About TalkOut

I live in Somerset with my husband, four children, dog, rabbits and chickens.  I am the last of 6 children.  I love and value families in all their shapes and sizes.  I decided I wanted to be a Speech and Language Therapist when I was 16 and followed my dream, graduating from University College London in 2000.  Since then, I have worked in a variety of settings and feel very privileged to have had the working experiences I have had to date.  My particular specialism is the beautiful spectrum of autism.  

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I believe that my job is first and foremost about making a relationship with a child or young person - so that they can feel comfortable with me and trust me.  And from there, seeking practical ways to achieve the communicative potential of that child, by working in partnership with the child, parents/carers and the other significant people in the child’s life at home, education placement and local communities.  

Children and young people develop in different ways and at different times.  Sometimes the way that a child’s communication skills develop can reduce that person’s life opportunities and chances.  Then it can be very helpful to find the right professional to listen and work with you and the team around the child and help to find the best way forward.  My experience and skills as an SLT help me to identify key strengths and areas of need - this is the ‘assessment’ process.  From the assessment baselines, targets can be agreed and methods that draw on a number of practical and evidence-based methods, can be selected.

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All children and young people need play, fun, opportunities and a daily timetable that fulfils and regulates them and provides them with a broad and balanced range of opportunities.  Many children need observing and teaching in their natural environments - so I commonly join them on trips out into the community.  

I have been practicing as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 20 years.  Along the way, I have attended many training courses as part of my continuing professional development. Like everything in the world about us, progress is fast in this day and age, and it is important that I stay up to date with my own training to ensure I can provide the best services possible for the children and young people I support.  Each child I see is unique and the interventions I offer are bespoke for each child and tailored to meet their needs.