Speech, feeding therapist returns to area to offer specialty services

Krista Boynton

Business Name: Oleena Speech & Feeding Therapies LLC

Years in business: Less than 1 year

Location: 26 State Ave., Carlisle

Contact: 717-316-0125

Q: Why did you want to start this kind of business?

A: There is always a need for quality speech therapy. Everywhere has a waiting list. Additionally, the scope of practice is very large and most SLPs have a specialty. Mine is currently feeding therapy (from infants to 18), and I’ve found that I offer a different approach/skill set from most therapists in the immediate area. I always have and always will love helping “late talkers,” kids who can’t be understood, kids with difficulty with language comprehension, kids who stutter, etc., but I saw an even bigger need in the area of kids with difficulty eating.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: Owning a private practice where I could do the kind of therapy I excel at and providing the services in the way I want to do so has been my goal for many years. But the timing was never right. While working for a large practice in upstate New York, I was given the opportunity to delve into feeding therapy. I worked with a large variety of cases and embraced each one as a learning opportunity. I was also able to expand my skill set to include working with early language learners (toddlers) and found a love for that age range while learning from some amazing SLPs, OTs and PTs. I was learning and growing every day, and my growth as a therapist resulted in success for my clients. When I moved back to my hometown of Boiling Springs, I knew I wanted to deliver the same quality of therapy. And so, Oleena was created. Shortly after deciding to jump in with both feet by renting a space, an opportunity to rent an office within Beech Street Therapy Center (a pediatric play therapy/counseling center) presented itself. The owner has been tremendously helpful in the initial advertising for my company and getting the business off the ground. And while I am my own practice, I’m still able to be surrounded by passionate therapists on a daily basis.

Q: What does your business sell or provide?

A: At Oleena, we offer pediatric speech and feeding therapy for ages 0-18. This includes: children struggling with executive function (decision making/planning/inferencing), high level language comprehension (multiple meaning words, idioms), disfluency (stuttering), breast or bottle feeding, starting solids, extreme picky eating to the point it impacts their nutrition, delayed language (a toddler who isn’t speaking or has few words), or difficulty being understood by people.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

A: Advertising. My goal, especially concerning feeding therapy, is to find these kids when they are young so as to prevent different disorders from becoming more severe.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do or place in Cumberland County?

A: I love tubing and playing in the creek with my kids in the summer. I have lived in several other states and all that reaffirmed what a wonderful place this is to live. And my favorite place is hands down, the Hamilton. If you’ve never been, stop what you’re doing and go order a hotchee dog and milkshake.