Menu
Sofia Kabir is the founder and CEO of NeuroSPOT Speech. She is a licensed speech language pathologist in Newport Beach, Ca. She received her degree from California Baptist University. She was born and raised in Southern Orange County. Prior to becoming a speech therapist, she has a background as a legal assistant for the District Attorney’s office, peer educator, and sensory motor coach and has worked with children, victims of abuse, and young teens. Sofia has worked in a private practice setting focusing on Early Intervention and has worked in collaboration with multiple Orange County School districts with Autism Programs.
What would your clients and colleagues say is your speech language pathologist superpower?
The nickname my clients have given me is that I am an “out of the box” therapist with a diverse background. My superpower is being flexible and creative. As a clinician, I am compassionate listener, I listen to not only my clients concerns but look at the whole picture and how their communication affects their everyday life including towards their family and caregivers. As a clinician, I am also an educator and support for families. I provide tools and support on how communication strategies can be used at home and how skills can be generalized. No client is the same in my eyes. My foundation and goal is to individualize and tailor therapy to each of my patients.
What was your path to becoming a speech language pathologist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
While working for the District Attorney as a legal assistant, I was often exposed to and spoke with victims of DUI accidents who suffered from dementia and communication disorders. While talking to these victims and vividly explaining to them in a step-by-step manner how to fill out a forms and often communicating with them , I learned not only that I had to use my well-established communication skills but I was in court every Tuesday and Thursday right beside the Deputy District attorney, often communicating with the court clerks, defense attorneys, and victims. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could make a difference in someone’s life. I have a purpose, which was to speak out for others. I was the voice for the unheard. I had hoped to someday help others face the communication barrier. Having a voice and an outlet of communication is so important today. Being patient, flexible, and persistent are the qualities that one must have in order to be successful at performing evaluations as a speech language pathologist.This job has been very exciting and emotionally rewarding for me, especially to see how children and adults progress from their initial evaluations with poor communication skills to their final evaluations, when they carry clear and meaningful conversations with their communication partners and caregivers. Both my experiences as a speech therapist, sensory motor coach, and my job in the courthouse interacting with victims with communication disorders, have helped me tremendously to build a foundation in what I love doing. I have found my purpose in this world and I am compassionate and strive to empower others.
Short Term (Solution-focused, etc.)
Ideal for those who are coming in with a specific problem they’d like to address and gain clarity on. Typically, short term therapies are present focused and do not dive deep into your past.
Structured
Structured therapies are goal and progress oriented. Therapists may incorporate psychoeducation and a specific “curriculum.” In order to stay on track, therapists may provide worksheets and homework.
Insight-oriented (Psychodynamic, Existential, etc.)
Exploring the past and making connections to present issues can help clients gain insight. Getting to the root of the issue and finding deeper self-awareness can help with long-term change.
Non-directive (Humanistic, Person-centered, etc.)
Going with the flow and seeing where it leads.
Behavioral (CBT, DBT, etc.)
Focuses on changing potentially unhealthy or self-destructive behaviors by addressing problematic thought patterns and specific providing coping skills.
Trauma Focused (EMDR, TF-CBT, etc.)
Recognizing the connection between trauma experiences and your emotional and behavioral responses, trauma focused therapy seeks to help you heal from traumas.
