What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy aims to help children build the communication skills they need to connect, learn, and thrive. Being able to express themselves and understand others enables children to connect with their world. Their confidence grows, and so does their ability to make friends, manage emotions, participate in learning, and navigate daily life.
Chatterbox paediatric speech pathologists partner with children throughout their development. We nurture toddlers discovering language, preschoolers refining communication, and school-aged children facing challenges with speech, literacy, and social interaction.
We provide speech therapy that may assist children with:
- Understanding and Using Language
- Speech Clarity and Pronunciation
- Stuttering and Fluency
- Reading and Spelling (Literacy)
- Lisps
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
You can learn more about the conditions we address here.
If your child is slow to develop speech, struggles with clarity, or feels left out of conversations at school, our team is ready to provide support.
Why Might My Child Need Speech Therapy?
While every child’s development is unique, speech and language abilities can sometimes be more challenging to build.
Some children need more than just everyday exposure; they need support to build skills step by step, in a way that matches their individual learning style. That’s where speech therapy for children may make a real difference.
Many parents hope their child will eventually outgrow speech or language difficulties, but often these challenges persist without help. It’s not a lack of effort; children simply need support to develop the skills they’re struggling with.
Without the right support, children’s difficulties may grow over time. Expectations increase with age, in the classroom, with peers, and in daily routines. Early intervention is important because it aims to build strong foundations and lowers the risk of challenges becoming bigger obstacles later.
How Speech Therapy Works at Chatterbox
It’s normal for starting speech therapy to feel daunting when you don’t know what to expect. That’s why we keep things straightforward and supportive from day one.
1. Initial Assessment
We start with a gentle, play-oriented assessment that aims to put your child at ease. Through this, we learn about their communication skills, identify both strengths and difficulties, and plan how best to support them.
2. Setting Individual Goals
Following the assessment, we partner with you to establish goals that truly matter for your child’s daily experiences, such as making playtime more inclusive, succeeding with school instructions, or being understood by family.
3. Fun, Personalised Therapy That’s Evidence-Based
Every child is unique, and their therapy should reflect that. At Chatterbox, our therapists:
- Adapt each session to suit your child’s individual way of learning and stage of development
- Rely on evidence-based practices supported by up-to-date studies
- Build on your child’s strengths while supporting the areas that are tricky
- Focus on growing confidence, connection, and independence
Therapy can take many forms, from games and movement to conversation and practical activities, chosen to help your child engage and learn comfortably. All sessions are designed to be play-based, enjoyable, and meaningful, strengthening everyday communication skills. By taking a neurodiversity-affirming approach, we ensure your child feels supported to grow in confidence, connection, and independence, just as they are.
4. Family Support and Coaching
You play an essential role in your child’s development, which is why we guide and support you with simple strategies to use at home, on the go, and in daily life.
Our work isn’t only with children, we partner with families, knowing that when parents feel supported, children benefit as well.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
In every session, we monitor your child’s progress so we can adjust and respond right away. This keeps therapy practical and meaningful for your child and your family.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
Our therapy is grounded in a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming philosophy
- We practise in a neurodiversity-affirming way, focusing on strengths and respecting every child’s individual style of learning and connection
- Together with you, we create family-focused goals and adaptable therapy plans
- We make therapy fun, engaging, and tailored to your child
- We bring together support for multiple developmental areas in a single, convenient setting
- Speech therapy is available with us either face-to-face or via Telehealth, giving families choice and convenience
- Our team is made up of skilled therapists who truly care about each child’s progress
These are just some of the things we provide, but the biggest reason goes deeper.
Parents choose Chatterbox because they know their child will be cared for by a team that goes beyond therapy to show genuine compassion.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
Our goal-setting process starts with a conversation with you to uncover what matters most for your child. We then create smaller, achievable steps that support confidence and make success feel within reach.
Goal setting involves looking at your child’s age, developmental progress, and everyday routines so the plan is achievable, valuable, and aligned with how they learn.
How many sessions will my child attend each week?
Your clinician will create a therapy schedule guided by evidence and tailored to what may work best for your child.
Most therapies depend on consistency and regular practice. The more often children can apply their skills, the more progress they tend to make. In a perfect world, therapy would run for hours each week, but we also recognise this doesn’t suit every family.
In certain cases, like when a child is in the maintenance phase of stuttering therapy, sessions may be less frequent (fortnightly or monthly), but this isn’t typical.
We offer both 60-minute and 90-minute sessions at Chatterbox. Weekly therapy is our standard, guided by research, and families can also access extra weekly sessions or intensive programs, ideal during the school holiday period.
How long will my child need therapy?
There isn’t a single answer to how long therapy might continue, because it depends on individual factors like your child’s age, personality, learning style, developmental level, and diagnoses.
With time, your therapist can offer a more detailed idea of what therapy might look like. But progress requires patience, learning takes time, and there is no overnight solution.
Who will be my child’s speech therapist?
Every therapist on our team is registered with Speech Pathology Australia, bringing both qualifications and experience. They’re dedicated to supporting children’s growth with family-friendly, evidence-based care.
Your child will see the same speech pathologist each session, someone who gets to know them well and builds a strong, trusting relationship over time. Consistency aims to help your child feel safe, supported, and understood, allowing us to tailor therapy in a way that truly works for them.
We know schedules aren’t always perfect, so our connected team is here to help. If your usual clinician can’t make it, or you want to move or add sessions, your child can see another qualified therapist, ensuring therapy stays on track.
Because our clinicians work closely together, they can share insights, strategies, and progress so every session feels connected, even with a new face in the room. In fact, seeing a different clinician now and then gives your child the opportunity to practise flexibility, generalise their skills, and work on their confidence with different communication partners, just like they need to do in the real world. Win-win!
How can I get the most out of our therapy sessions?
Good news! There are straightforward strategies you can use to support your child’s therapy and help them keep building skills:
- Attend sessions consistently
- Keep therapy on track by working on practice tasks outside of sessions
- Whenever you can, move sessions instead of cancelling to support steady progress
- Use holiday breaks as an opportunity for intensive therapy sessions
- Join in during therapy sessions, your participation helps your child progress
The more consistent and involved you can be, the more your child may benefit.
Do you offer online speech therapy for children?
Yes! We offer both in-clinic appointments and online speech and occupational therapy sessions to suit your family’s needs. Online therapy is a great option for busy families, children who feel most comfortable at home, or those living in remote or rural areas.
What funding options are available?
There are a number of options to help cover therapy costs. You can learn more about funding options here.
There are different ways to make therapy more affordable. Discover the available funding options here.
Is there a waiting list?
Good news! We currently have no waiting list, which means your child can likely get started straight away. Early support can make a big difference, and we know that delays can be frustrating. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to keep access to therapy as smooth and timely as possible.
Where are you located?
Our primary clinics in Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith are designed for ease of access, with friendly administration staff on hand to support you and your family. All locations offer free parking, providing you with a stress-free transition into assessments or therapy sessions.
While our speech pathologist in Kingswood primarily support people from surrounding suburbs including Kingswood, Cambridge Park, Werrington, Claremont Meadows, Jordan Springs, St Marys, Colyton, and St Clair, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.
