Meet The Team

Speak Live Play

M.S., CCC-SLP & CLC

Melissa Peters Yang

Melissa Peters Yang M.S., CCC-SLP & CLC, is the founder and program director at Speak Live Play. Knowing her endearly as “Mel” to her associates and clients, Melissa received her Bachelor of Science degree from George Washington University and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY. Melissa achieved her Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) credential in 2023 after eight years in practice specializing in infant feeding. She utilizes these credentials to best serve all populations, from infants to the elderly. Melissa possesses over five years of extensive experience in the hospital setting. Currently serving as the Supervisor of Rehabilitation at Providence St. John’s Health Center, she plays a pivotal role in program development for Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech Therapy (ST). Within this capacity at Providence St. John’s, Melissa adeptly attends to patients with diverse medical diagnoses, encompassing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and adult patients. Her professional background also includes valuable hospital experience gained at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, California.

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M.S., CCC-SLP

Anna Harrison

Anna graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors in Speech, Language and Hearing, and a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. She is licensed in the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence, and is a member of The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

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B.S., SLPA

Marianne Aquino

Marianne Aquino, B.S., SLPA, is a speech-language pathologist assistant with over 7 years of experience working with populations of varied disabilities and age ranges (children, adults, and seniors).  She has been with Speak Live Play for three years. …

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M.A., OTR/L, CPAM

Sara Lewandowski

Sara Lewandowski holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Counseling from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA and a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA..

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Sara Lewandowski
Shabnam Banafsheha, M.A, ED, SLPA
M.A, ED, SLPA

Shabnam Banafsheha

Shabnam Amirieh completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Cal State Northridge and subsequently obtained her SLPA license. Then, she earned her Master’s in Education Instruction and Curriculum from California State University Bakersfield. She is a practicing behavioral therapist who genuinely loves working with children and making a positive impact in their lives. Making a difference in childrens’ lives as a Speech…

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M.A., CCC-SLP

Anastacia Hernandez

Anastacia received her BA in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from San Diego State University and her MA in Speech-Language Pathology from California State University, Long Beach. From a young age, Anastacia knew that she wanted to spend her life helping others and always held a passion for serving the community. She values therapy that encompasses a client-centered approach and greatly enjoys incorporating materials that are meaningful, fun, and helpful for clients and their families. Her goal is to create a safe space for those she works with, and she enjoys building relationships with all those she serves. When not in the clinic, she enjoys listening to music, scrapbooking, spending time with friends and family, and playing with her cat Alfalfa.

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Anastacia Hernandez Image
M.S., CF-SLP

Diana Hernandez

My name is Diana Hernandez. I was born in East Los Angeles and raised in Monterey Park. Prior to pursuing my graduate education, I worked for LAUSD at an elementary school for seven years as a paraprofessional and then as a teacher. I recently attained my master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Southern ….

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B.A., SLPA

Daniela Almeida

Hi, my name is Daniela and I have been a SLPA since 2020. I got my undergrad at the University of Northern Colorado, and my license from Loma Linda university. I have a passion for working with others on their speech and language skills, specifically the pediatric population. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach and spending time with family. I look forward to working with your little one!

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