I'm Samantha

Business-Owner, Wife, Mother, Reader, Advocate, Runner, & Speech-Language Pathologist

Congratulations, loving caregiver, on finding your way to our little corner of the web! If you're here, it means something incredibly special is on the horizon for you and your child – the promise of empowering and compassionate speech therapy.

I'm Samantha Jaekel, M.S., CCC-SLP, the heart and mind behind Beetle and Hare Pediatric Speech Therapy.

A Long Beach native, I grew up along the coast of California before moving to Austin, Texas to obtain my masters in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. My husband and I have two beautiful young boys (the real Beetle and Hare!) as well as an oversized lapdog and very adventurous kitten. When not working with clients or spending time with my family, I enjoy reading, baking, gardening, and running. In the future, I hope to enjoy life on a small hobby farm while expanding Beetle and Hare to encompass multiple disciplines and an inclusive play-cafe offering vocational training for teens and young adults with disabilities.

Wooden building blocks arranged on a windowsill with a view of greenery outside.

Person smiling indoors with a light-colored jacket, holding a latte in a cafe setting.

 Additional

Certifications & Trainings

SMoRRES® Training Program - Levels 1 & 2: An evidence-based communication partner instruction program based on decades of research on best practices in adult education, SMoRRES® is unique in that, unlike other programs, it is specifically designed for communication partners of children who use AAC and is primarily conducted within naturally occurring family routines in the home and/or existing classroom schedules in schools.
Project ImPACT: Recognized as one of the most effective coaching programs for parents of young children with autism and related social communication delays, Project ImPACT teaches parents strategies they can use to help their child develop social, communication, imitation, and play skills during daily routines and activities.
Blank Center CARE™ Model: In development for over two decades, The Blank Center CARE™ Model empowers children, teens, and adults worldwide to stutter openly, speak confidently, communicate effectively, and advocate meaningfully, with the aim of ensuring all persons who stutter live their lives to the fullest.

Meet the real Beetle and Hare:

While only a mother in recent history, I have always believed in the importance of treating my clients with the love and expert care I would want for my own children. My own boys, Reed “Reeder Rabbit” and Hayes “Hazey Bug,” immediately came to mind when I thought of naming my practice. The name “Beetle and Hare” is a reminder of who we serve and why we put forth the effort that we do. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me, my family, and my work. As a mother myself, I consider it a privilege to be able to provide the quality of services I would want for my own children.

The two bear cubs in our logo

represent my two boys!

A black stylized silhouette of a two bear cubs.

Reed “Reeder Rabbit”

and Hayes “Hazey Bug”

Young child with short blond hair sitting in a yellow toy car, looking serious, under bright sunlight.

Smiling child at a playground with a sunshade above

Questions?

Have questions or want to chat about your child’s needs? Beetle and Hare Pediatric Speech Therapy is here for you! Feel free to reach out, and let's start a conversation about how support your child’s speech and language development. Your child deserves to communicate at their highest potential, and we can't wait to help them get there.

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