Knoxville, Tennessee — wherever you are in recovery, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Specialized aphasia and adult communication therapy available virtually for East Tennessee. Marina Coakley, M.S., CCC-SLP, licensed in Tennessee.
Many Knoxville-area families move from hospital rehab into a chapter where steady outpatient support matters: communication keeps changing, and recovery rewards consistency. What people often want next is specialized aphasia care that fits real schedules — with one clinician carrying the thread of their progress.
Affinity Therapy is built around continuity: you work with me, Marina, through your course of care. I hold your baseline, your pace, and what has already helped. Aphasia recovery builds week by week; therapy stays steadier when the relationship does.
Meaningful improvement is possible well beyond the earliest months after stroke or injury. Research continues to affirm neuroplasticity across the lifespan — what drives change is targeted, consistent therapy tailored to you.
I work with adults navigating aphasia and communication changes after stroke or brain injury — virtually across Tennessee. Sessions are HIPAA-compliant, scheduled around your life, and built around what matters most to you. Consultations are free.
Communication is how we stay connected to the people we love. When that gets harder — for any reason — it matters. If you're in Knoxville and looking for support, this is a good place to start.
Services Available in Knoxville
Aphasia Therapy
Specialized help for the language changes that can follow a stroke or brain injury. Starting sooner helps, and meeting online means you can begin without the drive.
Apraxia of Speech
Focused, repetition-based work to rebuild reliable speech, all done online so where you live never gets in the way of the care you need.
Adult Communication Therapy
If words won't come, thinking feels slower, or conversation tires you out after a TBI or brain injury, I can help with that and with fluency, voice, and everyday communication, all online across Tennessee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What outpatient aphasia options exist for Knoxville-area families?
East Tennessee has hospital-affiliated services and community providers; what each family needs next depends on timing, goals, and how therapy fits daily life. Many adults seek private outpatient care that centers one ongoing relationship and keeps momentum after rehab. I work virtually across Tennessee with adults navigating aphasia after stroke or brain injury — consultations are free if you'd like to talk through fit.
Will I work with the same clinician throughout my care?
Yes. You work with me, Marina, from intake forward. I carry your baseline, your pace, and what's already helped. Aphasia therapy builds week by week — having one clinician who knows your full story supports that process.
How soon after a stroke should someone start aphasia therapy?
As soon as possible. Research consistently shows that early intervention — beginning in the first weeks and months after stroke — produces the strongest outcomes. But early doesn't mean the only opportunity. The brain retains plasticity well beyond the acute phase, and many people make meaningful gains years after their injury with consistent therapy. If discharge from inpatient or acute outpatient rehab has left a gap in care, filling that gap now — rather than waiting — is the right move.
Can aphasia therapy really work over video?
Yes — telehealth aphasia therapy is well supported by research for many clients. What drives outcomes is individualized, consistent therapy with a qualified speech-language pathologist. For many Knoxville-area families, virtual sessions make steady weekly care easier to sustain alongside transportation, caregiving, and energy.
My family member has apraxia of speech after a stroke — does Affinity Therapy treat that too?
Yes. Apraxia of speech is a motor planning disorder that frequently co-occurs with aphasia after stroke or brain injury. Treatment uses intensive, repetition-based approaches to rebuild reliable speech production. Virtual sessions are effective for most clients with acquired apraxia, though for individuals with severe involvement, an initial in-person period may be recommended to establish a strong foundation before transitioning to telehealth.
Do you work with family members as well as the person with aphasia?
Yes — and it's encouraged. Communication partner training is one of the most evidence-supported elements of aphasia therapy. When the people in a stroke survivor's life understand how to support communication — how to reduce breakdowns, give adequate processing time, and use strategies that reduce frustration — recovery improves between sessions. Family members can be included directly in sessions, and home strategies are always part of the plan.
Let's get started right from home
The first call is free and there's nothing to commit to. I meet with people online all across Tennessee.
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