Briar received a BSc (Honours) in Neuroscience (2002) from Brock University and her MSc(A) in Communication Sciences and Disorders with specialization in Speech-Language Pathology (2004) from McGill University. She has dedicated her career to helping children speak their mind. She has gathered experience working as a clinician at Speech Services Niagara at the Niagara Children's Centre, and at a private pediatric interdisciplinary clinic in Waterloo, ON.
Briar opened the Speak Your Mind clinic in 2013. In addition to providing services to children with speech and language goals, Briar has a passion for helping children with social learning challenges. Soon after opening the clinic Briar began reading and learning about the Social Thinking ® methodology for helping children with social communication and executive functioning challenges. Attending conferences and presentations by the creator, Michelle Garcia Winner, fueled her desire to learn more. In September of 2016 Briar was honoured to have been accepted to complete her Level I-A Clinical Training with Nancy Clements at the Social Thinking clinic in Boston.
In addition to clinical work, Briar is passionate about teaching and helping others learn about children's communication development. Briar has taught as a part time instructor in the Applied Linguistic Department at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON and as an occasional instructor in the Early Childhood Education program at Niagara College in Welland, ON. She is an annual guest lecturer for McMaster University's Occupational Therapy students. She has also enjoyed providing seminars and workshops to Early Childhood Educators at the Early Childcare Community Development Centre in Niagara and to local Mom's Groups in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
Certifications include:
- Hanen certified in It Takes Two to Talk and More Than Words programs
- Certified Lidcombe Therapist: providing treatment for children who stutter
- Level I training in Auditory-Verbal Therapy and Practice and Auditory Rehabilitation
- Training in the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol
- Training in PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- Training in Social Thinking Concepts:
Briar lives in the Waterloo region with her husband and young boys. They love to explore the St. Jacobs market, cook and dine, geocache, explore the outdoors and play superheroes.
