Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Falgiano.
Hi Briana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Briana Falgiano, M.S., CCC-SLP and I am a professional entertainer and C.E.O. And speech language pathologist of The Dramatic SLP LLC.
The Road To The Dramatic SLP
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 researching, 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 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 diagnoses as well as their families. It is there that I learned the concepts 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 6 AM 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 entirely verbal to operating on a talking device. Needed to learn 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 that 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 internship in August 2020 under the supervision of Katherine Logan, M.A. CCC-SLP. It was 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 your work is working.” I began to research, and I could not find the answer to her question because I found the research did not exist. So, I began 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 they felt most similar to, a princess without a voice. I hypothesized that if I combined my entertainment abilities to perform with the “sea princess” and speech therapy, this client might greatly benefit from this treatment method. As my final project, I incorporated this treatment method into my practices with colossal 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 songs based on rhythm, lyrical pattern, and musicality to target speech and language goals. I passed with flying colors and immensely 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 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 first “Drama Club,” which targeted social skills through drama, the dramatic arts, and improv skills 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 plan 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.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest struggles were learning to love myself, see myself, accept myself, and hold myself to that standard no matter what. Passing a graduate program that only 10% of undergraduate students even get accepted to while simultaneously working as an entertainer and performer and passing my classes were the biggest challenges. Many times, I questioned my professors, my supervisor, Katherine Logan, M.A., CCC-SLP, and pushing the boundaries of acceptable treatment methods for clients, which are not widely accepted yet caused a lot of uproar and questioning of who I was as a therapist and entertainer. Many people typically only choose one field to work in, and I am combining both fields and am a prominent member of both communities. I am the odd one in every setting I step foot in. I don’t fit into any category- Speech Language Pathologist or Performer- so I set out to combine them all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
The Purpose of The Dramatic SLP is to integrate imagination-based play and theatrical drama into the Speech-Language Pathology setting to inspire clients to practice and apply functional communication skills in everyday environments and establish meaningful connections with others and themselves. The aim is to integrate a change in how we treat kids and families. I want to see a change in the field of Speech-Language Pathology in how we view clients and families- as people with valid communication wants and needs who have a voice to be heard. I wish to see a change in the overall ideas of different forms of communication viewed as acceptable, such as the use of drama, visual art, dancing, singing, and laughing as valid forms of communication. I wish to shift the standard view of Speech-Language Pathology from “teacher” and “student” to “story-catchers” and “storytellers.” I wish to promote and provide a break from the standard SLP treatment method by incorporating evidence-based practice methods into the performing arts setting and imagination-based play setting. I want to make speech therapy fun, engaging, and beneficial for all. The mission is to Incorporate thematic/dramatic play and imagination as valid treatment methods in Speech-Language Pathology practices. I want to teach the world how to listen to what our clients are saying while developing positive connections with clients and themselves. I want to emphasize the importance of “language-productive” environments, which are safe places for the central nervous system to appropriately learn language while providing helpful language input to support communication development across the lifespan. I want to see a shift from the emphasis being placed on language development to the purpose of language, which is to develop strong connections with self and others.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is performing on a stage at 4 years old. I was cast as Tinker Bell in my local theater production and enjoyed every second of being on stage and sharing my love of theater. I was able to dress up and act and even learned how to read through learning my lines.
Pricing:
- $175/1 hour session
- I accept the Step Up for Students Scholarships
- I run several local drama clubs, drumming classes, and circus programs
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thedramaticslp.com
Image Credits
Katrina Falgiano, Brion Price, Brandon Chestnut
