How Lauren Ross Grew Precision Therapy to Meet an Overlooked Need
By: Brittney Kay Neal | Photos by: Ashlee Glen
Finding Her Voice
Lauren R. Ross has had a love for speech-language pathology since she was a little girl.
When Ross was young, her parents noticed she had developed a stutter. Having grown up with a stutter himself, her father understood the challenges it could bring, and together her parents wanted to help her overcome them. They enrolled her in speech therapy, which quickly became her favorite part of the school day.
That early experience sparked a passion that eventually became a career.
Ross earned her undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University before completing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Old Dominion University. Certain she had found her calling, she looked forward to building a career as a speech-language pathologist.
Expanding Her Expertise
Like all speech-language pathologists, Ross completed a clinical fellowship after graduate school. She spent that year with Lynchburg City Schools, where she quickly realized there was more she wanted to learn.
“My training was mostly focused on language, articulation, and fluency,” she said.
Many of the children she worked with displayed behaviors she wasn’t sure how to respond to or accommodate.
“All behavior is communication,” Ross explained. “Speech therapy is hard.” She knew her students were trying to tell her something, and she wanted to better understand their needs.
Ross began collaborating with the school’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), combining Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with speech therapy. Together, they saw encouraging progress in the students they served.
Inspired by those results, Ross returned to school to earn her ABA certification through Clemson University. She became a BCBA in 2020 and is now one of only 19 professionals in Virginia who are dual-certified in both speech-language pathology and ABA.
The Precision Therapy Team (Left to Right): Rich Ferguson, Britt Mays, Lauren Ross, Neli Andersen, Carley Mitchell, Jennifer Garnett, Callie Garnett, Cassie Nordan. Not Pictured: Brian Myers.
Serving an Underserved Population
After becoming dual certified, Ross joined a private practice that served both children and adults, though its primary focus was pediatrics. While she enjoyed the work, she increasingly felt drawn toward serving adults.
Autistic adults and other adults with disabilities are often an underserved population. While many therapy services are concentrated on children, Ross recognized that adults often face the same communication and behavioral challenges with far fewer available resources. She wanted to build a practice dedicated to meeting those needs.
She founded Precision Therapy PLLC in December 2022.
Today, Ross and her team provide therapeutic consultation services throughout Lynchburg and across Virginia. Therapeutic consultation is a Medicaid waiver service that connects adults with disabilities and their caregivers with specialized support to help them achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life. Depending on a client’s needs, therapeutic consultation may include services such as speech-language pathology, applied behavior analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, and more. At Precision Therapy, Ross and her team specialize in providing therapeutic consultation in speech-language pathology and ABA.
Rather than providing one-size-fits-all treatment, the team works closely with each client, as well as family members, caregivers, and support staff, to develop practical strategies that can be used in everyday life.
At Precision Therapy, every service plan is tailored to the individual. Through compassionate, evidence-based care, the team helps clients develop practical skills, increase independence, and navigate everyday life with greater confidence. Working alongside families and caregivers, Precision Therapy focuses on meaningful, measurable progress. The practice offers services to individuals 18 and older. Its current clients range in age from 18 to their eighties.
Building a Culture of Care
Ross believes caring for clients begins with caring for clinicians.
Recognizing the high burnout rate common in caregiving professions, she intentionally built Precision Therapy around a culture that supports its employees. Clinicians are encouraged to take time off when needed, and prioritize their physical and mental health both in and out of work. Biweekly check-ins and an emphasis on appreciation and teamwork help create an environment built on trust and support.
When asked what she is most proud of, Ross doesn’t mention the company’s growth or accomplishments.
Instead, she points to her team.
She says it is an honor to work alongside such caring and talented professionals, and she credits them with helping create the compassionate culture that defines Precision Therapy.
Looking Toward the Future
Today, Precision Therapy employs more than 20 clinicians serving communities across Virginia, including Lynchburg, Williamsburg, Richmond, Winchester, and Newport News.
Looking ahead, Ross hopes to continue expanding the practice through additional therapeutic consultation services, day support programs, speaking engagements, and community outreach. Her goal is simple: to make these specialized services available to more adults with disabilities and the caregivers who support them.
As the company grows, Ross hopes to expand not only the number of clinicians on her team but also public awareness of the services available to adults with disabilities. Through education, outreach, and continued collaboration with families and community partners, she hopes to make specialized support more accessible throughout Virginia.
