
Speech and Language Therapist at Help for Psychology
Clinical Experience
After university, Rachael spent a year working in Japan teaching English to all ages, from toddlers to retirees. This was an excellent foundation for her speech and language therapy course. In 2009, she graduated with a distinction from Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh. From there, she worked with those with acquired neurological conditions in both hospital and community settings, conducting communication and swallowing assessments and interventions.
Rachael trained as a Registered Intermediary in 2014. In this role, she has worked with police officers and barristers, guiding communication with vulnerable witnesses and some defendants when completing police interviews and/or cross-examination. She has worked with teenagers and adults with communication difficulties secondary to a range of conditions, including situational mutism, emotionally unstable personality disorder, learning disabilities, dyslexia, among many others.
Most recently, Rachael has worked in an NHS service conducting autism assessments with adults, and in a private company as a specialist neurodevelopmental practitioner, assessing children and adults for autism and ADHD.
Alongside speech and language therapy, Rachael is also a qualified yoga teacher and personal trainer, with a keen interest in personal growth and wellbeing. These qualifications and interests help to support her in seeing a person holistically. She is focused on highlighting individuals’ strengths and building confidence. She has a keen interest in promoting the wider use of reasonable adjustments so that people have improved access to services and experience greater equality. Her role allows her to provide support to both clients and caregivers throughout the diagnostic process using a calm and gentle approach.