Phone: 505-675-0689 | Fax: 505-633-7926
Malia Vigil, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist and Owner of We Need to Talk and More! LLC
Malia is a Native New Mexican with over 25 years experience. Malia received her BA in Communication Disorders and MS in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of New Mexico. She holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), State of New Mexico license with the Regulation and Licensing Board, is a certified TouchChat trainer and holds a Level III license from the Public Education Department (PED). Malia has worked extensively with both pediatric and special needs adult populations in a variety of settings including; a public school setting, adult home health, 12 years as part of the Albuquerque Public School Assistive Technology Unit, DD Waiver provider, home based service for medically fragile children, a charter school for students who are deaf and hard of hearing in addition to private practice. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication disorders and cognitive disabilities. These include working with individuals with hearing loss, complex communication needs, augmentative and alternative communication, feeding and swallowing.
In her free time Malia loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, playing golf, and knitting.
Sarah Girard, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Sarah graduated from Texas Tech University in 1996. Sarah has worked in a variety of setting that include: inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, hippotherapy, acute care, skilled nursing, schools, pediatric clinics and home health. Sarah has in interest in working with children and adults with autism, neurological conditions, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, sensory processing disorders, trauma, and developmental disorders. She holds a certificate in sensory integration. Sarah says "I love working in collaboration with families".
In her spare time Sarah enjoys dance and hiking.
Monica Zellner, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Monica received her master’s degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in May of 1998.
She has worked in outpatient clinics, private practice, home health care and schools. Monica enjoys working with children and adults with a variety of communication disorders. She has worked with the deaf and hard of hearing using ASL.
In her leisure time Monica is involved in her church, enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Cara Heckler, MOTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Cara Heckler MOTR/L graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2014 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and in 2017 with her Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Cara completed extensive field work in pediatrics in the school setting, early intervention with Abrazos Family Support Services. She has traveled to Idaho and returned home to New Mexico to work in outpatient pediatrics and early intervention. She is interested in advancing her skills in neurological development and becoming certified in primitive reflexes. Cara has had extensive experience with children prior to becoming an occupational therapist. She has taught swimming, worked with the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department and had many volunteer hours in a developmental preschool program.
Cara is the mom of two young boys and a dog lover! As a family, they enjoy staying busy and going to places like the zoo, Bosque, Jungle Jam, or even just the park! If she is not having fun out with her family, then she is busy playing and cuddling with them at home. In her leisure time Cara enjoys reading, drawing, exploring the outdoors, riding her bike, watching funny shows or movies, and playing games.
Cara says, “I love working with children and families and getting the opportunity to be a service is a huge honor.”
Victoria Lyn Cordova, M.S., CF-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Victoria is a New Mexico native. She graduated with her master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of New Mexico in 2021. Victoria chose the private practice setting after experiencing a variety of settings saying, “It has her heart.” Victoria enjoys working with children and adults with a variety of communication and feeding disorders.
In her leisure time Victoria enjoys spending time with family, trying new restaurants, being active in her church and getting outdoors.
Nancy Rawcliffe, MOTR/L, HPCS, C/NDT
Occupational Therapist
Nancy is a New Mexico registered and licensed occupational therapist with 17 years of experience treating pediatric clients. She is Board Certified by the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy and is a member of the New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association. Nancy received her BA in Psychology in 2002 and Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of New Mexico in 2005. She became certified in the management and treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy and other Neuromotor disorders in 2014 by the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association. Nancy works exclusively with children (0-21 years of age). She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of children with a wide range of neuro-motor, sensory-motor, or cognitive differences.
Nancy loves spending time with her husband, horse, dogs, goats, and chickens at their rural NM home.
Monica Jordan, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Monica grew up in Albuquerque, NM and graduated with her Bachelors and Masters in Communication Disorders at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. Monica has worked as a speech-language pathologist since 2013, working at schools that serve the deaf/hard-of-hearing population as well as doing home-based therapy with children and adults with a variety of communication disorders. Her special interests include deaf/hard-of-hearing communication, early intervention, and alternative/augmentative communication.
In her spare time, Monica loves drawing and painting. She also enjoys gardening, running, hiking, cooking, and perusing garage sales and antique stores.
Carolyn Pagano M.S., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Carolyn received her degree from Springfield College, Springfield MA in 1997. Since that time she has worked with pediatrics in early intervention, outpatient rehabilitation, schools and home health. Carolyn knows English, basic Spanish, French and American Sign language. Other areas of professional interest are Craniosacral therapy and taping.
In her free time Carolyn enjoys swimming, gardening, animal rescue, travel, and spending time with her family that includes 6 grandchildren.
Jenna Gomez, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Jenna received her B.S. in Speech Language Pathology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA in 2018. From the Bay Area, CA, she traveled to Albuquerque to pursue her Master’s Degree at the University of New Mexico in 2020. Since then, Jenna has worked with children with developmental delays, language delays, but her heart lies in working with children with speech sound disorders. Jenna also currently works with Deaf and hard of hearing children, as well as children with cochlear implants at the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Aside from speech therapy, Jenna is also a licensed Zumba instructor and loves to dance. She loves visiting thrift shops and enjoys crafting activities such as embroidery and macrame.
Cynthia Cadman, MS CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Cynthia received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Eastern New Mexico University in 1992, B.S. in Communication Disorders from Eastern New Mexico University in 1996 and M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from Northern Arizona University in 2000. Cynthia has worked with children with visual impairments, developmental delays, autism, articulation disorders and language disorders. She enjoys co-treating with social workers to work on social language skills. She also loves to co-treat with occupational therapists to work on positioning, sensory, and oral motor skills.
Cynthia is married with 4 children, and 2 grand children. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, journaling and just learned to crochet. Cynthia loves to travel and loves spending time with family and friends. Her HAPPY PLACE includes a porch, a cold drink, and a good book!
Beth Hayes, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Beth Hayes is an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She graduated with an associates degree from San Juan College in Farmington, NM. Beth has only used her OTA degree to work in pediatrics. She is particularly interested in providing children with choices while maintaining a structured environment.
Prior to joining the staff at We Need to Talk and More!, Beth spent a couple of decades teaching music to people ages 2-80+ years old. This experience encompassed early childhood, K-12, undergraduate, and graduate classes. Currently, Beth enjoys spending time with her greyhound, Patch and kayaking.
James (Diego) Murray M.S. CCC SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Diego graduated from UNM SLP Graduate Program in the Fall of 2021. He has experience with
medical inpatient, medical outpatient, articulation disorders, language disorders, Developmental
Disability Waiver, traumatic brain injury, aphasia, AAC, and bilingual populations. He speaks
Spanish and enjoys using that skill to help clients with a variety of communication disorders and
disabilities.
In his free time, Diego enjoys spending time with his wife and dog. They love to
cook, hike, garden, camp, and adventure around the amazing state of New Mexico.
Pamela Jill Whitten M.Ed., OTR/L.
Occupational Therapist
Jill earned an Undergraduate degree in Allied Health
Professions at the Ohio State University with an emphasis on occupational therapy in 1985 and
a master’s degree in the Infant Developmental Specialist Program at Kent State in 1986. She has worked in private pediatric clinics, preschools, and elementary schools. Jill has worked with a variety of diagnoses including sensory
processing disorder, autism, ADHD, learning disability, cerebral palsy, developmental disorders,
and others. Jill has taken many continued education classes in order to work with children
with feeding issues including feeding aversion and picky eating. Jill has done a lot of
classes in the area of executive functioning in order to help kids who have problems focusing,
starting, and stopping tasks, planning and organizing, controlling emotions and impulses, task
sequencing, and task completion. Jill has certificates in Handwriting Without Tears handwriting specialist level 1, Interactive Metronome. Jill is also bilingual in English and French.
Jill loves to play with her grandkids, volunteer at her church, hike and bike. Helping children is Jill's joy and privilege. She loves to research, study and develop treatment programs that address kid's specific areas of difficulty.
Jordan Herrera, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Jordan is a Speech-Language Pathologist who graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Masters of Science in speech-language pathology. She holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and State of New Mexico license with the Regulation and Licensing Board. Jordan loves working with kids for articulation and speech sound disorders and has experience with pediatric patients in the NICU for feeding and swallowing disorders. In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors, being with her family, and all things involving her church family, coffee, plants, and art. She tries to incorporate art into sessions as much as possible! Jordan met her husband on a Mission trip to Belize, and they now have two kids named Barrett and Shiloh.
Jordan loves working with kids and is grateful to serve you and your family as you navigate the best decisions for your loved ones!
Sandy Clough, MOTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Sandy Clough, is a Board-Certified, Licensed Occupational Therapist and a native
New Mexican. She has worked in the rehabilitation world since 2008. She graduated with her
master’s in occupational therapy from the University of New Mexico in 2016. She was an intern
at Johns Hopkins Burn ICU, and at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque. She
has an extensive background in both inpatient and outpatient settings in the States of New York
and New Mexico. She has worked as a hand therapist, a home health OT during the COVID-19
pandemic, and in private clinics as a pediatric OT.
Since moving back to New Mexico, Sandy’s heart lies with the pediatric population, especially
working with kids on the autism spectrum. In addition to her traditional OT training, Sandy is
certified by the Qigong Sensory Training Institute to coach parents on how to provide this touch-
based autism therapy. Strongly supported by clinical research, Qigong Sensory Treatment
(QST) helps with many of the difficult symptoms associated with autism and is a safe, non-
invasive therapy for children under the age of 12. When given daily, this 15-minute treatment
helps trained parents to dramatically reduce their child’s behavioral, sensory, social, and
language difficulties associated with autism, no matter how severe.
When she isn’t passionately helping kids live their best life, Sandy enjoys volunteering with farm
animals, riding her mountain bike, and eating paletas!
Abigail (Abby) Bamberg, MS., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Abby received her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of New Mexico. She currently holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and a State of New Mexico license with the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Board. After gaining experience in a variety of settings, from preschools to the inpatient adult medical setting, Abby has found her passion in private practice. She enjoys being able to provide services that are specialized for each child and their families. Abby worked in various childcare positions before she became an SLP, so she always knew that a career with children was where she would end up. Abby currently works primarily with children who have speech-sound disorders, language disorders, developmental delays, and autism.
In her free time, Abby enjoys traveling, archery, spending time with friends and family, being involved in her church, and spoiling her niece.