Speech Therapy for Big Kids & Teens in South Jersey & Philadelphia
We look beneath the surface to understand what’s truly going on — replacing confusion with clarity and building confidence that lasts.
Because the right strategy can change a child’s trajectory.
Founder, Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Autism Specialist
Ellen McSpadden, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS
Ellen McSpadden, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS, is the founder of Cheerful Chatter Speech-Language Services, established in 2013. ASHA-certified and licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, she brings over 20 years of experience serving families across Southern New Jersey.
In 2013, Ellen was working directly with families — on living room floors and at kitchen tables. Pleased with the progress their children made, families began referring their friends, and Cheerful Chatter was born.
Over the past decade, as the practice grew from a handful of families to a welcoming space in Haddonfield, NJ, Ellen recognized a gap in services for highly verbal, neurodivergent big kids and teens who struggled with connection. Cheerful Chatter evolved to meet that need — offering specialized services in social communication, literacy, and speech clarity.
With formal training in PEERS®, SPELL-Links, DTTC, and PROMPT, and honored to be listed in Apraxia Kids’ SLP Directory, Ellen blends efficient, evidence-based practice with warmth and practical skill building, guided always by one simple goal: connection first.
“She didn’t just help my child,
she taught me
how to help them too.”
— Parent in Cherry Hill, NJ
“I’ve never seen
my teen this motivated
to learn something.”
— Parent in Voorhees, NJ
“After one session,
we knew we’d found
the right fit.”
— Parent in Haddon Twp, NJ
What Makes Our Social Skills Groups for Teens, Literacy Groups and Speech Therapy So Different?
We build real relationships our clients and their parents
We strengthen communication, connection & confidence with evidence-based methods like:
PEERS® for social skills
Unstuck & On Target!® for social-executive function skills
SPELL-Links® for literacy
DTTC® for motor-speech disorders
It Takes Two to Talk® for late talkers
We offer a range of appointment lengths in the afternoons and evenings for your convenience
The last few minutes of every appointment are saved for you… you’ll be kept up-to-date and your questions will always be answered
Your therapist is available via text and email when you need them
Speech Teletherapy Works Beautifully!
The COVID-19 Pandemic changed a lot. While many accustomed to in-person services struggled, our caseload grew. Our creativity allowed us to meet everyone’s needs, regardless of age.
Today, younger children play with their parents while we coach them to be their therapist. For older children struggling to speak clearly, we harness the power of mirror neurons and bring the camera up to our mouth… a child’s ability to move their mouth the same way is actually enhanced! Once children reach 1st or 2nd grade, teletherapy rarely phases them. Using shared screens and documents, we work together on materials we create for them, just as if we were in-person.
Need remote support for social skills? When you participate with them, we’ll show you how to work on facial expressions, body language and spacing, as well as where to look and when.