Meet Lysandra Sykes, CCC-SLP
Hello, I'm so glad you are here! I've been working with kids since I was one. I didn't always plan to be a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) but through everything I've done - being an actor, camp counselor, youth director, performing stand-up comedy, I've been fascinated and passionate about communication.
As an SLP I've worked in numerous settings, such as schools, private practice, teletherapy and skilled nursing facilities. I've worked in California, Vermont and am happy to be back working in my home state of North Carolina. My career has allowed me to work with a wide range of ages and children from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
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I have also discovered that too often in my field people focus on what a child can't do. While part of my job is to use my expertise to understand the 'how, where and why' a child is struggling, it's just as important to find the strengths, motivations and interests of each child I work with.
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I take my work seriously because I know that in order to learn, a child must feel safe. Safe to try, safe to fail and safe to be themselves. Trust takes time and I work hard to make sure each client feels seen, heard and understood. I want to help children realize how amazing and unique they are, not simply focus on their challenges. I also love to be a goofball and make people laugh, because humor is one of the best ways to navigate all the challenges that come with learning something new.
When I'm not being an SLP, I'm likely being a nerd about something else, whether I'm reading a great book, hiking somewhere beautiful, figuring out how to stop killing my plants or trying once again to bake the ever illusive perfect biscuit.