A letter from our founder, Jen Traina:
In 2004, my third child was born eight weeks early. Like many of the families we now serve, I found myself suddenly navigating a world I hadn’t planned for—one filled with delayed milestones, specialists, and therapy appointments. He didn’t walk independently until nearly two years old. At the time, we lived in La Mesa, and I was driving over 30 minutes each way for physical therapy appointments twice a week. It was exhausting—managing traffic, parking, wrangling my two other little ones in the waiting room, and trying to make it all work.
I was a speech-language pathologist myself and had always believed in the power of family-centered care. But what we were experiencing didn’t feel that way at all. It felt like we were just going through the motions, not being seen as a whole family with unique needs. And that’s when the idea for SmallTalk started to take shape. I knew East County needed something different—something warmer, more supportive, more centered on both the child and the family.
We opened SmallTalk in a 300-square-foot office on Chase Avenue in El Cajon. That tiny space was full of heart and big dreams. Over the years, we expanded within the same building, eventually growing into the clinic many of you have come to know and love. In 2011, we opened a second location in Sabre Springs, followed by Old Town in 2014—both of which eventually found new homes in Scripps Ranch and Mission Valley.
Through all this growth, East County remained our home base. It’s where we started. It’s where we stayed.
Now, after more than 20 years in the same El Cajon building, we’re taking the next step: just four miles down the road to La Mesa. Starting June 23rd, our East County clinic has a brand-new home at:
7862 El Cajon Blvd., Suite 200, La Mesa, CA 91942
This new clinic was designed with families in mind—more therapy rooms, a bigger gym, a cozy waiting area, and (a personal favorite) much easier parking. And most importantly, it’s the same caring team, the same playful, child-led therapy, and the same commitment to your family.
Watching SmallTalk grow from that tiny office to over 17,000 square feet across San Diego has been one of the greatest joys of my life. We’ve added Child Development Centers, virtual services, and more—but what hasn’t changed is our heart. East County isn’t just where we started—it’s who we are.
To all the families who have trusted us over the years: thank you. You’ve helped shape SmallTalk into the place it is today. We can’t wait to welcome you into our new La Mesa space and continue this journey together.
With gratitude,
Jen Traina
CEO and Founder, SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy