I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from the University of Reading in 1997 with a BA in Linguistics and Language Pathology with Speech Therapeutics and Management.  I am a member of the Health Care Professions Council and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. 

I have extensive experience of working with children and adults in a variety of settings with a wide range of speech, language, and communication needs. I worked in the NHS for many years before moving into private practice. Alongside my clinical work, I held a research post at the University of Suffolk for 7 years and have published several peer-reviewed articles on the development of childhood stuttering.  I also worked in Canada from 2015-2019. I worked with indigenous families living on reserves, and where the prevalence of children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) was higher along with selective mutism and mental health difficulties. Since moving back to the UK in 2019, I returned to work in the NHS and in independent practice. 

Whilst working in the NHS I carried out observational and formal assessments with children in their educational settings and provided reports to the Neurodevelopmental Service (NDS) as part of their diagnostic process of children with ASD and ADHD. Following the assessments I provided advice and demonstration of strategies to families and education staff on ways to help support and develop their child’s communication skills. This included the use of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Intensive Interaction strategies, and the use of other visual supports to help their child. In my private practice I am fortunate in being able to offer the more regular support families are often seeking and I enjoy seeing the progress the children make. 

As a mother myself to a child with neurodevelopmental differences, I can appreciate the difficulties and frustrations parents have in negotiating services, receiving an accurate diagnosis, and obtaining the support their child needs. I therefore hope that I provide a caring and empathetic approach to those families seeking assessment and a potential diagnosis for their child. 

I am trained to administer and interpret the findings of the ADOS-2 (Autistic Diagnostic Observation Schedule). I very much see this as a tool to be used alongside my observations gained through extensive clinical experience and discussions of findings from other professionals in forming a diagnosis.