Welcome to
Illinois Speech Therapy
Exciting update — Communication Care Center is now Illinois Speech Therapy!
We have a fresh new look, but same great speech therapy services!
At Illinois Speech Therapy, it is our mission to provide exceptional speech therapy services to individuals with speech, language, cognition, and swallowing impairments. We provide comprehensive evaluations, personalized therapy plans, and evidence-based treatment to achieve the best patient outcomes. We offer a variety of options for speech therapy through our practice to make it easy and convenient for you or a loved one to have access to therapy including:
In-home sessions for individuals who live in Chicago
In the office at our downtown Chicago clinic
Virtually via our teletherapy platform
Our team of highly qualified Speech-Language Pathologists have deep experience evaluating and treating complex disorders. They are well-equipped to help you or your loved one regain, restore, or preserve the skills necessary to communicate and swallow. Take a look at the services offered by our Speech Pathologists to see if you think you may benefit from speech therapy!
Our Team
Carissa Schroeder, MS, CCC-SLP
Carissa is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and founder of Illinois Speech Therapy. Prior to starting the practice, Carissa worked as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northwestern University where she evaluated and treated adults in a top tier acute care hospital. She is experienced in providing speech therapy services to patients with varying levels of medical complexity that struggle with communication and swallowing difficulties. Shortly after becoming a SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program provider, a speech therapy program created by Parkinson Voice Project and designed for individuals with Parkinson's, Carissa developed a passion for working with this patient population and loved the difference she was able to make. This is ultimately what sparked her desire to build her own practice to make a larger impact on those in the Chicagoland area.
Her other areas of speciality include acquired neurogenic disorders including stroke and TBI, degenerative diseases including ALS and Parkinson's, and head and neck cancer. Carissa approaches each of her clients with compassion, support, and advanced knowledge in her field. She strives to get the best functional outcomes for her clients and continues to stay up to date on the latest evidence-based practices.
Carissa received her Bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, with a minor in Spanish, at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (ILL!), and went on to get her Master's degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time, Carissa enjoys playing with her dog, cooking new recipes, and renovating her home with her husband.
Certifications:
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
MBSImP™ Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing
SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program Provider
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment® (LSVT LOUD) Provider
McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program
Respiratory Muscle Strength Training
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Certified
Awards:
ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE) - 2021 & 2023
Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) Certificate - 2023
Tara Bockrath, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS
Tara is a skilled and compassionate provider with over 11 years of experience serving individuals across the continuum of care. Prior to joining Illinois Speech Therapy, Tara gained comprehensive experience at rehabilitation hospitals nationwide, specializing in acquired brain injury and stroke recovery. Tara sees clients both in their homes in Chicago as well as at our clinic.
Tara is experienced in addressing conditions that impact cognitive-communication, motor speech, voice, swallowing, and language skills. Tara has worked extensively with individuals impacted by neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Huntington’s, and dementia), acquired brain injuries (including traumatic injury, stroke, and cancer), and functional neurological disorders.
Committed to promoting life participation, Tara approaches each patient with empathy and expertise, ensuring tailored treatment plans that address unique needs and goals. She is dedicated to providing person-centered care that empowers her patients and their families.
She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in speech pathology at Marquette University, where she developed a strong foundation in clinical practice and research.
Outside of work, Tara enjoys photography, reading, DIY projects, and biking. She loves traveling and spending time at home with her family.
Certifications:
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program Provider
Certified Brain Injury Specialist
VitalStim Therapy Provider
Grace is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist who is driven to provide individualized and functional care to all her patients to foster confidence and independence. Grace provides in-home therapy visits as well as therapy at our clinic and via telehealth.
Grace recently completed her clinical fellowship at Jesse Brown VA Medical center where she worked with a variety of patient populations with varying levels of acuity. She has extensive experience in diagnosing, treating, and counseling patients in a multitude of areas including but not limited to: dysphagia, dysphonia, aphasia, cognitive-communication deficits, dysfluencies, and AAC. She has treated patients across a variety of settings including outpatient (in-person and telehealth), intensive care unit (ICU), acute care, subacute rehabilitation, and the community living center (CLC).
Grace completed her graduate studies at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois and her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing and going for walks with her dog Rowdy, trying new recipes/restaurants, reading, and spending time outdoors. She is currently training for the 2025 Chicago Marathon and is running with a foundation called Project Purple (a charity fighting against Pancreatic Cancer).
Grace McIlwain, MS, CCC-SLP
Certifications:
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program Provider
Ivanka Northrop, MS, CCC-SLP
Ivanka brings experience treating individuals impacted by stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and head and neck cancer. She provides in-home therapy visits for the North Suburbs of Chicago and is very skilled at providing virtual speech therapy via our teletherapy platform. She is also passionate about pediatric care, where she strives to make a positive impact on children and their families. Ivanka has been deeply involved in veteran care, including leading a Memory Group dedicated to veterans coping with PTSD.
Ivanka received her Master’s in Speech, Language, and Learning from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst University.
In her free time, Ivanka enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing with her three dogs, trying new foods, exercising, and exploring new heights through indoor rock-climbing!
Certifications:
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program Provider