About Me

I am a licensed speech therapist and life coach. I support people of all ages to decrease the struggle and frustration they feel when they cannot talk the way they want. I use a holistic blend of therapy and coaching to help my clients develop the skills they need to make communicatioin easier and more enjoyable.

Over several years of working as a speech language pathologist and passionately pursuing continuing education, I have developed methods that allow me to work in a way that is highly tailored to each individual client. We set measurable goals and reach them together. My clients experience a compassionate and supportive approach to working on improving communication.

I work with children and adults who stutter, have language or articulation disorders, as well as those who have difficulty reading and spelling. 

Specialized Training:

- Palin Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PPCI)

- Hanen, It Takes Two to Talk - in-person and telepractice licenses

- Hanen, More Than Words - in-person and telepractice licenses

- Lidcombe Program

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®)

- Certified Fearless Living Coach (CFLC)

- Ongoing Trainings in Barton Reading and Spelling System, Orton Gillingham, and SPELL-Links.

I have been trained as a life coach and enjoy leading coaching groups. I love supporting people to know themselves better and benefit from the communities we create as we work together. I also offer one on one coaching for those that prefer more individualized and focused attention. 

I have coached parents, teachers, special educators, speech language pathologists, health care workers, managers, and coaches. The support and encouragement of a coach might be what you need to get unstuck and find your flow.

After the last couple of unique and challenging years we have begun to understand that work/life balance is non-negotiable. As a coach I practice what I preach and strive to keep the important things first. Besides working with my amazing clients, what keeps me happy and energized? Spending time with my family and my goofy dogs, trying new foods, playing games with friends, dancing, doing yoga, and spending time outside in all types of weather. Hiking and snowshoeing on Minnesota's many trails has become my happy place over the last couple of years.

"Sheila provides me the gift of safety.  The freedom to not be ashamed from guilt is a beautiful space that she holds for me. It was difficult for me to not judge myself.  Her soft words and kindness always put me at ease." - Sophia Nawab, MSML

"Sheila was an outstanding facilitator! She created a very inclusive and positive learning environment for each one of us." - Jen DuBois, CFLC, Empowerment Coach

"The book group provided an accountability factor for meeting my stretches with building and stacking habits. The group allowed me to focus and practice on activated real changes and I was successful as a result...this is something I will return to for reference and has had a lasting impact on how to successfully understand and incorporate habits in my life." - Carolyn Nivling, CFLC, Manifest Guides

"Sheila is compassionate, thoughtful, and fun. Working with her is easy and something I look forward to." - Kate R., MN

"Sheila is an outstanding communicator, and The Talking Place provides a space that is calm, safe and welcoming making it easy to open up and share. With Sheila's compassion and support, you can gain courage and confidence to talk freely and openly both inside the Talking Place and outside in the broader world. Sheila Cina and The Talking Place are transformative!!" - Lauren Morgan, Professor

"Sheila has helped me work through difficult challenges and stay focused on my values while taking small, consistent steps towards my goals. She has a lot of wisdom gleaned from diverse experiences. She is accepting and supportive of everyone and creates a welcoming environment. Would strongly recommend her.” A.R., MN.

We are excited to offer enhanced literacy services at The Talking Place. If you or your child struggles with spelling and reading we can help. Difficulty learning to read and spell can come from a variety of underlying challenges. We offer in-depth assessment of language, articulation, and reading skills. We also offer evidence-based treatment approaches, tailored to specific needs, to make reading less daunting and more fun. The Talking Place: For the love of communication and reading.

New Summer Classes!

Stuttering - Caregiver and Child Play Group for ages 3 to 5

Stuttering - Social group for kids in grades 2 to 5

Late Talkers - Caregiver and Child Play Group - Ages 2 to 5

Visit the Contacts page to sign up.

The Talking Place has re-opened the Caregiver/Parent support group for adults who care for children or teens who stutter, "Caregivers Connect."  We meet the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM CST. The group is free. You can sign up and get a Zoom link on the Contacts page. 

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

● You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

● Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

● If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

● Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.

Q. Do you take insurance?

A. The Talking Place LLC is an in-network provider for HealthPartners and select Cigna plans. We also offer an invoice (sometimes referred to as a "superbill") with the codes insurance companies require so that you can pursue reimbursement from your insurance company if you choose to do so. 

Q. What is person centered care?

A. Person centered care is defined by the World Health Organization as “empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.” Essentially, this type of care offers clients a strong voice in the decisions regarding their health and wellness. Treatment goals are determined collaboratively so that both clinician and client perspectives are valued.

Q. How long are your sessions?

A. Most sessions last between 25 and 60 minutes. Session lengths will depend on the individual client's needs and will be discussed at your post-assessment appointment. One of the things that sets us apart is having the ability to match session time to client needs.

Q. Do you offer group therapy?

A. We offer group therapy for clients who are in the Avoidance Reduction for Stuttering (ARTS®) program. We also offer classes for kids who stutter and kids who are late talkers. Classes are not group therapy. They are opportunities to learn and grow in a supportive environment while building community. Click on the Classes and Groups tab above for more information.