Sarah Clifford Scheflen, M.S., CCC-SLP
Founder & Executive Director of Scheflen Speech–Language Pathology, Inc. • Senior Pediatric SLP • Clinical Researcher & Author
530 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 105, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (Near Third Street Promenade)
Clinical Areas of Focus
Dedicated Exclusively to Empowering Children & Families
Sarah Clifford Scheflen, M.S., CCC-SLP is a pediatric clinical speech–language pathologist who specializes in working with children with apraxia of speech, auditory processing disorders, social communication disorders, autism, and related developmental disorders. She works exclusively with pediatric populations, primarily between the ages of 18 months to 10 years.
Sarah is the founder and executive director of Scheflen Speech–Language Pathology, Inc. (SSLP), her clinical private practice in Santa Monica, California. She is a recognized speaker, guest lecturer, and clinical innovator whose research focus is on teaching communicative play and social cognition skills through evidence-based video modeling.
For 12 years, Sarah served as the senior speech–language pathologist on staff at the prestigious Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program, an intensive day treatment program for children with developmental disabilities located at UCLA. During her clinical tenure at UCLA, Sarah provided intensive individualized therapy to hundreds of children on the autism spectrum and led clinical investigations into novel speech and language treatment modalities.
The Only PROMPT-Certified Therapist on Westside Los Angeles
Sarah is one of only a handful of speech pathologists worldwide who are fully certified (as opposed to merely trained) by the renowned PROMPT Institute in the PROMPT technique. PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) is an internationally respected neurodevelopmental tactile-kinesthetic intervention that is recognized as particularly effective for children diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and severe motor speech disorders. Sarah is proud to be the only PROMPT-certified therapist on the Westside of Los Angeles.
Sarah is the co-founder of Teach2Talk, LLC, an internationally acclaimed educational company producing video-modeling DVDs, apps, and learning curricula designed to help children develop functional speech, language, social interactions, and play skills.
Her peer-reviewed research on video modeling and play interventions has been published in esteemed scientific journals, including Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, co-authored with UCLA faculty members including Dr. Stephanny Freeman and Dr. Tanya Paparella.
Licensing, Certifications & Professional Standards
Sarah holds a Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology and has continuously maintained her:
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA #12086278) continuously since 2003.
- State of California Speech-Language Pathology License from the California Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (License #SP 13706) continuously since 2003.
- PROMPT Institute Certification — Advanced clinical certification for neuromotor pediatric speech restructuring.
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Modalities
Sarah combines extensive clinical mastery across leading evidence-based methodologies, tailoring the exact intervention model to your child's unique developmental profile.
PROMPT Technique
Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets — evidence-based tactile-kinesthetic therapy especially powerful for apraxia of speech.
Video Modeling & Social Skills
Empirically supported video modeling interventions to teach conversational language, cooperative play, and peer engagement.
PECS® (Picture Exchange)
Picture Exchange Communication System to foster spontaneous functional communication in non-verbal or emerging communicators.
PRT® (Pivotal Response Training)
Play-based behavioral therapy targeting pivotal developmental areas like motivation, self-regulation, and multiple communicative cues.
DIR® / Floortime Model
Child-centered relationship and emotion-based interactions meeting children at their current developmental and sensory level.
The Hanen Centre® Programs
Empowering parents and caregivers with actionable, everyday communication interaction strategies (It Takes Two to Talk).
TEACCH® & Structured Teaching
Structured cognitive and visual routines designed to capitalize on children's visual processing strengths.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Targeted positive behavioral reinforcement integrated seamlessly with pediatric speech and communication goals.
Schedule an Evaluation with Sarah & the SSLP Clinical Team
Whether your child is navigating early speech delays, motor apraxia, social communication hurdles, or autism, our Santa Monica clinic provides the highest level of compassionate clinical expertise.