Private Practice

Helping children who have difficulty understanding language / expressing themselves / producing clear speech / social communications disorder (e.g. autistic spectrum)

I see children with their families/carers at a dedicated clinic in Stanmore, which has a relaxed and informal atmosphere.  I work with babies and children up to 18 years of age who have difficulties in the following areas:

• Eating and drinking difficulties
• Dribbling
• Physical disabilities including cerebral palsy
• Language – understanding what people say/ability to communicate using words and grammatically correct sentences
• Down Syndrome
• Autistic spectrum disorder
• Learning difficulties
• Speech (pronunciation)
• Visual impairment
• Stammering/stuttering

Children are usually seen with their parent(s) and/or other main carer(s).

Each child is assessed through skilled observation, play, standard tests and discussion with relevant professionals.

Permission from a child’s parent(s)/carer(s) is always sought before contacting other professionals.

Assessment and therapy need to be collaborative; parental/carer and teachers’ concerns are listened to very carefully.

Following assessment, my findings are discussed with (where appropriate) the child and his/her parent(s)/carer(s).

We then plan the most effective way of helping that particular child; for example, some children require weekly therapy, others a school visit.

Sometimes we try out ideas together and as long as the parents/carers are happy, we arrange a follow-up at a mutually agreed interval to enable everyone to try out strategies before reviewing the child’s progress.

My approach is flexible, being child and family centred, so that parents/carers and other staff feel they have the information and skills to help that child between our sessions.

I encourage parents to write notes for themselves.

With parental/carer consent, I sometimes use video to help demonstrate helpful strategies, types of play and so on.

A report is provided following the completion of my assessment.

Follow-up reports are written as necessary.

Where appropriate I refer families on to colleagues, such as an educational psychologist and developmental paediatrician, for further help.

I am always happy to discuss therapy with families/carers and professional staff.