Our Team

Nicole Cavalea, MA, CCC-SLP, OMT, is the founder and director of Strategies for Success, a speech pathology group and myofunctional therapy clinic.

Nicole’s mission is to provide a supportive and mentoring environment in her practice, where therapists, extern students, partners, and employees can collaborate to explore their full potential and provide highly specialized, quality, and effective services for the assessment, management, and treatment of speech/language and orofacial/myofunctional disorders in infants, children, and adults.

Nicole has extensive experience working with children of all ages in the assessment, treatment, and management of speech and language disorders associated with autism, ADD, ADHD, auditory processing disorders, motor speech delays, and myofunctional disorders. She has also worked with the language rehabilitation of adults in sub-acute medical settings. 

After integrating myofunctional techniques into her practice, she saw improved client outcomes. This motivated her to expand her training in myofunctional disorders and their treatment. She participated in intensive training courses to deepen her expertise in orofacial form and function concerning sleep-disordered breathing, TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), speech, and swallowing in children and adults. 

Since then, Nicole has achieved significant success with myofunctional therapy for her clients and believes she has discovered the “missing piece” in her practice. She values and enjoys collaborating with airway-focused pediatric dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, and pediatricians.

Leticia is an Arizona native and recently moved to California in July 2022. She has been a practicing clinician since 2016 after receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Northern Arizona University. At NAU, she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Graduate Clinician award. She has experience working in private practice and school-based settings with individuals as young as 18 months old with particular interests in play-based, child-led therapy approaches for early language and speech sound disorders. She has found oral motor coordination and stability to be an integral piece for remediating speech sound production skills.

Meet Alyssa Alonzo, a native of Stockton, Ca. She is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist that specializes in orofacial myofunctional therapy.

Alyssa's educational journey began at Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA, where she earned an Associates degree in Liberal Arts. During this time, she specialized in American Sign Language and communication disorders. Alyssa then continued her studies at San Jose State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and a minor in Deaf Education. Later, she received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from San Jose State University.

Alyssa has a keen interest in serving individuals with complex needs and has a particular interest in practicing orofacial myofunctional therapy. Throughout the years, she has developed a profound affection for the San Jose-Los Gatos community. Following graduation, she chose to remain in the Los Gatos area and serve the community she loves.

Mikayla Valdez, M.S, CCC- SLP, attended San Jose State for her undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences. In June of 2023 Mikayla received her Master’s of Science degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. 

Mikayla has clinical experience in the areas of speech sound production, language intervention for early childhood and elementary aged children. She has had the opportunity to work with a variety of age groups as well. Throughout her experiences she has found a passion for early intervention, utilizing a child lead and play based approach for early language development. When she is not working she enjoys hiking local trails, baking, and spending time with friends and family. 

Michelle Jellen M.S., CF-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow at Strategies for Success. Michelle received her Bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Baylor University. 

Michelle has experience working in the school setting, private practice, and skilled nursing and has enjoyed working with a range of ages. She has a particular interest in child-led, play-based therapy and enjoys connecting with children and their families. In her free time, Michelle likes going on local adventures with her husband and two children, doing yoga, walking, and reading.

Alexa attended San Diego State University for undergraduate and graduate school. With her master's degree in Communicative Disorders, Alexa returned to Los Gatos to serve the city she calls home.