Meet Mary Billings

Founding BSPS

In 1994, Mary Billings founded Billings Speech Pathology Services with a clear vision: to create a practice where every client receives truly individualized, expert-led care. At a time when many speech therapy practices were moving toward high-volume, group-based models, Mary chose a different path — one built on deep clinical expertise, one-on-one relationships, and measurable outcomes.

That founding philosophy has guided every decision since. Today, BSPS serves families across the Kansas City metro with two clinic locations and teletherapy, but the commitment to quality over quantity remains unchanged. Mary personally oversees the clinical direction of the practice and mentors each clinician on the team.

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Credentials & Expertise

Mary's clinical qualifications reflect a career dedicated to continuous learning and the pursuit of excellence:

• Master of Science in Communication Disorders — Advanced graduate training in the assessment and treatment of speech-language disorders
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) — The nationally recognized credential from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), representing the highest standard of clinical competence
• Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM) — Advanced certification in the evaluation and treatment of orofacial myofunctional disorders, awarded by the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). Mary is one of a select number of practitioners in the region to hold this credential
• ASHA Subject Matter Expert (SME) — Selected by ASHA to contribute her expertise to the development of national clinical standards and continuing education content for the profession

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National Educator

Mary's influence extends far beyond her own practice. She is a sought-after educator who teaches clinicians nationally and internationally in orofacial myofunctional therapy, feeding therapy, and clinical best practices.

Through her continuing education platform, Function Focus, Mary has trained thousands of speech-language pathologists, dental professionals, and other healthcare providers. Her courses are known for being practical, clinically rigorous, and immediately applicable — the kind of training that changes how clinicians practice.

Topics Mary teaches include:

• Orofacial myofunctional assessment and treatment
• Pediatric feeding disorders and therapy approaches
• Tongue-tie and tethered oral tissues
• Airway-focused therapy and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Clinical best practices for private practice SLPs

When your therapist is trained by someone who trains the trainers, you know your family is getting the best care available.

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Clinical Philosophy

Mary's clinical philosophy is simple but powerful: every person deserves individualized care from a knowledgeable, compassionate clinician.

She believes that great therapy is built on three pillars:

• Expertise: Clinicians must never stop learning. The field evolves, and so must we.
• Relationship: Therapy works best when there is genuine trust and connection between the therapist, the client, and the family.
• Accountability: Every session should have a purpose, every goal should be measurable, and every family should know exactly where their child stands.

This philosophy is woven into the fabric of BSPS. Mary personally mentors each clinician on the team, ensuring that the standard of care she established in 1994 is upheld in every session, every day.

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Speaking & Training

Mary is available for speaking engagements, continuing education workshops, and clinical training. She regularly presents at state and national conferences and offers customized training for clinics, dental practices, and healthcare organizations.

To learn more about Mary's courses, visit Function Focus. To book Mary for a speaking engagement or training, please contact us.