Tiffany Guardado, M.S. CCC-SLP, IBCLC, PMH-C
Founder, Senior Clinician
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Certification in Perinatal Mental Health
Tiffany is a pediatric speech-language pathologist, feeding/swallowing therapist,
and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been practicing as a speech-language pathologist specializing in pediatrics since 2014. She has spent the majority of her career working with children and families from a variety of backgrounds and with various levels of needs related to the feeding and swallowing process - from complex medical conditions to selective/picky eating in both a medical setting and private practice. In addition to her work as a speech-language pathologist, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2021 to expand her clinical practice to include specialized lactation support. She formed Tree of Life Feeding to serve and provide families the tools necessary to begin a healthy and happy relationship with feeding. In addition to her clinical work, Tiffany teaches part-time in the graduate program at Chapman University, helping to educate and mentor future speech-language pathologists in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program.
Education
B.A. in Communicative Disorders, Spanish
California State University Fullerton
​
M.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Chapman University
​
Pathway 2 Certificate, Lactation Consultant
UC San Diego Extension
​
Licenses & Certifications
Certificate of Clinical Competence
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
​
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
​​
Certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C)
Postpartum Support International
​
Paneled in Speech Language Pathology
California Children's Services (CCS)​​
​
Vital Stim Therapy Specialty Certification
CIAO Seminars
specialty trainings
SOFFI: Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants
Feeding FUNdamentals
Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care & Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Training
Postpartum Support International
Understanding Infant Reflux
and Related Conditions in
Lactation Practice
Catherine Watson Genna
Bottle Skills for the Bottle Refuser
Babies in Common
Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention
Beckman & Associates
Assessment & Treatment Tools for Pediatric Tracheostomy: An Interactive Workshop
Passy-Muir Incorporated
GoMAP: Guided Oral Movements with
Active Patterning for Infant/Toddler Feeding
The Speech Network
Amanda Chastain, MA, CCC-SLP, COM
TOTS: Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training
Chrysalis Orofacial
Breathe Baby Course
The Breathe Institute
Advanced Clinical Skills for the Bottle Refuser
Babies in Common
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infancy: Breast and Bottle Feeding
Wolf & Glass
Education Resources, Inc
Rethinking Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing
ASHA Professional Development
Supporting Oral Motor Skills in the Infant: Assessment, Adaptation, Remediation
The Lactation OT
When Baby Can't Suck: An Advanced Course for Therapists
Nina Ayd Johanson
Pumping and Feeding Gear Workshop for IBCLCs
Babies in Common
Breathe, Baby Breathe: Developmental Interventions for Infants with Tracheostomy
Education Resources, Inc.
VitalStim Therapy Specialty Program-Pediatric Focus
CIAO Seminars
It’s Not Magic, Its Skill: Gentle Manual Therapeutic Techniques In Lactation
Maya Bolman, IBCLC
Candice is a medical speech language pathologist, feeding/swallow therapist, and international board certified lactation consultant. She received her Masters in speech language pathology in 2021 and has experience with diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders in the pediatric and adult population in a variety of settings ranging from the public schools to outpatient hospital and inpatient in acute, subacute, and acute rehab settings. She has a passion for working with mothers and babies which led her to pursue becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2026. She desires to advocate for families to meet their feeding goals. In addition to working at Tree of Life, Candice also works part time at a hospital where she sees adults and pediatric patients with a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders. Candice is married to her husband Andy and they have one daughter together.
Candice Surh Cho, M.S. CCC-SLP,
IBCLC
Clinician
Speech-Language Pathologist
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Education
B.S. in Communicative Sciences & Disorders
Biola University
​
M.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Biola University
​
Pathway 2 Certificate, Lactation Consultant
UC San Diego Extension
​
Licenses & Certifications
Certificate of Clinical Competence
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
​
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)​
specialty trainings
When Children Won't Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders
SOS Approach to Feeding
​The Foundations of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing
Feed the Peds
Functional Assessment and Remediation of TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues)
TalkTools
Bottle Feeding Skills - Refining Clinical Reasoning for Selection and Use
The Lactation OT
Kelsey Mobers,
M.S. CCC-SLP, CLEC
Clinician & Instructor
Speech-Language Pathologist
Certified Lactation Educator & Counselor (CLEC)
Kelsey is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor with over 15 years of experience supporting infants and children with feeding, swallowing, and communication needs. She has spent the majority of her career working in both outpatient and inpatient settings at a large local children’s hospital, where she developed extensive experience in early intervention, pediatric cognitive communication disorders, and infant/pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. Kelsey brings a thoughtful, evidence-based approach to her work, while also recognizing the real-life dynamics that shape each family’s feeding journey.
As a Long Beach native and a mom of three daughters, Kelsey offers a unique blend of clinical expertise and lived experience. She understands firsthand the questions, challenges, and wins that come with introducing solids, allowing her to connect with families in a way that feels both supportive and practical.
At Tree of Life, Kelsey works individually with a variety of patients with feeding & swallowing disorders and also leads our Together at the Table meal groups, where she helps families build confidence with baby-led weaning, responsive feeding, and early mealtime skills in a warm, community-centered environment.
Education
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies
Minor in Speech & Hearing Sciences
University of California Santa Barbara
​
M.S. in Communicative Disorders
California State University Northridge
​
Licenses & Certifications
Certificate of Clinical Competence
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
​
Paneled in Speech Language Pathology
California Children's Services (CCS)​​
​​
Vital Stim Therapy Specialty Certification
CIAO Seminars
specialty trainings
Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention
Beckman & Associates
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infancy: Breast and Bottle Feeding
Wolf & Glass
Education Resources, Inc
Optimizing Feeding Outcomes Conference
UCI/CHOC Rehab
8th Annual International Feeding Disorder Conferences
Feeding Matters
VitalStim Therapy Specialty Program-Pediatric Focus
CIAO Seminars
Assessment and Treatment of Children with Oral Motor, Feeding/Swallowing and Respiratory Function Challenges: Children with Neuromotor Involvement
Rona Alexander
11th Annual International Feeding Disorder Conferences
Feeding Matters
Pediatric Swallowing and Feeding: The Essentials
Catherine Shaker
Assessment & Treatment Tools for Pediatric Tracheostomy: An Interactive Workshop
Passy-Muir Incorporated
April West, RN, IBCLC
Clinician
Registered Nurse
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
April is a registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 15 years of experience supporting mothers, infants, and families throughout their feeding journeys. She has worked across NICU, mother-baby, postpartum, and outpatient settings at local hospitals, where she developed extensive experience caring for newborns, preterm infants, NICU graduates, and medically complex feeding dyads. April brings a calm, compassionate, and family-centered approach to her work, while blending evidence-based lactation support with deep understanding of the emotional transition into parenthood.
​
As a mother of two who also experienced her own breastfeeding challenges, April offers both clinical expertise and personal insight. Her lived experience allows her to connect with families in a way that feels genuine, supportive, and reassuring, especially during seasons that can feel overwhelming or isolating.
​
At Tree of Life, April provides lactation support for a wide variety of feeding concerns, including breastfeeding difficulties, pumping support, bottle feeding, low milk supply, painful latch, NICU transition support, and early postpartum feeding challenges. She is passionate about helping families feel empowered, informed, and supported as they navigate feeding and postpartum life with confidence.
Education
A.A. in Nursing
Los Angeles Harbor College​
Licenses & Certifications
Registered Nurse (RN)
California Board of Registered Nursing​
​
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
specialty trainings
Beyond the NICU: Navigating Complex Discharge and Developmental Follow-Up
GOLD Learning
Feeding Difficulties: A Look at High Risk Populations
GOLD Learning
Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets: Supporting Families During Their Breastfeeding Journey
GOLD Learning
Breastfeeding Biomechanics: Functional Approaches to Oral Coordination
GOLD Learning
The Value of Prenatal Hand Expression of Colostrum
GOLD Learning
Sucking Exercises to Manage Sucking Dysfunction
GOLD Learning
From NICU to Home: Preparing Parents for the Journey Ahead
GOLD Learning
Breastfeeding Medically Complex Infants in the Neonatal ICU
GOLD Learning
When Sadness Is Not the Symptom: Clinical Approaches for Breastfeeding Mothers with Postpartum Depression
GOLD Learning
