About Rebecca Shafir, M.A., C.C.C.

Speech/language pathologist, communication consultant, and brain fitness expert Rebecca Shafir has been helping people communicate and think more clearly and powerfully at home, at work and in public for more than 25 years.

In the area of cognitive rehabilitation, Rebecca has served as Chief of the Communications Disorders Department at Choate-Symmes Health Services, Chief of Speech/Language Pathology at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, and Clinician/Director of Business Development for the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health, all in Massachusetts. 

Her award-winning book The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distractionfrom Quest Books was translated into German, Spanish and Turkish and has sparked articles about her in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Readers Digest and many other popular publications, as well as hundreds of radio/TV interviews.
Rebecca is focusing her expertise on Brain Fitness for Boomers and Seniors. She offers one-on-one or group brain fitness training. She also trains persons with medical backgrounds to be brain fitness trainers. Her next book StayingSharp@Work will address ways to achieve peak mental performance and manage the hectic pace and multitasking demands in today’s workplace.    
 
Rebecca’s work with organizations included communication training for physicians and upper management at the Lahey Clinic and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, communication workshops for foreign-born faculty and graduate students at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, and sales training for corporations in a wide variety of industries, including health care, sales, hospitality and high tech.

In her private practice, she works with health care, legal, political, and financial professionals and entrepreneurs who understand the value of an influential vocal image and wish to improve their ability to connect with customers and the public. She also offers seminars and workshops on the power of mindful listening and brain fitness, for individuals and sales teams. 

Rebecca holds a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and a Masters in Speech Pathology from Indiana University, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence and professional license as a Speech-Language Pathologist from the state of Massachusetts. In addition, she holds certifications in QEEG, biofeedback and LENS neurofeedback, which help relieve cognitive and behavioral symptoms for people with ADD/ADHD, head injury, dementia, anxiety and depression who don’t tolerate or improve from medication.

Her writing, coaching and clinical practice continue to be informed by her long-standing interests in musical theater, opera and martial arts. Before training as a speech/language pathologist, Rebecca played major roles in many musicals and toured with her college opera company. She has a 1st degree Black Belt in Chung Moo Do (a blend of Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Tae Kwan Do).