About
For many who are struggling with communication or academics, it can be difficult to decide where to begin, or where to turn for help. So much is often unclear: What are the exact needs? What is the extent of their impact? What services will make the biggest difference? We created Language & Learning because, during this uncertain and often worrying time, we have found that the families we work with need someone who truly cares about their best interests, and can be an experienced, trusted resource for the information, recommendations, and services they need to make a difference in their lives. Language & Learning offers individualized speech-language, academic, and executive functioning therapy provided by only highly experienced, passionate, caring professionals, whose primary goal is to make a difference in others’ lives in a way that’s both effective and fun. We provide services out of our office in Georgetown, and also offer in-home and in-school services, both within and outside of school hours. We are passionate about making sure our students get the caring, experienced support they deserve. We believe in developing and continually adapting a comprehensive, individualized treatment approach that meets each student’s unique, ever-changing demands. In our sessions, we target not only underlying skills and strategies, but also each student’s self-awareness of their own strengths and needs. This helps our students to gain self-confidence and generalize their new skills into their daily lives. We also believe in ensuring that we build a strong rapport with each of our students, and in making each session fun, interactive, and functional.
Holly Wilder Stutts, MA, CCC-SLP
Holly Wilder Stutts is a speech-language pathologist who founded Language & Learning. She has worked with both children and adults addressing a variety of communication needs. In addition to her broad repertoire of experience, she is specialized in working with neurodiverse children and adolescents with language-based learning differences. After spending several years working as a speech-language pathologist at The Lab School of Washington, Holly developed a passion for helping these bright, energetic, compassionate, and often misunderstood students. She enjoys building her students’ self-confidence by utilizing their strengths and helping them understand themselves as learners. She is experienced in a variety of programmatic approaches, and she uses her expertise to apply elements of these approaches along with other creative, interactive activities to offer a truly individualized approach. She believes that each unique individual deserves to be treated as such, in terms of both her therapy approach and the connection she makes with each student and family. She began Language & Learning so that she could focus on building connections with her clients and their families to truly make an impact on their lives.
Beyond her professional life, Holly loves to study health and nutrition, spend time in nature, and find new adventures both near and far with her husband and two boys. Holly is licensed in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia, and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.
Jessica Roth, MS, CCC-SLP
Jess Roth is a speech-language pathologist who has worked with a variety of clients, including early intervention and high school students. She began her career at a high school in New Hampshire and enjoyed building relationships with students to use their strengths and interests in therapy. Jess focused on targeting language skills that would help students succeed in the classroom as well as after graduation. She enjoyed collaborating with teachers and families to encourage carryover of these skills. Working with younger children in a pediatric clinic in Maryland provided Jess with the opportunity to help kids meet their developmental milestones at their own pace and find an effective form of communication. She frequently implemented a child-led approach to therapy to target skills through play in a naturalistic environment. Her current interests are articulation, expressive and receptive language, pragmatic language, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Outside of speech and language therapy, Jess enjoys exploring DC, trying new restaurants, and reading. She is licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
“Jessica has been amazing! S LOVES going to speech therapy and playing with her, and has made great progress with expanding her vocabulary, labeling, and signing. “SPEEEECH!” is always the highlight of S’s week!”
Darcy Brennan, MS, CCC-SLP
Darcy Brennan is a speech-language pathologist who has worked in a variety of
settings with both children and adults. Darcy is passionate about working with
the child and parents to facilitate success and confidence. She believes meeting
children where they’re at to provide a strength-based approach. Darcy is
passionate about providing quality services so children can grow academically
and be the best version of themselves.
In Darcy’s personal time, she loves shopping, traveling, going to the gym, and
finding yummy restaurants around the DMV. Darcy is licensed in the District of
Columbia and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American
Speech-Language and Hearing Association.
“Darcy was an incredible therapist. She helped me regain my ability to speak, communicate and swallow again after I was hit by a car. Darcy was patient and dedicated to helping me succeed. She worked with my family to make sure all my needs were met. I am so thankful and honored to have worked with her.”
Courtney McVeigh, MA, CCC-SLP
Courtney is a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked with both children and adults. She worked in a public school and a school for the severely disabled. Between these two settings, Courtney was provided the opportunity to work with children with ADHD, language-based learning differences, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). Her passion grew for problem solving and empowering teachers to understand their students’ capabilities and provide education in modification of assignments to meet the child’s zone of proximal development. Courtney’s experience working with neurodiverse students with multiple diagnoses developed her skills to observe the child holistically. She assesses the child’s sensory, physical, and socio-emotional needs to set them up for success in reaching their speech and language goals. She combines her knowledge and experience in evidence based practice with a student-led approach. This approach provides individual intervention and support for each child. Courtney prioritizes the rapport she builds with her clients and their families to promote notable, functional gains.
Outside of speech and language therapy, Courtney enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also loves being outside, wakeboarding in the summer and snowboarding in the winter, reading, singing, and photography.
“Watching Courtney work first hand with children with a variety of diagnosis and various learning differences is such a joy. She is quick thinker and able to adapt to meet the child’s needs. Courtney follows the child’s lead and their interests to make therapy a fun and engaging experience. The students love spending time with her and look forward to speech therapy. We are so thankful to have worked with Courtney and seeing our students’ growth because of it!” -Anika Nelson, K-4 Special Education Lead Teacher.
Amanda Kurtz-Tuck, MEd, CCC-SLP
Amanda Kurtz-Tuck is a speech-language pathologist who has worked with both children and adults on a variety of communication needs. Most of her career has revolved around preschool through high school aged individuals. When working with preschoolers, she loves helping children with developmental delays reach milestones and increase their communication with their families. Within school aged and adolescents, she specializes in working with individuals with language-based learning differences, but also enjoys working with all areas of language and articulation. While working as a speech-language pathologist at The Lab School of Washington, Amanda developed a love for thinking outside of the box and motivating all students to grow and find academic success, which she brings to this practice. She believes that any therapist is a team member working for the development of a child and thus enjoys collaborating with parents, teachers, and professionals.
When she’s not working with students, Amanda enjoys swimming, rock climbing, yoga, and cooking. Currently she’s learning to bake! Amanda is licensed in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.
Academic Therapy and Executive Functioning Therapy.
Our licensed team is also highly experienced and specialized in providing creative, multi-sensory approaches to reinforce curricular material and make functional academic and social improvements. They teach strategies and engage students in discourse to ensure that students take responsibility for their improvement and can generalize the skills gained in their sessions. With several years of experience working with children who have learning differences, our team understands a variety of underlying weaknesses that may be impacting their abilities. They have experience evaluating each student’s unique needs and implementing individualized approaches. They also have training in a variety of programmatic approaches, as well as other evidence-based techniques, and are skilled at selecting and implementing these techniques strategically to ensure that each student receives individualized, effective support. Our team has a variety of experience in terms of age groups and areas of expertise. Contact us for information about how we can meet your child’s specific needs.
Our Location
In keeping with our philosophy of making this process easier for the families who need our help, Language & Learning is centrally located to service the DC, Maryland, Virginia area. Located in Georgetown at 1226 31st St. NW, we are only a few steps off of M Street, a short drive from many areas of Virginia and Maryland, and easily accessible by metro train (Foggy Bottom) or bus. We chose our location to ensure that for families looking for help, convenience is one less aspect to worry about. Our building is surrounded by residential streets with two-hour parking, so that finding a place to park within walking distance is stress-free. For those who are wary (or not a fan of parallel parking), we are located directly on top of a parking garage with spaces offered at $9 an hour. For parents or family members bringing a client to us, our building has a furnished, well-appointed waiting room. Additionally, we have a tranquil courtyard with tables and benches, and we are steps from M Street, which has an abundance of shops and restaurants.