Careers at Word Play
Build a Career with the Freedom to Deliver Therapy Your Way
If you’re looking for a therapy role where you can do meaningful work without feeling stretched thin, Word Play may be the kind of place you’ve been hoping to find.
We are a therapist-led practice built for clinicians who want flexibility, independence, and a real connection with the people they serve—without feeling like they are carrying it all alone. At Word Play, you are trusted as a professional, supported as a person, and given room to provide care in a way that feels thoughtful, creative, and meaningful.
We know many therapists love the work, but not always the pace, pressure, or lack of balance that can come with it. That is why we aim to create a role that gives you space to breathe, build relationships with your clients, shape a schedule that works for your life, and feel supported by a team that understands what this work requires.
Here, you can use your clinical judgment, bring creativity and play into your sessions, and focus on the moments that matter most for the children, adults, and families you serve. If you’ve been wondering whether there is a way to keep doing the work you love with more support, flexibility, and peace in your day, we’d love to hear from you.
A Message from Our Owners
Our Mission
At Word Play, our mission is to help children and adults across our Arizona communities communicate, connect, and experience life more fully. We combine clinical expertise with compassionate, relationship-based care to provide exceptional speech, language, feeding, and telehealth therapy that supports meaningful growth, independence, and quality of life.
Our Philosophy
At Word Play, we believe great therapy happens when skilled clinicians are trusted, supported, and given the freedom to do their job well. We value thoughtful systems, clear expectations, strong communication, and ethical care, while also recognizing that meaningful therapy is never one-size-fits-all.
Our therapists are encouraged to use clinical judgment, creative clinical skills, and a relationship-based approach to meet each client where they are. That means adapting sessions based on the client’s strengths, needs, readiness, communication style, family priorities, and real-life environment.
As part of our team, you are given room to be creative, build relationships, and provide care in a way that feels personal, practical, and clinically sound. You are trusted to do your job, but you are not expected to do it alone. Our team is here to provide guidance, mentorship, collaboration, and encouragement along the way.
Now Hiring Clinicians Across Arizona
At Word Play, you have the chance to build real relationships, use your creativity, and make a meaningful impact without losing yourself in the process. We are looking for clinicians who are independent, motivated, compassionate, and genuinely committed to the people they serve.
If you hold an active Arizona license and are looking for flexible, relationship-based work with a team that values both quality care and quality of life, we encourage you to apply—no matter where you are located in Arizona, we would love to meet you.
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs)
- Occupational Therapists (OTs)
Work Where You Want to Live
Word Play has served children, adults, and families across Arizona since 2003, including the Phoenix metro area, Prescott Valley and the Tri-City region, Flagstaff, and surrounding communities.
Because our services are provided in homes, online, and in familiar community settings, our therapists are not tied to one clinic location. You can live where you want, serve clients in your community, and build a caseload that reflects your skill, availability, schedule, and preferred travel range.
This model gives you more flexibility and control over the way you work, while still having the support of a team behind you. Our goal is to help you create a career that fits your life—not one that takes it over.
Build a Career that Works For You
Flexible work. Meaningful support. Rewards that reflect your expertise.
Why Therapists Choose Word Play
Highest Rates In Arizona
Earn highly competitive contractor rates that recognize your expertise.
Credentials Covered
We reimburse required licenses, CPR, Article 9, and approved training costs.
Grow With $250 in CEUs
Receive $250 each year toward continuing education that moves your career forward.
$100 for Therapy Materials
Choose practical tools and materials that support your clients and your style.
Liability Coverage Included
Practice with added peace of mind through paid professional liability coverage.
Performance Rewards
Your impact matters — with annual bonuses and opportunities for rate increases.
Less Paperwork, More Impact
Our modern EMR helps make documentation simpler and more efficient.
A Schedule That Fits
Set your own availability and build a caseload around your life.
You Choose Your Service Area
Decide how far you travel and where you are comfortable serving clients.
Support When You Need It
Reach our team directly by call, text, or email — no complicated chain of command.
Experienced Clinical Guidance
Get ongoing support from therapists who understand the work firsthand.
What We Provide for Our Contractors
We’ve built our contractor model to give you flexibility and the support you need to do your job well.
- Competitive hourly pay
- Reimbursement for state license fees, CPR, Article 9, and required trainings
- $250 annually for continuing education (CEUs)
- $100 annually for therapy materials
- Paid professional liability coverage
- Annual performance bonus and opportunities for pay increases
- State-of-the-art EMR system for streamlined documentation
- Set your own schedule and availability
- Choose how far you’re willing to travel
- Direct access to support when you need it (call, text, or email)
- Ongoing guidance from experienced therapists
Meet the Owners of Word Play
Word Play is led by Lorraine Read and Stephanie Strom, two speech-language pathologists who have spent decades doing the same kind of meaningful work they now support their team in doing every day.
They understand what it takes to provide therapy in homes, schools, clinics, hospitals, and community settings. They know the joy of building relationships with families, the creativity this work requires, and the importance of having support when questions, challenges, or decisions come up.
That is why Word Play was built to feel different. Lorraine and Stephanie are approachable, involved, and committed to creating a team where clinicians feel trusted, guided, and genuinely supported. Their leadership is grounded in clinical experience, responsive communication, and a deep respect for the therapists who serve families across Arizona.
Why Work with Word Play?
At Word Play, you get the freedom to do meaningful therapy in a way that feels personal, creative, and connected—while feeling supported by a team that is cheering you on. We love working with therapists who bring ideas, heart, clinical skill, and personality into their sessions.
- Support when you need it: You are out in the community, but you are never out of reach. When questions come up, you can call, text, or email and know that someone will help you work through the next step.
- Real team connection: We make time to connect as people, not just providers. From casual dinners and team outings to fundraisers and in-person gatherings, we create opportunities to build relationships with the people behind the emails.
- Independence with encouragement: You have space to use your creativity, clinical skills, and personal therapy style while feeling guided, encouraged, and supported by a team that wants you to succeed.
Have Questions?
Curious about working with Word Play, but not quite ready to apply? We’d still love to hear from you. Whether you want to ask about scheduling, caseloads, support, mentorship, or what the role could look like in your area, we are happy to talk it through.
Send an email to joinus@wordplayaz.org to learn more. Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to make a fresh start with Word Play.
Our Core Values
Dedicated
We care deeply about the individuals and families we serve, and we’re committed to giving our clinicians the support they need to provide thoughtful, individualized care.
Enthusiastic
We believe energy, creativity, and genuine encouragement help create meaningful therapy experiences for the people we serve and for the clinicians who provide that care.
Supportive
No one should feel like they’re doing this work alone. We foster a collaborative team where clinicians can ask questions, share ideas, and rely on one another throughout their careers.
Fun
We believe therapy should be engaging, creative, and enjoyable. Our clinicians are encouraged to bring their personalities, interests, and ideas into each session while building authentic relationships with the people they serve.
Compassionate
We treat our clients, families, and one another with patience, respect, and understanding, creating a workplace where people feel valued, heard, and supported.
Growth Opportunities for Clinicians at Word Play
At Word Play, we want your career to grow with you. Whether you are building confidence in your clinical skills, developing a specialty area, preparing for supervision, or dreaming about the next step in your professional path, we want to support that growth.
You’ll have opportunities to take ownership of your caseload, learn from experienced clinicians, strengthen your clinical decision-making, and grow into roles such as mentorship, supervision, specialty services, or leadership. We are looking for therapists who care deeply about their work and want to keep becoming better at what they do.
For assistants, we also encourage continued education and professional advancement. Word Play offers support and bonus opportunities for clinicians who continue growing within the field and take the next step in their career.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It
Hear What Our Team Is Saying
Our clinicians are the heart of Word Play, and their experiences tell the story best. Therapists stay with Word Play because they feel supported, valued, and connected to meaningful work.
They appreciate the flexibility, the relationships they build with families, and the chance to provide therapy in a way that feels personal, creative, and purposeful. Hear directly from our team about why Word Play feels like a place where therapists can grow, contribute, and enjoy the work they do.
See What Our Therapists Are Saying
Opportunities for Clinical Fellowships
At Word Play, Clinical Fellows are supported from day one as they begin their professional careers.
We work with you to build your caseload and provide ongoing supervision throughout your fellowship year. You’ll receive a mix of in-person and remote support, along with consistent access to guidance as you grow into your role.
If you’re interested in a Clinical Fellowship with Word Play, we’d love to learn more about you. Submit your resume below to begin the conversation.
Build a Career That Feels Like Home
You do not have to choose between meaningful clinical work and a career that gives you room to breathe. At Word Play, we are building a team of exceptional clinicians who care deeply, think creatively, and want to feel connected to the people they serve and the team behind them.
We are actively hiring across Arizona and would love to meet therapists who are looking for flexibility, support, and work that feels personal and purposeful.