Leaps and Bounds provides services in Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon and surrounding Raleigh areas. We have an office conveniently located on Knightdale Blvd. for easy access from these areas.
Leaps and Bounds is a locally owned and operated company founded by AnnMarie Marchese; MSCCCSLP, a leading provider of services in Wake County for the past 30 years. Leaps and Bounds focuses on providing speech, language, swallowing and literacy services in Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, and Raleigh. We are dedicated to providing exceptional services to this fast growing, family oriented community. We have an excellent team of dedicated professionals who will work with clients and their families to improve speech, language, swallowing and literacy skills.
Leaps and Bounds Therapy provides comprehensive speech, language, literacy and swallowing evaluations and therapy for people of all ages. Our goal is to identify areas of need and develop specific goals to improve a person’s communication, literacy or swallowing abilities. We work with our clients and their families to prioritize what is important to the individual and family life. Our priority is to provide direct one on one sessions and family coaching to empower family members to effectively help their loved ones improve their communication or swallowing abilities.
For children, we believe in the philosophy of psychologist Jean Piaget in that “Play is the work of Childhood.” Our approach to pediatric treatment is play based. A play-based approach to speech therapy is when speech and/or language activities are centered around a toy or play activity. Our Speech Language Pathologist will create opportunities for the child to practice skills while enjoying play with motivating toys and activities that are relevant to the child’s interests. The play based approach is also used with a sequential sensory oral approach to feeding therapy to allow children to gradually desensitize themselves to touch, smell, taste and texture while exploring and eating new foods. Our reading, writing and spelling tutoring follow the Science of Reading and Orton Gillingham methodologies; which uses multisensory activities to help children learn in a fun and interactive way. Pediatric and adult treatment approaches are guided by clinical expertise, evidenced based practices and client/caregiver goals setting.
ANNMARIE has been working in Wake and Johnston Counties for the past 30 years as a Speech Language Pathologist, Swallowing/Feeding therapist and an Orton Gillingham Reading and writing tutor. She founded Leaps and Bounds Therapy in 2022 and established a practice location in Knightdale in 2024. She received a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Rhode Island. She has over thirty years of experience working with both children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders. AnnMarie is able to provide comprehensive evaluation and therapy services for all ages. She has specific experience working in early intervention and with children who have language and literacy impairments. She also has worked with adult patients who have suffered a stroke, traumatic brain injury or have a voice disorder for most of her career.
She has the expertise to work with families to help children overcome feeding and swallowing issues related to oral motor and/or sensory processing issues. She has worked with children who are picky eaters and has taught them tools to use to try new foods. She frequently provides language testing to help with academic planning and development of an individualized education plan and is able to counsel and support families through the individualized education plan process.
AnnMarie is also skilled in working with adults who have speech, language or swallowing impairments resulting from a stroke, brain injury, anoxic episode, voice disorder or fluency disorder.
DIANE received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College in Boston. Before moving to North Carolina in 2007, Diane worked for 9 years in the Washington, DC area at a school serving children with a wide range of learning differences and speech/language impairments, including dyslexia, apraxia of speech, language disorders, articulation disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and dysfluency. She has served in private practice in NC for the past 15 years, and specializes in working with children with speech impairments such as articulation disorders, phonological disorders, and apraxia of speech. Diane has advanced training in the following treatment techniques and modalities: PROMPT technique for articulation therapy, PECS (Pictures Exchange Communication Program), Orton-Gillingham, and Visualizing & Verbalizing.
Diane is a baker, quilter, scrabble player, and professional balloon twister.
HAILEY is a dedicated Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow. Hailey holds a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. With a passion for helping others unlock their full potential, Hailey combines clinical expertise with a compassionate approach to therapy. Drawing from evidence-based practices and personalized treatment plans, Hailey enjoys working with a wide range of speech, language, and swallowing disorders, including articulation and phonological disorders, language delays, fluency disorders, dysphagia, and more.
She has experience working with children who have Autism, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Cerebral Palsy. Hailey has worked alongside adults to address language (Aphasia) and swallowing (Dysphagia) concerns following a stroke. Whether working with children, adolescents, or adults, Hailey tailors each session to the unique needs and goals of every client and their families, fostering a supportive environment where progress flourishes.
DANA is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with special interests in working with clients who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, especially preschool and early school age children. She obtained her BA in Child and Family Development from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1992, her BS in Communication Disorders from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1995 and her MA in Communication Disorders from Appalachian State University in 1997. She has over 26 years of experience working with children infants through school age who have communication delays or disorders.
Dana currently provides services for families living in the Raleigh area. Dana can teach language to deaf children using sign language, Cued Speech, Oral and Auditory/Verbal therapies. Since 1997, she has worked for many counties in North Carolina and New Hampshire providing services in schools, preschools, daycares, and home settings. Dana has devoted most of her continuing education advancing her knowledge and clinical skills for working with children with cochlear implants and sensory processing disorders. She enjoys working with families using a coaching model to empower parents/caregivers to develop their child’s speech and receptive/expressive language skills during daily routines.
KIMBERLY received a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Northeastern University in Boston. She has over thirty years of experience working with both children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders. Kimberly is able to provide comprehensive evaluation and therapy services for all ages, and is excellent at family training and implementation of a home exercise program to enhance carryover of skills. She has extensive experience working with children who have speech and language impairments, Autism, pragmatic/social language impairments, non-verbal language disorder, selective mutism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and brain injury.
She has extensive knowledge and experience to successfully work with families to help children overcome feeding and swallowing issues related to oral motor and/or sensory processing issues. Kimberly has worked in multiple adult care settings including nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, and hospitals, and is very proficient in adult neurogenic disorders. Kimberly enjoys sharing her knowledge, and has taught graduate classes at Adelphi and Hofstra Universities in New York. Kimberly holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She enjoys working with individuals and their families to improve communication skills in a functional way.
KRISTI Phillips has over 25 years of experience as a speech language pathologist and uniquely specializes in pediatric feeding therapy. Kristi has worked primarily with pediatrics throughout her career and has provided services to children of all abilities in their homes, daycares, and educational settings.
Kristi is flexible, enthusiastic, and fiercely dedicated to evidence based practice. Her experience includes addressing delays and disorders in articulation, language, and feeding skills. Kristi has received specialized training in a variety of pediatric feeding skill courses including but not limited to Feed the Peds, Beckman oral motor, Sequential Oral Sensory Approach (SOS) both basic and advanced, CAN-EAT Approach, and Getting Permission Approach. Kristi enjoys all aspects of speech therapy and is flexible in her work setting. Kristi accesses her passion for speech therapy, children and skill set to match the family’s needs and provide quality services for everyone she serves. She is a responsible professional and feels honored to work with families and children to achieve their highest potential in communication and feeding skills!
LACEY is a highly accomplished and board-certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 16 years of experience. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science and a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders. Lacey is a former IBCLC-certified lactation consultant. Multi-state licensed, Lacey has extensive clinical expertise, primarily in pediatrics and family interventions, specializing in early intervention, feeding, articulation, and language and social skills. Lacey also has valuable experience working with adults in areas such as articulation, aphasia, dysarthria, and public and professional speaking. She has worked in home-based settings, schools, private practice, and the online space.
Lacey has completed extensive continuing education in counseling, mental health, ADHD, Autism, coaching, social and biological systems, and family-centered practices. She is highly skilled in parent-led interventions, telepractice, and interprofessional collaboration. She received her Mindfulness Informed Professional Certification (CMIP) in January 2025.
Lacey is also the owner/founder of Speak Your Essence (SYE), providing online coaching, programs, and services that empower parents to support their child’s anxiety, emotional well-being, and social/communication challenges. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of communication and mental health and is committed to advocating for whole-person and whole-family, functional approaches to client care. Her compassionate and authentic style prioritizes connection, education, practical strategies, and lasting impact.
On a personal note, Lacey lives in North Carolina with her husband Benjamin, of 16 years, their two children, Laney Rae (10) and Sebastian (7), and their cattle dog, Millie. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and reading.
KAYLEA is a licensed and certified speech, language pathologist who enjoys working with children and helping them develop their communication skills. Teaching families how to engage their child for learning is a passion of hers. Teaching families to communicate with one another and enjoy one another is of primary importance during her therapy sessions. She uses a variety of evidence based practices to help children develop their skills. She has worked for the past several years at Duke University Hospital, which has allowed her to gain experience with a multitude of populations. When she is not working, she enjoy spending time with her young son.
Phone: (919) 454-6610
Fax: (919) 882-8597
Email: info@lbounds.com
Address: 7048 Knightdale Blvd., Suite 220C Knightdale, NC 27545
Leaps & Bounds Therapy accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, CIGNA, Aetna, TRICARE, Medcost and Medicaid.
