Forest with her husband, son and daughter. She also loves giving back to her community as a member of the Wake Forest Woman’s Club and serves as the deacon vice chair at her church. Misty looks forward to working together with you!
Renee Jolly
Renee is a North Carolina native who received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from East Carolina University in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Renee has experience working in a variety of settings including home health, daycares, schools, and clinics. She has provided speech and language therapy for children with various diagnoses including receptive and expressive language delays and disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, pragmatic language disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Renee currently works as an SLP in the public school system.
Renee is licensed by the North Carolina and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Renee currently lives in Wake Forest, NC. She is married and has twin boys. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, spending time with her friends and family, shopping, and going to the beach.
Courtney Pitt
Courtney Pitt is from Tarboro and attended her undergraduate education at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a double major of Communications and Psychology. She studied at East Carolina University for graduate work and received a Masters of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2005. Courtney maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association as well as her North Carolina Speech Language and Hearing Association license. Courtney has spent over sixteen years serving pediatric populations in homes, daycares, and schools. She has worked with communication delays in various areas such as Developmental Delay, Language Delay, Fluency Disorder, Articulation and Phonological Delay, Autism, Learning Disabled, and Other Health Impaired. Courtney enjoys working with children and helping them work towards functional communication with family and peers and helping families learn strategies to enhance their child’s communication development. Courtney lives with her family in Tarboro, NC and enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and paddleboarding.
Traci Pedraza
Traci earned her Master’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina Central University in 2017. She has experience working with toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age
children with a variety of impairments, including receptive and expressive language disorders, motor speech disorders, articulation and phonology disorders, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disabilities. She has specialized clinical training and experience with assessment and treatment of bilingual (Spanish/English) children. Traci loves working closely with children and their families to create individualized treatment plans and believes that effective therapy requires continuous collaboration between clinicians and family members. She is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Traci lives in Wake Forest with her husband, two young children, and two dogs.
Our CBRS - Child Behavior Rating Scale Staff
Our Office Staff
Tracy Anghie
Tracy serves as the Office Coordinator for Chitter Chatter, LLC. She graduated from UNC- Chapel Hill in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from East Carolina University in 2000. Tracy has been with Chitter Chatter since May of 2015 and handles new client intake information and billing. In her free time, she serves as the Chairperson of the Staff Appreciation Committed at her children’s elementary school and volunteers heavily in their classrooms. Tracy lives in Cary, NC with her husband, Niall, and their three children.