That Speech Lady: About Me
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Here is a short video about how I work and what is important to me as a speech and language therapist. On this page you can also see my career highlights, how I became a therapist and information about my stammering training and experiences. |
Career highlights
- Running a successful three day outdoor therapy group for children who stammer.
- Being interviewed by ITV Meridian to discuss the impact of covid-19 on speech and language development.
- Working with Gareth Gates on his Stammer School course for children who stammer.
- Being interviewed by Tina De Silva at Business Radio and Lara McNaste at Radio Woking.
- Auditioning for BBC’s New Voice and using my time to raise awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
- Working with RADLD on their social media campaign to raise awareness of DLD.
My background
I was inspired to train as a speech and language therapist due to my parents who both had experiences of accessing speech and language therapy. My father has a stammer and my mother has a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
In 2009 I graduated from Birmingham City University with 2:1 Bachelor of Science Honours in Speech and Language Therapy.
I started my career as a speech and language therapist working for the NHS in Hertfordshire, East Surrey and West Sussex. During my 8 year career I worked in various settings (mainly in schools) and over time I developed specialist skills working with children who stammer, eventually becoming the specialist stammering lead in East Surrey. Due to moving house, I started working in West Sussex and unfortunately there were no opportunities to continue working with children who stammer. In 2016 I made the decision to leave the NHS and start my own independent practice - That Speech Lady was created!
I will always be grateful and appreciative of my NHS colleagues, however the flexibility of working for myself has opened doors to lots of amazing opportunities and it has enabled me to continue working with people who stammer. I have been able to create and run my own outdoor activity group combining outdoor pursuits with stammering therapy. I also love how much time I can commit to the people I work with, tailoring each session to exactly what they need and keeping up to date with the latest evidence and research in speech and language therapy.
I was inspired to train as a speech and language therapist due to my parents who both had experiences of accessing speech and language therapy. My father has a stammer and my mother has a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
In 2009 I graduated from Birmingham City University with 2:1 Bachelor of Science Honours in Speech and Language Therapy.
I started my career as a speech and language therapist working for the NHS in Hertfordshire, East Surrey and West Sussex. During my 8 year career I worked in various settings (mainly in schools) and over time I developed specialist skills working with children who stammer, eventually becoming the specialist stammering lead in East Surrey. Due to moving house, I started working in West Sussex and unfortunately there were no opportunities to continue working with children who stammer. In 2016 I made the decision to leave the NHS and start my own independent practice - That Speech Lady was created!
I will always be grateful and appreciative of my NHS colleagues, however the flexibility of working for myself has opened doors to lots of amazing opportunities and it has enabled me to continue working with people who stammer. I have been able to create and run my own outdoor activity group combining outdoor pursuits with stammering therapy. I also love how much time I can commit to the people I work with, tailoring each session to exactly what they need and keeping up to date with the latest evidence and research in speech and language therapy.
Specialist stammering skills
Formal training I have received:
Formal training I have received:
- Working with children who stammer, Michael Palin Centre
- Palin parent child interaction therapy (Palin PCI), Michael Palin Centre
- Primary school children who stammer: Realising their potential, Michael Palin Centre
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Michael Palin Centre
- The Lidcombe Program, Trainers Consortium (Please note: I no longer offer this program as it does not align with my updated views on stammering)
- Working with adults who stammer: a course for speech and language therapists (City Lit)
- I am a member of the National Stammering CEN (CEN stands for Clinical Excellence Network) that specialise in working with children and adults who stammer. CENS include liaising with other stammering therapists and attending training and workshops from outside speakers.
- I have been a member of the South East and London Stammering CEN (known as SEALS) and the West Midlands stammering CEN.
- I created, managed and ran a three day outdoor stammering group for children who stammer at Surrey Outdoor Learning Centre.
- I have appeared in short video clips for Stamma who are a fantastic charity supporting people who stammer.
- I attended a stammering supervision group facilitated by Sam Simpson.
- In 2021 I attended the Oxford Dysfluency Conference online.
- In 2020 I attended a Resiliency Promotion Workshop by Reaching In Reaching Out.
- In 2018 I worked with Gareth Gates in Gareth Gates' Stammer School. I designed and ran workshops for primary aged children who stammer.
- In 2017 I attended the Oxford Dysfluency Conference (a three day event).
- I have experience leading and running a specialist stammering service in the NHS.
- My father is a person who stammers.
Every therapist has unique skills, experiences and training.
It is important you find the right therapist for you.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with me,
please get in touch via my contact page
That Speech Lady - Stammer Specialist
It is important you find the right therapist for you.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with me,
please get in touch via my contact page
That Speech Lady - Stammer Specialist
