Meet Kristine Beard, MA, CCC-SLP

I've spent over a decade doing some of the most meaningful work of my career in the most remote corners of Alaska — traveling to villages accessible only by small plane, sitting with children and families in communities where speech services had simply never existed before. What I learned again and again is this: when a child finds their voice, everything changes. Their confidence. Their connections. Their sense of who they are.

Now I'm bringing that same commitment home to the community I love — right here in the Arkansas Valley.

After years of telehealth and on-site work in rural Alaska Native communities, I looked at Chaffee County and recognized something familiar: a region full of children who need support, and not nearly enough providers to meet that need. Families here shouldn't have to drive 90 miles to Pueblo or Colorado Springs for quality speech therapy. That's why I launched Breaking Barriers LLC as a private practice — to make individualized, evidence-based services accessible right here in our mountain community.

A young girl is standing at a table, smiling and drawing on a piece of paper while two women, one on each side, watch and smile. The table has colorful books and toys, including a potato-shaped toy with a green lid and orange nose. The background shows chairs, tables, and a yellow and orange room.
A young girl is standing at a table, smiling and drawing on a piece of paper while two women, one on each side, watch and smile. The table has colorful books and toys, including a potato-shaped toy with a green lid and orange nose. The background shows chairs, tables, and a yellow and orange room.

I specialize in working with children from early childhood through high school, and I'm equally at home conducting sessions in your living room, over a secure video connection, or in collaboration with your child's school. My approach is straightforward: get to know your child as a whole person, build trust, and create therapy that feels meaningful — not clinical.

I'm glad you found your way here. I'd love to meet your family.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Education & Credentials

  • Master of Science, Speech-Language Pathology — University of Central Arkansas

  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP)

  • Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist — State of Colorado

  • Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist — State of Alaska

  • 11+ years of clinical experience in school-based and private settings

Areas of Specialty

  • Speech sound disorders and articulation

  • Language delays and disorders (expressive and receptive)

  • Social communication and pragmatics

  • Early intervention (ages 2–5)

  • Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

  • Childhood apraxia of speech

  • School-based collaboration and IEP support

My Why

〰️

My Why 〰️

The short answer: because families here deserve better.

The longer answer: after 11+ years serving rural Alaskan communities — many of which had never had a speech-language pathologist before — I understand what it means to live somewhere that services don't reach. I watched families travel hours for evaluations, or simply go without because there was no other option.

I saw that same gap when I looked at Chaffee County. The nearest pediatric speech therapy options are over 90 miles away. Families with young children, busy schedules, and Colorado winters shouldn't have to make that drive — and they shouldn't have to wait months for an opening at a clinic that doesn't know their child, their school, or their community.

Private practice lets me do this work the right way: with the time, attention, and genuine partnership that children and families deserve.

A woman standing on a gravel trail with a backpack and wearing a cap, surrounded by three dogs, outdoors in a hilly, dry landscape with clear blue skies and sparse trees.
A woman standing on a gravel trail with a backpack and wearing a cap, surrounded by three dogs, outdoors in a hilly, dry landscape with clear blue skies and sparse trees.

Personal Connection to Chaffee County

Salida is home. I chose this valley for its community, its people, and this extraordinary landscape we all get to live in. When your child works with me, you're not a number in a system — you're a neighbor. I know the schools here, I know the distances families travel, and I understand what it means to raise children in a small mountain town. This practice is my investment in the place I'm proud to call home.

Philosophy of Care

I believe meaningful progress happens when therapy is engaging, relationship-based, and tailored to each child's unique strengths and challenges. My sessions are built around the whole child — their interests, their humor, their family, and the world they live in every day.

I involve parents as active partners, share home practice strategies after every session, and maintain open communication with teachers and other providers. Evidence-based methods guide everything I do. Genuine relationship makes them work.

A young girl is drawing at a table while two women, one on each side, watch and smile. The table has colorful toys and art supplies, and the background shows a classroom with chairs and tables.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to talk about your child's communication goals. No referral needed. No pressure. Just a real conversation about how we can help.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION