Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Briana Falgiano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Briana , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I first created the concept of The Dramatic SLP LLC when I was approached by my clinical supervisor in my internship program. My supervisor noted that I had a natural ability to work with autistic children to develop communication that not only incorporated strengthened verbal expressive and receptive language skills but also strengthened social communication skills as well. in my internship, I noted many times I would use little to no therapy materials and run with my imagination to create games that brought stories to life in a fun, engaging way which were skills I had learned in my time as a professional performer and entertainer. After working in entertainment at Walt Disney World for 5 years as well as improvising acting through my acting career as a princess party performer, haunt actor and more- I noticed I was using several aspects of nonverbal communication to tell stories using body language in combination with expressive and receptive language. This technique gave me an edge to develop and use language learning strategies with my clients as a whole instead of separating language into two separate categories (social language and expressive language) which made acquisition of language skills: faster, more useful, engaging and playful. I knew I had to set out to develop my own treatment methods, to teach other speech therapists of the importance of the dramatic arts and to bring to life the combination of the dramatic arts and speech services for those within my community to get started!
Briana , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The Road To The Dramatic SLP and Where it All Began:
As a young, high school graduate lost in the depths of choosing a career path, I sat in the kitchen of my high school chorus director and good friend, Dr. Kelly Easterling as she tossed idea after idea of career fields she believed I would be a good fit for. Throughout my high school career, I trained very closely with Dr. Easterling in voice and singing, competing at the county and state level for show choir, solos and ensembles. My favorite mastery solo piece was “I Dreamed a Dream” from Le Miserables which earned me a superior title at the state level in 2014. “Have you ever heard of Speech-Language Pathology?” She asked me while at her kitchen table. ” You would love it, you get to work with the voice and children. I believe it would be an amazing path for you.” Upon doing some research, I quickly jumped into the field and fell in love.
In the Spring of 2016, I began my improv acting career at The Walt Disney World Resort where I worked part time for 5 years to develop several acting techniques as a part time job. In the Summer of 2017, I was hired to work as a summer camp counselor at The Center For Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Kentucky managing a den of 8 campers a week. CCK is a year-round camp dedicated to servicing children of varying abilities and diganoses as well as their families. It is there that I learned the concept of “GOYA” (Give of yourself always) and “FTK” (for the kids). No matter what crazy, fun idea they had, I learned to do it wholeheartedly and excitedly, whether it was a run through the dining hall at 6AM with a crazy outfit on or eating a plateful of food with no hands or utensils, CCK is a place where kids can be themselves with the freedom to enjoy their life with no limitations. In the summer of 2018, I was promoted and returned as a Lodge Leader, managing 32 campers and 16 camp counselors for any given week. I learned the importance of the leadership role, how to inspire both my campers and counselors and how to show up for my team and my kids however they needed. You could most often find me with the theater group putting on weekly productions created by campers. In the Summer of 2018 I was accepted to the Master’s program for Speech-Language Pathology at Nova Southeastern University. The same summer I was hired as a teacher’s aide at Alpine Academy and Interventions Unlimited in Oviedo, Florida, a school for autistic children. It is here I worked under the supervision of Meaghan Browning, head teacher, and learned the importance of education, how to advocate for our children as well as the importance of social skills. The following year, 2019, I returned as a full time teacher. I managed and operated a classroom of 8 autistic children who ranged in communication abilities from completely verbal to operating on a talking device. Completely unaware of how to teach reading skills to a child using a communication device, I researched the most appropriate ways to do so which produced little to no findings. I stumbled upon one research article which highlighted the importance of using visuals for the development of reading skills. I contacted the original researchers who helped me to develop and deliver an in-service to the CEO and school director of Alpine Academy and Interventions Unlimited, Jing Zhou and Kelly O’Tolle to implement a new way of teaching reading in the school. I later integrated and introduced a new social skills curriculum for my students which targeted the social skills most needed for my students which benefited them greatly. I began my internships in August 2020 under the supervision of Katherine Logan, M.A. CCC-SLP. It is there that I began to work with children who struggled to communicate with others through the use of puppets and puppetry. I found a profound increase in oral language expression with the children who used this technique with me. Katherine asked me “explain why what you’re doing is working”. I began to research and I could not find the answer to her question because I found the research simply did not exist. So I began to set out to develop treatment methods based on these ideas. In the summer of 2021, I completed my internship with Victoria Hartman, M.S. CCC-SLP where I treated a client with selective mutism. This client highly identified with a princess whom they felt most similar to, a princess without a voice. I hypothesized that if I combined my entertainment abilities of performing with the “sea princess” and speech therapy, this client may greatly benefit from this treatment method. As my final project, I incorporated this treatment method to my practices, with huge success. In the Winter of 2021, I worked closely with Dr. Frederick DiCarlo M.A. CCC-SLPD to incorporate music and arts for aphasic stroke patients through a program called “Movin’ and Groovin”. This program challenged me to select different songs based on rhythm, lyrical pattern and musicality to target speech and language goals. I passed with flying colors and greatly enjoyed the program. I graduated with my Master’s Degree in December of 2021. In February of 2022, I returned to the supervision of Katherine Logan, M.S. CCC-SLP to complete my Clinical Fellowship Year at the Central Florida Dreamplex in Clermont, Florida. During my time at the Central Florida Dreamplex, I developed and launched the very first “Princess Social Skills Group” which targeted social skills through the interaction with several familiar relatable characters. Many children highly benefited from the group and the group itself was extremely successful and sought after. I then created and launched the very first “Drama Club” which targeted social skills through the use of drama, the dramatic arts and improv skill to develop speech and language. In my final creation of the “Drama Club” I launched a second course at Alpine Academy in the Fall of 2022 which proved successful and engaging for many. I hope to continue my endeavors as both a professional entertainer and performer and Speech-Language Pathologist to bring the dreams of many to life through the dramatic arts like so many others have done for me.
I believe all forms of communication are more valuable than using just one form, expressive language. I believe in the importance of “story catching” and listening to clients to develop ways of communicating over the simple instruction of language. I believe my clients are creative performers, and story tellers who benefit from a therapist who listens and reflects their communication style to develop communication goals for functional communication in the everyday environment. I believe in the power of imagination. I believe the world is a better place when my clients are uniquely themselves. I believe in listening to my clients and not just their words. I believe when clients experience group integration, they develop a stronger desire to communicate. I believe the sense of belonging derived from the group settings sparks client connection and desire to engage with the world around us. I believe in incorporating evidence-based practices in new, fun ways by utilizing dramatic and imaginative based play.
What I believe In
1. Communication AND Language- I value the theory of listening to connect. I believe non-verbal communication and body language as a valid form of communication and should be developed and explored.
2. Person-Centered Therapy- I prioritize building self-worth and confidence through consistent validation and individualized approaches.
3. Dramatic and Imagination-Based Play- Play as a valued and evidence-based part of the SLP Model, prioritizing fun and play
4. Innovative Approach to Evidence-based practices- I value taking evidence-based practices and applying them in a new way. I believe in applying evidence-based practices to an imaginative-play therapy setting.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As a 28-year-old business owner, entrepreneur and lesbian, female private practice owner, I am usually an anomaly to the field of Speech Language Pathology. Many Speech Language Pathologist do not typically own their own private practices, let alone at my age coupled with the fact that I graduated with my master’s degree only 3 years ago. I am a very brave individual with a passion that can move mountains and I knew that I had to put that passion and heart into my business. Back in 2022 while working on my clinicals, I traveled out to New Orleans to attend a conference entitled “Black SLP Magic” to learn about the differences and challenges of the gaps between Black speech language pathologists and the lack of representation within the field. I was equally inspired and saddened by hearing the stories of what each of these accomplished therapists had to overcome in order to push the field of speech therapy to be more representative and accepting as well as creating equal chances for all people to become a speech therapist if they wanted. It was there that I met, interacted with and was given several signed book copies by the inspirational therapists and authors I met on how to set up my own private practice. I needed other speech therapist to believe in me, challenge me and remind me of what I could accomplish. I began reading and studying the entire plane ride back to Orlando and immediately started my business when I returned. I believe there are several other therapists out there like me: with a dream to do more, be more and be the boss of their own time and compassion for their clients. I believe that therapists with an “I can learn” attitude are truly able to do what they want within this field, and let’s face it: with the exponential increase of autism diagnoses in the United States and around the world, the field of Speech Language Pathology as a whole will have to learn how to grow and change to help the influx of people within this population. These beliefs helped to push me to overcome the doubts and fears I had when starting my own private practice. Beyond just providing therapy services for clients, my goal is to inspire other therapists to break out of the norm, use their own unique abilities to bring something new to the field,
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Yes! I never imagined the things I would be able to do. What started out as hobbies became side hustles, became the main hustle and before I knew it, I was performing all over the United States. I started performing at Walt Disney World in 2015 and after several auditions, I finally made it and began working for the company. From there, I started performing with local princess parties on the weekends when I would have 1 or 2 gigs every 3 months or so. When Covid-19 struck, the entertainment industry came to a halt and I was laid off from Walt Disney World and princess parties became virtual. I made little to no income in 2020 and feared it was the end of my performing career. Fortunately, I didn’t quit and with my quarantine boredom, I learned several new skills from home, I had my own aerial art equipment because I enjoyed the circus arts so much and the local gyms had closed down due to the pandemic as well. I began: roller skating, collecting and creating more princess costumes and wigs, learning aerial circus, learning burlesque, and chair routines, and even dabbling into the haunt acting scene. The performing arts industry came together and we shared our skills virtually to keep us performing and practicing. When the Covid-19 restrictions began to lift and performing arts came back to life, I had so many new skills that I shared and began to market as well. I was hired by several different local Orlando companies and my gigs were taking off faster than I could keep up. I became well known and always professional which gave me the opportunities to perform much more. Eventually I would even begin to travel to different states and locations to bring my skills to life and I have been performing full time since then!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedramaticslp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_dramatic_slp/?igsh=MTgzMmZyYnZ3NHpwMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089365089438&mibextid=PlNXYD
Image Credits
Katrina Falgiano, Black SLP Magic, Brion Price Photography