Rebecca Jones, PhD, CCC-SLP
- Assistant Professor
Affiliated Programs
Education
- PhD, Communication Sciences and Disorders (2024)
James Madison University (VA) - MS, Communication Sciences and Disorders (2013)
East Tennessee State University (TN) - BA, English & Sociology Minor (2009)
University of Texas at San Antonio (TX)
About Me
I completed my PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders in the Infant and Toddler Language Lab at James Madison University (JMU). My dissertation research focused on the skills required to develop effective therapist-caregiver partnerships. I am passionate about preparing future SLPs for these essential roles in clinical and community settings.
I have practiced as an SLP for over a decade. My career has included work in early intervention, providing family-centered services to young children with developmental delays and disabilities, and significant experience in adult and pediatric acute care and outpatient environments.
Research Interests
My research interest lies in the development of counseling skills for allied healthcare providers working in early intervention and pediatric medical services. I am particularly focused on understanding how these skills impact the quality of care provided to young children and their families during critical developmental windows.
My research seeks to explore and expand the repertoire of counseling skills used by SLPs to ensure that families feel empowered and supported. I am particularly interested in investigating how these skills can be developed and refined in professionals who may not have formal counseling training but who nonetheless play a crucial role in family-centered care. Specifically, I aim to examine the role of empathy, reflective listening, and culturally responsive communication as core competencies in pediatric settings to adapt and tailor these skills to diverse family backgrounds and varying developmental needs of children.
Additionally, I am interested in exploring the effectiveness of training programs designed to improve counseling skills in early intervention and pediatric medical SLPs. My goal is to contribute to the body of research that bridges the gap between clinical skills and emotional intelligence, enhancing the capacity of SLPs to deliver holistic, family-centered care.