Hope Therapy Center

Shannon Harper,Ma,CCC-SLP

Speech-language Pathologist

A Hoosier at heart, Shannon came to us from Indiana,where basketball is the "American Pastime", the Indianapolis Colts are worshiped by all and Indy car racing is loved as much as hunting is here in SWLA. She earned a dual degree in Communication Sciences and Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington,IN. She immediately went on to receive her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology from Louisiana Tech University. If you ask her how she ended up in Louisiana, she won't really have an answer, but will swear it was the single best decision she's ever made. This nearly 1,000 trek down south introduced her to her husband of 13 years. Following graduation, she and her husband returned to Indiana where she gained over 13 years of experience as an SLP in a variety of settings including: hospital,schools and clinics. She additionally gained management experience as a Rehab Director for 2 years in a Skilled Nursing setting. Returning to Louisiana after 13 years was yet another journey in her life, but helping her husband achieve a dream to work side-by-side with his father was certainly worth it. Since moving to Lake Charles, Shannon has primarily worked as an independent contractor, but feels she may have found her niche here at Hope Therapy Center. Shannon has a love for knowledge and spends many hours every year continuing her education. Although experienced with a variety of disorders and populations, Shannon has a specific interest in pediatric feeding issues, Downs Syndrome, Craniofacial Syndromes and Parkinson's Disease. She is certified to provide VitalStim Therapy and is one of a handful of therapists in SWLA certified to provide LSVT LOUD. LSVT is a highly reserached and effective treatment targeting those with Parkinson's Disease and other Neurological disorders of the voice.

As a busy mother of four, Shannon is always striving to find the perfect balance between work and family. She feels that her experience gives her a unique perspective and is by far the most valuable she's earned to date. It's given her the ability to relate to families on a more personal level and see things through the eyes of a parent....not just a therapist. She feels that therapy is a partnership and empowering families to carryover skills outside of the therapy room is key to success. When not at work, you can usually find her volunteering at her children's schools, fulfilling duties as "mom's taxi service" or trying to catch up on some neglected home projects. And as if life with four kids and a dog isn't chaotic enough, they have recently added two new puppies...yes, that's right, TWO new puppies to the mix. At the end of the day, Shannon feels blessed to have an amazing family and a profession she loves.