Hello, and a warm welcome to my website.
I am an experienced therapist and assessor offering a caring and individualised service to older children, teens and young adults. I understand how differences in our lived experiences and in the ways we process information shape who we are including our communication, relationships and sense of belonging, especially in a society where normativity dominates.
My approach is based on the person-centred principle that change and growth happens when a child or young adult feels accepted and valued in relationships which are genuine, trusted and secure. From here, each young person can connect to their own creativity and resourcefulness, as well as experience themselves and the world fully. This freedom leads to improved confidence, more positive experiences of learning and being with others, and ultimately greater personal fulfillment.
My belief is that we achieve this collaboratively through a shared commitment to listening, exploring choices and responsibilities, honesty and realism. I am committed to my practice being affirming and inclusive of all abilities, identities and backgrounds and have experience of being a client in therapy myself.
Working with young people, their families and support systems at school or college is a process of continuous reflection in which therapy evolves with progress and in response to change or ‘stuckness’. My knowledge, experience and interests are particularly suited to assessment, therapy and teaching relating to:
Central to this is celebrating a young person’s identity, nurturing their sense of belonging and ability to self-advocate. My experience tells me that the relationships we build with young people together with our own openness to really listen and improve learning environments can be transformative and enriching for us all.
You have been amazing for our son – you have made a big difference to his life and life chances – he is so lucky to have found you.
Assessment can contribute to the process of understanding who we are, validating our uniqueness and knowing what support we need from others. It can also be a starting point for therapy.
The following provides an overview of how I work and some of the assessments I currently offer:
Listening, spoken language and communication underpin many aspects of learning and are particularly important for reading, writing and spelling. I offer speech and language therapy assessments which focus on the sub-skills needed to understand and use spoken language. I can also provide a full diagnostic assessment for dyslexia (in accordance with the latest SASC guidelines). In collaboration with schools and colleges I also assess for exam access arrangements.
Your report is a work of art and I fully understand what you have been able to put forward so clearly about our son’s difficulties with language.
Being neurodivergent changes the way we attend to and process social information, our bodily felt-senses and how easily we then organise ourselves in the world. This means that sometimes it is more useful for an assessment to focus on social cognition, communication and executive function. I offer a broad-based, in-depth approach to assessment which foregrounds a young person’s views, experiences and abilities and explores how the outside world impacts on their sense of safety and well-being. I believe careful attunement and attention to detail during the assessment process can in itself be therapeutic.
Everything now makes sense and it is really helpful to know her strengths and weaknesses in such detail.
I have supported many families through the process of application, assessment and production of an EHC plan. These assessments are by necessity detailed and I ensure my written reports adhere to legal guidance on excellence in written evidence.
Please also read Service-and-Fees-2025 and What to Expect - FAQs for more information or contact me for an initial discussion which is free of charge.
Thank you so much for such a great and detailed report, it gives us some great ways to help her and will mean life should get easier for her.
When assessment highlights a need, we will co-create an engaging, meaningful and effective therapy plan which respects each child or young person’s abilities, identities, preferences and goals.
All my therapy works towards clear and fully-negotiated outcomes. I promote a collaborative approach in which a young person is free to design and take ownership of the therapy they want for themselves. I will ensure out work follows best practice guidelines and share my knowledge and experience of what works when this is helpful.
I include regular reviews to check how we are working together and recognise that valuable learning and change takes place between as well as during sessions. I aim to promote excellent communication and joint working so that each young person and significant members of their support system can together explore choices, possible solutions, ideas and considerations through a neurodiversity lens.
As therapy is personalised, the nature and extent of my involvement with each young person varies. When therapy ends, you will have a complete written record of our work together and are welcome to contact me again in the future should you wish to do so.
You have been truly wonderful for our daughter, in fact without question, for us all.
I welcome enquiries from schools and colleges who wish to commission specialist provision for students who have an Education, Health and Care Plan. I also work in partnership with schools and colleges who wish to enhance their Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) local offer.
This service is fully negotiated and unique to each setting and the individuals within it. My role typically involves identifying adjustments and accommodations to promote a more inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly learning environment. This includes challenging our own expectations and assumptions about communication and being open to change ourselves. I also have extensive experience of facilitating or providing group and individual therapy in a range of educational settings.
I have been so impressed with all you have done and with your thorough approach to each and every facet of your work.
I provide continuing professional development which is responsive to the structure and needs of different organisations. I offer accredited training programmes as well as more interactive and experiential approaches. I particularly enjoy facilitating group learning with staff teams.
Sarah has been a wonderful tutor. She explained the course in excellent detail and was always available to help in any way possible. Everyone felt comfortable to be involved and ask questions.
I worked as a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in the education sector and qualified as a Specialist Teacher and Assessor of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties before setting up my independent practice in 2000.
I am a registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), Association for Independent Speech and Language Therapists (ASLTIP) and Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS).
I work in accordance with their ethical guidelines and professional standards including continuing professional development. I follow best practice guidelines in relation to my own supervision, subscribe to the DBS update service and regularly update my mandatory training.
My professional qualifications include a BSc (Joint Hons.) in Speech and Psychology, a MSc in Human Communication, an OCR Diploma for Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties, a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Education: Autism (Children) and a BSc in Person-Centred Pluralistic Counselling. I also hold a current Assessment Practising Certificate, am trained in the use of creative approaches and qualified to provide online therapy.
Your practice is of an exceptionally high standard and as a parent it is an enormous relief to be able to have total confidence in the professionals helping your child.
I hope my website gives you a sense of who I am and how we might work together. Please explore the following links to find out more. If you need further information or would like to get started I would be glad to hear from you.
To make an enquiry please complete the form below or call 07742 915921 for a free initial consultation.
All fields marked * are required to submit form
