Sheri Jennings, M.S. SLP (she/her), Founder and Director

 Sheri Jennings is a licensed speech-language pathologist in the Portland area with nearly 15 years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology. Sheri is the director and founder of In Reach Therapy, and founded this unique practice in 2020 after seeing a lack of community-based services for Oregon residents. 

Over the course of her career, Sheri has served the needs of children and adults with communication challenges in private practices, clinics, early childhood intervention, public schools, home health, and stroke and traumatic brain injury rehab centers. She believes that the most important aspect of providing community-based therapy lies in cultivating truly meaningful connections with patients, parents, and caregivers to bring about resilient change in the lives of her patients and their families. She has deep commitment to a neurodiversity-affirming social model of care and ensures the In Reach team is provided with ample training and support for carrying through the core beliefs of the practice. 

Sheri practices heart-first leadership and creates unique opportunities for her colleagues to develop their skills in a team environment which prioritizes and celebrates the clinician's undeniable value to society through progressive trainings, realistic and respectful expectations, and acknowledgement of the high importance for mental health and wellness.

She served on the Oregon Speech and Hearing Association executive board for three years as the Clinic-based Representative, Vice-President of Governmental Affairs, and co-chair as the Oregon State Advocate for Reimbursement. Sheri is an avid musician and artist, and enjoys drawing, painting, and composing music. As a native Texan, she is having a blast exploring Oregon with her husband, son, and pets. 

Hello! I have been a practicing pediatric speech and language pathologist in the Portland metro area since 2009. I moved here from Wisconsin, where I grew up and went to school, for the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship at the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) and never left.  At the CDRC, I gained experience working on several interdisciplinary teams (e.g., Feeding, Craniofacial, Autism, Down Syndrome, NICU) and honed my diagnostic skills.  After my fellowship, I transitioned to a non-profit pediatric outpatient clinic where I worked with a variety of speech and language disorders. I developed an interest in language-based literacy intervention and began supporting reading, writing, and spelling skills.  In 2014, I became the SLP at Tucker Maxon School, a private school in SE Portland that provides specialized supports for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and learning to listen and talk. I became a certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Auditory-Verbal Educator in 2018 and went on to work at a clinic focused on serving children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  

I have a passion for collaborating  with caregivers as I view caregivers as their child's primary teachers. As a parent who has participated in speech and language therapy for my own daughter, my goal is to make therapeutic activities fun, functional, and doable.  I truly love talking to kids.  It is not hard for me to find something magical and exciting about each child I work with.  It's an honor to be welcomed into any child's life and to help them grow and learn.  I'm comfortable working with children and families in-person and via teletherapy.  

I enjoy mentoring graduate students and fellows and work with a few different organizations that support children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families.  Outside of work, my nights and weekends are spent with my husband and 3 year-old daughter cooking, playing at parks and having fun at home. I am looking forward to returning to some beloved activities like rock climbing, reading for fun, fiddling, and knitting when time allows. 

 Hi, I’m Mandy Martini, and I’m a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has been working in the field for 11 years, with the last eight years in pediatrics. 

I received my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and practiced in Washington state and California before moving to Oregon two years ago.

I have worked in clinics, schools, and home- and community-based settings and have a passion for working with kids and families in the environment where they spend most of their time or where they are experiencing challenges. My most recent trainings have focused on providing trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming practices and strengths-based approaches, working with individuals with a PDA profile (Pathological Demand Avoidance or Persistent Drive for Autonomy), responsive feeding techniques, building interoceptive awareness, and parent education and coaching around co-regulation and sensory supports.

I believe strongly that children (and all people!) can only learn when feeling safe, secure, and regulated, and this drives my therapeutic process. I follow my client’s lead and build in learning opportunities at their pace and as their nervous system allows. Therapy is a tool to develop strategies and supports for children and families that can involve modifying the activities or environments, in addition to building skills for the child or personal supports. I believe strongly in building a better world that is more accessible to people of all abilities!

Outside of work, I enjoy chasing after two very active boys with my husband both on the sports field and while exploring this beautiful state. I love to read, travel, volunteer in my community, and run. I’m currently training for my first marathon!

My treatment areas include the Greater Salem area, Monmouth, Independence, and Dallas.