Our Story

After years of working in schools and clinic settings, Sarah Hurst M.S., CCC-SLP noticed something that kept her up at night: families weren't getting the connection and individualized attention they deserved. So she decided to do something about it.

She founded Playful Speech Explorers to be something different — a boutique speech and language therapy practice built entirely around your child. No cookie-cutter plans. No one-size-fits-all approach. Just thoughtful, personalized care that starts with your child's unique strengths and builds from there.

Here, therapy is child-led and unhurried, taking place in a safe and familiar environment where kids feel comfortable enough to take risks, try new things, and grow. Because when children feel empowered, the skills they build don't just stay in the therapy room — they carry them out into the world.

Start Your Journey Today!
A woman with long dark hair and a striped shirt holds a young boy with short dark hair, both smiling and close to each other.

Areas of Specialty

Yellow construction paper arranged around a green paper with three crumpled yellow paper balls in the center.

Language Delays

Supporting children who are not yet meeting expected milestones for understanding or using language — from first words to complex sentences.

Two young girls with dark brown hair and in gray sweaters are outdoors, having an animated conversation, with one girl raising her hand and the other looking at her.

Social Communication

Building the skills children need to connect — turn-taking, reading social cues, maintaining conversations, and building friendships.

Two children lying on a table, reading a colorful picture book together.

Phonological Awareness

Building early literacy skills — rhyming, syllables, and sound awareness — that set children up for reading success.

A young boy with short, dark hair and a serious expression, wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon character, looking towards the camera indoors.

Articulation & Phonology

Helping children produce speech sounds clearly so they can be understood by family, friends, and teachers.

A woman and a young boy sitting on a couch in a living room, engaging in conversation and smiling.

Echolalia & Gestalt Processing

Embracing echolalia and scripting as valid forms of communication and guiding children to expand their expressive language.

A woman and a young girl are enjoying baked goods at a kitchen table. The girl is wearing a plaid shirt and is holding a pastry near her mouth, smiling. The woman, with red hair tied back and wearing a gray shirt with a red cardigan, is holding a pastry near her nose and smiling at the girl. There are croissants and a cup on the table, with a tiled kitchen background.

Expressive & Receptive Language

Helping children both understand what's said to them and express their own thoughts, wants, and ideas with confidence.

A young girl with curly red hair and a yellow bow on her head is smiling with her face and body covered in colorful paint, outdoors with a blurred green background.

Play Skills

Play is how children learn. We help children develop symbolic, imaginative, and interactive play as a foundation for language growth.

Large ocean wave curling with white foam at the crest, viewed from the shoreline, under an overcast sky.

Fluency & Stuttering

Working with children who experience stuttering or other fluency differences to build confidence and smooth communication.

Core Values

  • Young child in a yellow raincoat and tan boots walking outdoors with a light blue backpack in a park or wooded area.

    Child-led

    We believe in using a child-led approach to speech and language therapy to include children as a fundamental part of their therapy process. In doing this, we increase their autonomy, self-confidence and skill growth.

  • Children playing with bubbles at a colorful outdoor event on a sunny day, with an inflatable slide, a rainbow-colored mat, and mountains in the background.

    Play-based

    For pediatric clients, therapy based in play increases spontaneous language and promotes natural opportunities for children to implement their skills while doing something they enjoy.

  • Collection of colorful toy vehicles, figures, building blocks, and stuffed toy monkey on a white background.

    Neurodiversity-affirming

    At Playful Speech Explorers we practice using a neurodiversity-affirming lens through which we presume competence by working with our clients to build speech and language treatment plans based on their interests and strengths.

  • Two young children dressed in superhero costumes, one as Spider-Man and the other as Captain America, smiling and playing together.

    Strengths-based

    Determination of a child’s strengths plays a significant role in their ability to thrive during therapy sessions. Providing them with activities that are focused around their strengths can help them meet their goals, while also helping them feel supported and understood by their clinician.

Client Testimonials

  • Jen

    “We cannot say enough wonderful things about Playful Speech Explorers and Sarah. Sarah has been supporting our daughter since 2022, and the growth we've seen has been nothing short of incredible. Her speech, social engagement, and self-regulation have all improved exponentially. Sarah has a rare ability to meet children exactly where they are while gently challenging them to grow, all through play and connection. Our daughter truly looks forward to her sessions, and the confidence she's gained carries over into everyday life. We are so grateful for Sarah's expertise, patience, and genuine care.”

  • Lisete

    “Working with Miss Sarah has been wonderful for our family! Our son has had more therapies than I can count over the years and none has he looked forward to as much as his Speech sessions with Miss Sarah. She’s taken time to get to know his unique interests and he truly appreciates that. It’s been wonderful to connect more with him as his ability to effectively communicate grows.”

  • Noel

    “Sarah was amazing! She worked with our son for about 6 months and it’s truly remarkable the progress he has made! Our son went from having just a few words to repeating everything we say and articulating each word with confidence. Our son was always excited to see Sarah and play with the toys she would bring to each session. Highly recommend Sarah’s services!”

  • Nicole

    “Ms. Sarah worked with my daughter for roughly 2 years. During that time the improvements we noticed were amazing. Her articulation of words and sounds improved and she became much more confident when speaking to people. Sarah is kind and patient and has a passion for helping kids. My daughter loves Sarah and looks forward to seeing her and working with her.”

  • Kelly

    “Sarah is absolutely wonderful! She's extremely patient and kind. My child has been progressing leaps and bounds with all of her help! We're very grateful and look forward to our sessions; she has the perfect balance of work and play which helps to keep my child's attention. I would absolutely recommend her!”

  • Olivia

    Description goes her“As a social worker, I have worked with Sarah on a number of occasions over the years. With a wealth of experience, dedication to using best practices, and a willingness to meet others where they are (literally and figuratively), Sarah is an incredible SLP who I would recommend to anyone. I cannot speak highly enough of Sarah and the work she does Playful Speech Explorers!”

Sessions at a Glance

Sarah Hurst, M.S.,CCC-SLP and owner is standing behind a table with colorful cones and informational flyers against a brick wall. The table has a checkered tablecloth, and she is smiling, wearing a sleeveless blouse with sunglasses on her head.
Sarah Hurst, M.S.,CCC-SLP and client are playing a racing game with toy cars on a wooden floor, with colorful blocks and a green toy truck nearby, in a home setting.
Children's toys arranged on a carpet, including toy cars, a pink and yellow cone, a blue container, small animal figurines, and cards with various images and symbols. There are also small square tiles with images of cars, robots, and other objects, p
Sarah Hurst, M.S.,CCC-SLP and a young male client are sitting on the floor playing with yellow pasta and colorful pom-poms in a clear plastic container in a kitchen.
Four large plastic crayons are labeled 'red', 'green', 'yellow', and 'purple' with small plastic toy fruits and objects arranged underneath each bottle on a carpeted floor.
Colorful Halloween-themed craft project on a wooden table, including a pumpkin drawing, an owl drawing, ghost cutouts, and a Boo! message, with craft supplies around.
A person in a blue jacket holding a handmade Thanksgiving card featuring a turkey with paper feathers, a paper body, large googly eyes, and a yellow paper beak. The card has a handwritten message that says 'Happy Thanksgiving!'
Various toy cars and trucks scattered on a wooden floor, including a monster truck, sports car, construction vehicle, and small animal figurines.
A handwritten note for Valentine's Day on a piece of paper that says 'I love you to pieces!' with a heart shape made of colorful paper squares. There is also a plastic container filled with small colorful items and a wooden table surface.
A plastic container filled with dry pasta, with Valentine's Day themed decorations and cards inside, and a large Valentine's themed bag decorated with a bear face in the background.
A Valentine's Day display with a paper cutout of a dog wearing heart-shaped glasses and bowtie, surrounded by smaller hearts and love notes on a table.
Colorful fall-themed craft display with a hand-drawn pumpkin, leaves, and small gourds, surrounded by Halloween and autumn-themed signs and decor on a gray speckled countertop.
Colorful paper craft of a blue dinosaur with big eyes, pink tongue, and spikes on its back, decorated with striped orange and pink appendages, displayed on a brown textured floor.
A table with Halloween crafts including painted pictures of a ghost, pumpkin, and owl, along with a package of colorful balloon decorations, a box of paint sticks, and a glue stick.
A wooden table holding various Halloween-themed items, including a small pumpkin, Halloween books, a container with candy, an iPad, paint collection, sheets of paper, a pumpkin, markers, and cookie cutters.
Sarah Hurst, M.S.,CCC-SLP and owner who has long brown hair is smiling and holding a young boy with dark hair and a gray shirt, both displaying happiness.

Areas We Serve

Playful Speech Explorers LLC presently offers speech and language services to families in Hudson, MA, and surrounding areas. Please contact us for more information.