Hello! I’m Elise Benavides, and I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Arkansas, followed by my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Texas at Dallas.
I was drawn to the field of speech-language pathology because of the opportunity to help children build meaningful, functional communication skills that positively impact their everyday lives. One of my favorite parts of being an SLP is celebrating progress alongside children and their families. I believe that strong collaboration and individualized care are essential to creating meaningful and lasting outcomes. My primary areas of clinical interest include speech sound disorders, early language development, social communication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and sensory-based feeding difficulties. I am especially passionate about supporting children in developing functional communication skills through play-based and child-led intervention. I enjoy helping children discover meaningful ways to communicate during individualized therapy sessions, while also partnering closely with families to ensure skills carry over beyond the therapy room.
Whether it’s a child’s first meaningful word, a new speech sound, or a successful communication strategy, it is incredibly rewarding to help families recognize and celebrate each step forward. Throughout my graduate training, I gained experience working with children across a variety of settings, including private practice, home health, and school-based environments. I have worked with children presenting with articulation and phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, executive functioning challenges, ASD, AAC needs, sensory-based feeding difficulties, and other developmental communication differences.
Outside of work, I enjoy arts and crafts, exploring new coffee shops, playing board games, and spending time outdoors on walks with friends. I love finding creative outlet both in and out of the therapy room, and I like incorporating that creativity into my work with children and families.
