About

Yes.  I can work alongside NHS therapists, sharing assessment findings and recommendations with your consent. 

With long waiting lists for NHS services you will be able to access support sooner.  You may also feel your child would benefit from more regular therapy with a consistent therapist.  Sessions can also be arranged for a time that is convenient for your family. 

Mostly preschool and primary school aged children, but I also have experience with older children and teenagers

I have experience and training in the following

- Speech sound difficulties, this may be developmental or arising from a specific condition such as apraxia of speech or a hearing impairment 

- D/deafness - I am working towards my BSL level 3 qualification so assessment and therapy can incorporate BSL at this level

- Autism, including working with minimally verbal children who benefit from approaches such as intensive interaction and visual support

- Talking with different people (situational/selective mutism)

- Learning disabilities 

- Learning needs, such as Down's syndrome

- Social, emotional and mental health needs

- Stammering/dysfluency

I can typically offer an initial assessment within 4 weeks. If therapy is needed, it can usually begin 1–2 weeks after the assessment.

To accommodate families, I offer telephone consultations both during the day and in the evening. I keep my caseload small to ensure I can provide each family with the focused attention and support they need.

We start with 4 sessions of VERVE Child Interaction Therapy, which is effective for all families facing speech, language, and communication challenges.

If needed, we schedule a review appointment every 4–8 weeks to monitor your child’s progress, celebrate achievements, and build on their development. The level of support is entirely up to you—you decide what works best for your family.

We start with an initial assessment, which lasts around one hour. Before this session, I will ask you to complete a case history form, which we will discuss in more detail during the assessment. I will also use a short video of you playing with your child to evaluate their emotional regulation, play skills, language, and vocalisations or speech. Depending on your child’s age and abilities, I may incorporate more formal assessments as needed.

After the initial assessment, therapy sessions typically last 45–60 minutes. These sessions focus on building your skills and strategies to support your child's communication. Through play activities tailored to your child's developmental stage, we use video recordings of your interactions to observe progress and discuss the next steps.

When a child struggles with speech and language, it's natural to think they need expert help to teach them skills they’re not picking up from everyday conversations. Historically, many therapy approaches were based on this assumption. However, we now know that all children learn language through real-life interactions with their key communication partners—especially those they are most attached to, such as parents. When a child faces speech, language, or communication difficulties, these interactions can break down, leaving parents unsure of how to respond.

With 13 years of experience as a Speech & Language Therapist, I’ve trained in both traditional (behaviourist) and interactive approaches, including Intensive Interaction and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. In 2022, I trained in VERVE Child Interaction Therapy, which has proven to be the most effective approach, offering the best clinical outcomes for all of my clients, regardless of age or diagnosis. Parents regularly share positive feedback in their testimonials about how this approach has benefited their children.

VERVE Child Interaction Therapy was developed by Keena Cummins, a Speech & Language Therapist, who continues to evolve it based on the latest research in child development and neuroscience. In 2021, Keena published a book that further describes the approach.

As Keena Cummins says:  

*"This book is not an argument for the use of video in therapy to support and facilitate children's development through the skills of their parents. That is an argument…proven a long time ago, and which should no longer need to be debated…learning with and working through the skills of parents through video has transformed our understanding of how behaviour and communication develop."*

Instead of focusing on what your child can’t do, we’ll focus on what they can do and work on shaping their emerging skills through everyday activities they enjoy. After each session, you will receive a  written summary outlining the strategies we’ve agreed on together, so you will feel confident in knowing exactly how to support your child’s progress.

Most families find that after the initial 4-6 sessions, scheduling a review every 6-8 weeks is sufficient to continue supporting their child and see meaningful progress. The frequency of sessions will be flexible and based on your child’s needs and your preferences. I’ll work closely with you to ensure you receive the right amount of support throughout the process.

For children aged 6 and under, sessions take place in a friendly, informal clinic space in my home, designed to make your child feel comfortable. For older children, I ask families to record videos of their child at home, and we meet online or in my clinic space while the child is at school. This ensures that they don’t miss valuable school time.

For families who prefer, I also offer telehealth services. Some local families choose to have sessions via video call, allowing them to focus on discussing the therapy while reviewing video recordings of their interactions with their child. This is particularly helpful if your child finds it difficult to regulate when they don’t have your full attention.

In cases where children require additional support at nursery or school, I can arrange sessions with staff after initially working with parents at home. This flexible approach helps meet the needs of both the child and their educational setting.