Like the rings of a tree, every child’s story holds layers of experience. Like wildflowers, they each bloom in their own time and way.
We cannot turn an apple tree into a cherry tree, and we wouldn’t want to. Our job is to honor each child’s roots, respect their growth, and provide the sunlight, water, and care they need to flourish. Here, therapy is never about “fixing.” It’s about creating space for children to feel safe, seen, and supported—so they can grow into their authentic selves.
Hi, I’m Erin
Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you!
Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC
Speech Therapist, Feeding Specialist, and Certified Lactation Counselor
“I’ve dedicated my career to supporting children and families through some of their most challenging (and most meaningful) moments. Before moving into private practice, I worked at a renowned Children’s Hospital, specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, early language development, AAC, and trauma-informed care for medically complex children. Along the way, I’ve completed advanced training as a DIR®Floortime Expert Provider and TBRI®-Trained Practitioner. In 2021, I was honored with ASHA’s Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate for my dedication to this work, and I continue to present at national conferences on feeding, trauma-informed care, and play-based therapy.
My favorite part of what I do is getting to know children and families, learning from them, and walking alongside them as they grow. I would be honored to get to know you, too!”
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Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC is a speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor. Erin has advanced training in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, early language, AAC, and trauma, specifically for medically complex children. Erin is an Expert DIR®Floortime Provider and is a TBRI® Trained Practitioner. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor's degree in CSD and Psychology and from the University of South Carolina with her Master’s in Speech Pathology. She was a regular co-host of "First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast" with Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, where she shared her experiences and evidenced-based practices from her time working in early intervention/home health, NICU/PICU, GI clinic, and outpatient clinic settings. She was awarded an ASHA Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate in 2021 for her dedication to the field. She is a current member of the ASHA Leadership Development Program graduating in February of 2023.
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With extensive experience in presenting on pediatric feeding disorders, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity-affirming practices, Erin has delivered numerous impactful webinars and lectures for respected organizations and conferences. Her speaking engagements include the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Conference, where she has co-presented on topics such as "Caregiver Coaching in Pediatric Feeding Disorders" and "Trauma-Informed Care Across the Lifespan." Erin has also shared her expertise at the ICDL Conference, SCOTA, and various other professional platforms, offering practical insights on play-based therapy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and effective strategies for working with medically complex children.
Connecting through Play in Feeding Therapy: Building Trust for Pediatric Feeding Disorders, November 2023: Lecture at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference as a Changemaker Session
Embodied Cognition, November 2023: Lecture at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference with Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L
Meaning Making in Play: An Interdisciplinary Lens for Development, February 2023: SCOTA South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association (.2 AOTA CEU)
Pediatric Feeding Disorders Guest Lecture, September 2022: Lecture for OT Pediatrics Lab for Presbyterian College (.3 ASHA CEU)
Affect, Connection, and Feeding: How Relationships Play a Role in Feeding from Infancy On, June 2022: Med SLP Summit (.05 ASHA CEU)
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in NICU and Post NICU Settings, February 2021: SCSHA (South Carolina Speech and Hearing Association) Convention (.15 ASHA CEU)
Caregiver Coaching in Pediatric Feeding Disorders: How to Have That Conversation, November 2023: Lecture at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference with Dr. Jeanne Marshall
Connecting through Play in Feeding Therapy: Building Trust for Pediatric Feeding Disorders, October 2023: Lecture at the ICDL Conference
Meaning Making in Play: An Interdisciplinary Lens for Development, February 2023: SCSHA South Carolina Speech and Hearing Association (.2 ASHA CEU)
Pediatric Feeding Disorders within the Public Schools SpeechtherapyPD Conference, June 2022: Co-lectured 2 hours for Assessment and Treatment of PFD in the public schools with Kristen West, MS, CCC-SLP
Use of Play and DIRFloortime® in Speech Therapy, April 2022: Lecture for Edinboro University regarding play-based speech therapy (3 hours)
Pediatric Feeding Disorders Pediatric Dysphagia, November 2021: Guest Lecture: South Carolina State
Trauma Informed Care Across the Lifespan, November 2023: Lecture at the annual American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference with Renee Garrett, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC CBIS
Different Bites for Different Brains: How to Engage in Neurodiversity Affirming Feeding Therapy, April 2023: (.5 ASHA CEU) SpeechTherapyPD
Play-Based Language Treatment for the Medically Complex Child Using Trauma-Informed Lens, September 2022: SpeechTherapyPD Virtual Live Lecture
Connection, Play, and Feeding Therapy: A Guide for the Interaction of Relationship and Play-Based Therapy for Pediatric Feeding Disorders, May 2022: LSHA (Louisiana Speech and Hearing Association) Convention (.2 ASHA CEU)
Connecting Through Play in Speech and Feeding Therapy, February 2022: SCSHA (South Carolina Speech and Hearing Association) Convention (.15 ASHA CEU).
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First Bite Podcast – Co-host with 2.2+ million downloads
Featured on:
Affect Autism Podcast
The Autism Little Learners Podcast
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
This Speech Life Podcast
Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs
Quoted in Bloomberg Business Week
The metaphor I like to use when talking about trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care relates to biodiversity. Specifically, "you can't turn an apple tree into a cherry tree."
Previous philosophies of therapy that were not neurodiversity-affirming or trauma-informed focused on changing the child and the family to make them more "neurotypical." We know now the goal is not to change the child, but to help them thrive in an environment that may not be set up for them.
When we meet a child, we do not know who exactly they are going to be. The seed is planted and they are growing, but we cannot see the fruit yet, unless we help them to thrive. As clinicians, we have the privilege to learn from a child and family about who they want to be and to work to understand them.
The roots of the tree I deem a child's genetics, medical etiologies, their individual differences. We have to work to understand the roots to develop the best plan of care for them. The rings of the tree, although we cannot see them, are their past experiences and trauma. No child or family owes us their story, but we need to assume trauma has occurred when working with the children we work with. We also know that every tree needs different sunlight, water, fertilizer to thrive.
Our job is then to figure out what support and accommodations a child needs to interact in the world the way they want to. It is with this support that the child can grow into their authentic self.