Dr. Seray Bio

Seray Itez, PhD, CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist

Seray completed her elementary education at Immaculate Conception School, NY and her high school education at Collegiate School, NJ. She graduated from Rutgers University’s Honors Program in Psychology in 2000. She volunteered at various clinics while working in corporate jobs for over five years. In 2010, she completed her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from New York University.

While completing her graduate degree, Seray also provided home-based and school-based assessment and therapy services for school age children, and worked with school aged children with communication difficulties at several public schools across NJ. She obtained her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) which is given by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in 2011. After working in the NJ public schools & agency settings for 7 years, she decided to move abroad with her family. While there, she worked as a clinician in Istanbul for a prestigious private practice in providing services to children and their families, from 2014 to 2018. Working with bilingual populations, she provided home-based early intervention services for children with speech-language disorders, language delay, autistic spectrum disorders & feeding problems. She returned to the US to obtain her PhD while working for a dual-language immersion program in Northern Colorado from 2018-2020.

Some of the facilities that Seray completed her internships and externships at include:

Hawthorne Foundation, New York University Speech and Hearing Clinic,British International School Istanbul, MEF Istanbul, Dwight Englewood, Public School # 2 , Dynamic Therapeutic Services, Barnstable Academy, Trenton Public Schools. She is a member of American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and Board certified speech-language pathologist in New Jersey.

Seray returned to her roots in Wayne New Jersey during September 2020 to create an interdisciplinary team of therapists at i Rise Therapy Center. She has been providing individual therapy and family training sessions, including Early Intervention services, and works with both children and adults with speech and language disorders. Seray implements the DIR/Floortime approach in her sessions when working with children, especially when working with children with autistic spectrum disorders. She uses the PROMPT technique when working on articulation and eliciting the correct production of speech sounds.

Areas of Interest:

Speech and language disorders in children, articulation problems, speech/language delay, feeding problems, oral-motor insufficiencies. Assessment and early intervention for children who exhibit non-typical developmental patterns. Improving social language skills and functional communication by using DIR/Floortime approach, and family/school training for generalization of skills gained in therapy sessions. Teaching the correct production of speech sounds using the PROMPT technique.

Seminars and Trainings Attended:

Imagine More: ASHA Convention 2019 – Orlando, Florida
National Speech and Language Disorders Congress, Uskudar Istanbul 2015
Learning and the Brain: Educating Diverse Minds- Boston, MA
Beacons of Inspiration: Innovation to Action ASHA Conventions 2011 – San Diego, California
Sensory Integration in Pediatric Practice
Early Intervention for Swallowing and Feeding Disorders
Introduction to PROMPT: Technique
Developmental Apraxia of Speech
Disfluency and Stuttering Therapy in School-Age Children
Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
School Violence Prevention and Intervention
Mental Health in Early Intervention
Totally Treatment: Sensory Integration and DIR/Floortime (Rosemary White, New York, USA)
Advanced DIR® Floortime™ provider

Memberships/Affiliations/Certifications:

ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association)

Turkish Speech Language Therapists Association (www.dkbud.org)

DIR/Floortime Institute

NAS (National Autistic Society)

Seray Itez, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
ASHA#: 14063172
Board Certification #: 41YS01059500
NJDOE#: 571670

Testimonial

What they say about us

Today was our first meeting with Seray regarding our 3 yr old son. We met with her to get a therapy evaluation for our son’s articulation disorder and based on our meeting I would definitely recommend her. She was very professional and personal and we felt that she had our best interests at heart. She seemed very committed to my son’s progress and we are looking forward to working with her in the future. She is an absolute pleasure to be around. I am so thankful that we found her- We I feel so lucky because she is honest and clear.
Yonely Fernandez, Verona, NJ
Thank you so much for everything you have done for our son. You have given me possibility and hope and have made my partner and I feel comfortable in everything you do with Amit . The first time I saw my therapist I did not even think that you can manage my son, but when you called Amit to sit in front of you, he easily gave attention and followed your command like he knew you before. I can not express the impact you have made on our family. Amit learned a lot of words and is able to say what he wants, especially those words or phrases that we use everyday. Amit has developed better eye contact when speaking to us and has awesome listening skills. We feel that you are God sent to our family and we can’t begin to show you our gratitude in the way you deserve.
Ayse K., Totowa, NJ
Once again, my family and I thank you for all that you have done. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives. My friend recommended i RISE services to us as my son was recently diagnosed with Autism. It was a very scary experience for us and we had no idea about all the services he needed to receive. Besides occupational therapy and behaviorists- we were told that Speech therapy is also necessary. We got a diagnostic evaluation from our Therapist. Her report described my son’s needs exactly as he is and was very clear and helpful. She was clearly experienced with children with autism and has helped my son tremendously. His eye contact has increased, he answers questions more appropriately, and likes to hang out with his friends a lot more! It has been wonderful! Thank you i RISE for all you have done for my son!
Justin & Jade Lu, Little Falls, NJ
What an angel. My 2 year old son had serious trouble with communication causing frustration. It took only 1 session for my kiddo to feel comfortable with her. After our 3rd session my son began using words and thrivingly happy each day. She truly cares and crafts with a genuine smile each time. Even after a 2 hour long session, my son would cry at the end of each session. Never wanting to go home! Her office is comfortable and clean. I would gladly recommend her place iRise to anyone anyone!
Sermet K. , Morris County, NJ Resident & happy client!