Hello, I’m Dr. leah
Expert care grounded in compassion, connection, and evidence
Leah is the founder and owner of Unless Therapy. With more than 12 years of experience. Leah received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from William Paterson University in New Jersey, and she received her doctorate at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.
Leah is both nationally and state certified, and she has additional training in both PECS and PROMPT.
Leah has a wide variety of therapy experience ranging from early childhood into early adulthood. She also has extensive experience with specialized populations, including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ASD, and several rare genetic disorders.
Her clinical expertise includes ambiguous language learning, such as sarcasm, inferencing, and figurative language, as well as neuro‑affirming, support for AAC (including eye‑gaze systems), written expression, and complex communication needs.
Leah has a deep passion for advocating for clients and for teaching them to become advocates for themselves. She also thoroughly enjoys the use of sidewalk chalk, is decent at double-dutch and loves the most ridiculous jokes.
My Mission: To advocate for those least able to speak for themselves, empowering each client to build their own voice, self‑advocacy, and confidence, showing the world that no disorder defines or limits their potential.
Location: Santa Ana
Credentials
PhD, CCC-SLP
Areas of EXPERTISE
Written and spoken language, social skills, AAC and speech
Hello, I’m Alexandra Abergel
Expert care grounded in compassion, connection, and evidence
Alexandra is completing part of her Clinical Fellowship at Unless Therapy under the mentorship of Leah Velarde Ph.D., CCC-SLP. She earned her BA in Psychology from Arizona State University and her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Chapman University—where she first met Leah and discovered a mentor who would help shape her clinical approach.
Warm, genuine, and connection-focused, Alexandra believes meaningful progress begins when a child feels safe, understood, and completely accepted. She prioritizes building trust before placing demands and creates therapy sessions that feel playful, encouraging, and individualized to each child. As a California native, she loves taking advantage of the sunshine and incorporating outdoor spaces, movement, and real-life experiences into therapy whenever possible.
Alexandra is also a lifelong animal lover and shares a rescue dog with her boyfriend—hopefully her soon-to-be fiancé, if he is reading this! Outside of work, you can usually find her paddleboarding with her dog, relaxing at the beach, heading to an early-morning Pilates class, or barbecuing with friends.
Above all, Alexandra wants every child and family to feel comfortable being themselves. Her goal is to create a supportive space where connection comes first, confidence can grow, and communication can truly thrive.
My Mission: To strive to create a safe, compassionate, and trusting space where every client feels heard, understood, and empowered to communicate with confidence.
Location: Huntington Beach
Credentials
M.S., CF-SLP
Areas of EXPERTISE
Articulation, language (expressive + receptive), social skills
