Therapists:

The therapists at Wasatch Speech and Language Center are state licensed and hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association.  Each therapist has a Masters Degree and post graduate training in specific areas.
Maria Gurrister, M.S. CCC-SLP

​Maria has been a practicing speech language pathologists for 23 years.  She received her Masters degree from the University of Utah and received post graduate training in fluency disorders at the University of Iowa.  Her primary area of interest is neurogenic communication disorders in children and adults.  She practiced for 11 years at the University of Utah Medical Center with a focus in swallowing disorders, acquired speech and language disorders (stroke, traumatic brain injury) within the acute care setting of the hospital.  She was an integral part of the neurology and neurosurgery team, as well as the development of the acute care speech pathology service.  She left to join Wasatch Speech and Language Center in 2001 to bring her clinical skills to the pediatric population. 

She specializes and enjoys working with non-verbal children, children with motor speech disorders, including the treatment of the disordered 'r' sound in children, as well as language and auditory processing disorders.  She co-developed the social communication programs that Wasatch Speech and Language Center offers in the summer months.  Maria also co-founded the Wasatch Children's Stuttering Management Program in 2006.  An intensive therapy program conducted within a summer camp format.  She is the founder of the Apraxia Support Group for Parents.  In addition, Maria sits on the Board of Directors for the Elizabeth Academy.  The Elizabeth Academy is an exclusive Montessori school which Maria was involved in creating.   Maria has been invited to speak at the Oxford Dysfluency Conference, Oxford University, England.

Maria's experience in the medical setting offers a unique perspective in the treatment of childhood speech and language disorders with neurological origins.  Maria is the codirector of the Wasatch Children's Stuttering Management Program.  
Tom Gurrister, M.S. CCC-SLP, BRFS

​Tom is the founder of Wasatch Speech and Language Center.  He received his Masters degree from the University of Utah and has been in practice for over 25 years.  He received post graduate training in the evaluation and treatment of stuttering disorders at Northwestern University.  He has been board certified in fluency disorders/ stuttering since 2002.  Tom has been invited to speak at the International Fluency Association in Denmark, the Oxford Dysfluency Conference, Oxford University, England, the National Stuttering Association and at the American Speech and Hearing Association conferences.  His work and contributions to the treatment of childhood and adult stuttering have been recognized by researchers in the field of fluency disorders.  He was the director of the University of Utah Successful Stuttering Management Program for seven years. 

Tom co-founded the Wasatch Children's Stuttering Management Program in 2006.  An intensive therapy program conducted within a summer camp format.

Tom works with children and adults in a variety of areas including autism, language disorders, voice and articulation.

"As the Executive Director of the National Stuttering Association, I have had the opportunity to work with Tom Gurrister on numerous occasions as he served our organization in various cadres.  Tom has been a strong force behind our Salt Lake City support group for people who stutter and currently is a member of our national family programs committee.  Tom's ability to work with people of all ages who stutter is one of his strongest assets.  The insight and experience he brings to his patients and their families is invaluable."
-Anne Bradbury, Former Executive Director, National Stuttering Association
Michelle Flowers, M.S. CCC-SLP

Michelle received her Bachelors degree from Utah State University in 2011 and her Masters degree from Brigham Young University in 2015.  She practiced in the public schools for two years, working mainly with children with articulation and language disorders.  She joined Wasatch Speech and Language Center in 2018.  She has participated in the Wasatch Children’s Stuttering Management Program, an intensive therapy program offered during the summer.  She enjoys working with clients of all ages in a variety of areas, including articulation, language, and fluency.
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Becca Bassett, M.A. CCC-SLP

Becca received her Master’s degree at Utah State University in Speech Language Pathology and is a certified member of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She participated in clinical research associated with language and literacy acquisitions (Dr. Julie Wolter, USU) and a narrative intervention with children with Autism (Dr. Ron and Sandra Gillam, USU). Becca has clinical experience in acute care in the medical setting, preschool services, elementary and secondary education and private practice. Throughout these various settings, she has evaluated and provided treatment to clients ages 2-geriatrics with diverse disorders such as articulation disorder, acquired and developmental Apraxia of speech, phonological disorder, stuttering, social language disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, dysphagia, dysarthria, aphasia, receptive and expressive language disorder, voice disorder, varying in severity.



Becca did an internship with Wasatch Speech and Language Center five years ago and has been involved ever since. She has worked at the Wasatch Children’s Stuttering Management Program for 5 years. This is a camp-like intensive therapy program for adolescents who stutter that takes place during the summer.