Emily LaRocque, MS CCC-SLP
It’s a pleasure to introduce our November Teletherapist Spotlight, Emily LaRocque.
1. Tell me all about yourself.
I’m a speech and language pathologist currently residing in Plainfield, Illinois. I’ve been in this field for 15 years now. Before joining Unlimited Teletherapy, my work revolved around public school districts across Illinois and some time in Ohio, providing speech therapy to children within the public school system. I am married and have two daughters—one eight years old, the other is four. I also have a lively 11-year-old cockapoo.
2. How long have you been with Unlimited Teletherapy?
I am going on my third year with Unlimited Teletherapy.
3. What is your favorite part about working at Unlimited Teletherapy? What do you enjoy most?
Definitely the flexibility. I feel like I am able to balance my life in a way that I was completely unable to do when I worked full-time in person for public school districts. Now I’m still working full time and I have full-time hours, but I have the flexibility of doing that all from my home. During my lunch hour, I’m able to throw laundry from the washer to the dryer, which I love. Being able to balance work and my personal life all from my house and have one location where I am doing all of my tasks really helps me be able to function to the best of my ability
4. How did you get started in the industry?
Imagine this. It’s 2002, and I’m heading off to college with this immense passion for theater. I’m all about majoring in theater because it’s what I love. However, I also realize the importance of a stable job with good pay and health benefits. My family, especially my mom coming from a line of teachers, has always nudged me towards becoming a speech therapist. They believe I’d excel in that field. So, there I am, thinking, “Alright, maybe that’s a good idea.” Fast forward, I land at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and discover this incredible possibility of double majoring in theater and communication sciences and disorders. That’s exactly what I ended up doing. I poured myself into both majors, getting thorough training in theater and performance alongside my path toward becoming a speech therapist.
Sometimes, I do regret not being “Miss Rachel.” I often think, “Maybe I should’ve gone that route.” But somehow, I’ve found my own way, blending my passion for performance into my work through Unlimited Teletherapy sessions. It’s like I get to embody my own version of “Miss Emily.” I went to graduate school for speech therapy in Chicago. Then life took a turn when my then-boyfriend, now husband, got accepted to grad school in Ohio. I thought, “Alright, let’s go together.” And here we are, 15 years down the line. I’m a speech therapist and a mom, and I’ve got this hidden talent in performance that I weave into my work. I’m thrilled that my theater background still plays a role in what I do. It’s this amazing blend, you know? Doing things I love that truly fulfill me, and using that strength to genuinely help others—it’s powerful.
5. What does a workday look like for you?
My work is full-time, spread across two different school districts. I split my week evenly, devoting two and a half days to each district. Most of my time involves working directly with students, managing IEP meetings, planning lessons, and handling administrative tasks like Medicaid billing. On Wednesdays, for instance, I’m scheduled to see around 18 kids. Typically, I meet them in pairs, sometimes in groups of three, but I prefer to keep it small—no more than three at once. In the past, when I worked in person, my group sizes were huge due to time constraints, meeting federally mandated minutes. Now, virtually, I can easily manage smaller groups and make changes as needed without scrambling around.
I keep myself organized using various methods—I’m an elder millennial, so I rely on both technology and good old-fashioned notebooks. I use Google Docs to share schedules with my assistant and maintain a paper copy for quick changes throughout the day. This helps when I later need to bill insurance, ensuring accuracy despite any alterations. Previously, my workload felt impossible and unsustainable—huge group sizes, rushing to meet minutes. Now, while I still see 18 kids a day, each session is meticulously planned, and tailored to the students’ needs, and I can give my best without feeling overwhelmed. Being virtual has made the workload manageable. I’m not rushing around and feeling out of breath anymore. It’s a busy day, but it’s doable, and I’m bringing my best self to every session.
6. What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?
I’m a huge fan of the Marvel world and Star Wars. I’m currently loving the Loki series because it portrays him as this villain, but in the miniseries, there’s a different shade to his character. It’s like seeing things from a whole new perspective, which I find fascinating.
7. What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Going to Disneyland with my kids. It’s a must on my bucket list!
Emily is one of many of our Teletherapists at Unlimited Teletherapy that is passionate, nurturing, and committed to supporting students to meet their individual goals. We are honored to have her on our team!
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