What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy aims to empower children to develop vital communication skills, helping them interact with their world more confidently. As they learn to express their needs and understand others, they gain self-assurance, make friendships more easily, manage emotions, and take part fully in both school and daily routines.
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.
Our experienced speech therapists support children in the following areas:
- 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 taking longer to start talking, having trouble being understood, or finding it difficult to connect in conversations at school, we aim to support them.
Why Might My Child Need Speech Therapy?
Children all progress differently, and for some, speech and language skills take a little longer to emerge.
For some children, simply being exposed to language isn’t enough, they may benefit from structured support that builds skills gradually and aligns with their unique way of learning. Speech therapy may provide that crucial guidance.
It’s natural to think your child might grow out of communication challenges, yet most of the time they won’t disappear by themselves. The issue isn’t effort, but the need for guided support to strengthen those tricky skills.
If support isn’t provided, the gap may become larger as children get older and demands rise at school, with friends, and in life. Early intervention aims to ensure children have the tools they need to thrive and may help prevent ongoing challenges from limiting them in the future.
How Speech Therapy Works at Chatterbox
Beginning speech therapy may seem overwhelming, particularly if you’re not sure what will happen. We make the process clear and supportive right from the start.
1. Initial Assessment
Our process starts with a warm, play-focused assessment designed to make your child feel comfortable. It allows us to see their communication skills in action, recognise strengths, and note any areas where support is needed.
2. Setting Individual Goals
Once we’ve completed the assessment, we help you create targeted goals that are both motivating and connected to daily routines, including joining peers at play, following what teachers say, and feeling heard at home.
3. Fun, Personalised Therapy That’s Evidence-Based
Because each child develops differently, we believe therapy should be tailored to their needs. At Chatterbox, our therapists:
- Adapt each session to suit your child’s individual way of learning and stage of development
- Incorporate proven, research-backed methods into each session
- Highlight and grow your child’s strengths, while guiding them through the skills they find harder
- Help your child grow in confidence, build meaningful connections, and gain independence
Our therapy sessions may use games, movement, chats, or hands-on experiences, whichever approach helps your child feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn. Sessions are always play-based and focused on real-world communication. We practise a neurodiversity-affirming model that encourages every child to develop confidence, connection, and independence in a way that embraces their individuality.
4. Family Support and Coaching
We know parents are central to their child’s growth, so we offer guidance and easy-to-use strategies that fit into home life, car rides, and daily routines.
We believe in working with both children and families, because when families feel confident and supported, children grow stronger too.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
By tracking progress at each session, we adapt to your child’s needs as they arise. This approach makes therapy focused, achievable, and valuable for the whole family.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
We work in a way that affirms neurodiversity and highlights every child’s strengths
- We practise in a neurodiversity-affirming way, focusing on strengths and respecting every child’s individual style of learning and connection
- We collaborate with you to set meaningful goals and flexible therapy plans that support your whole family
- We create therapy that’s enjoyable, stimulating, and tailored specifically to your child
- We support multiple areas of development all in one place
- Families can choose between face-to-face or virtual speech therapy, depending on what works best
- Our team is made up of skilled therapists who truly care about each child’s progress
These are all part of what we offer, but want to know the biggest reason?
Families choose Chatterbox because they want to feel confident their child is in good hands with people who don’t just deliver therapy, but genuinely care.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
We set goals by talking with you. Together, we’ll figure out your big goals: what matters most for you and your child. From there, we break things down into smaller, achievable steps so your child can build confidence and experience success along the way.
When we design goals, we factor in your child’s age, development, and everyday life so the plan is meaningful, practical, and tailored to support their learning.
How many sessions will my child attend each week?
Therapy scheduling is guided by your clinician, who relies on research and experience to recommend what may be most beneficial 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.
There are a few therapies, such as the maintenance stage of stuttering treatment, that may only need less frequent sessions, fortnightly or monthly, though this is uncommon.
Families at Chatterbox can select either 60 or 90 minute sessions. Our therapy is scheduled weekly to align with research, and we also offer additional weekly sessions plus intensive programs, which work well in school holiday breaks.
How long will my child need therapy?
We can’t give a one-size-fits-all answer to how long therapy will take, as it depends on many factors including your child’s age, personality, learning style, developmental stage, and any diagnoses.
Your therapist will be able to give more guidance after spending time with your child, but remember that learning takes patience and consistency. There isn’t a quick or easy fix.
Who will be my child’s speech therapist?
All Chatterbox therapists are Speech Pathology Australia registered, experienced, and highly trained. Their passion lies in helping children thrive using proven, family-centred approaches.
Each session, your child will meet with the same speech pathologist, who takes time to know them well and earn their trust. This steady relationship may help your child feel comfortable and ensures therapy is carefully adapted to them.
But life doesn’t always follow a perfect schedule, and that’s where being part of a connected team really helps. Whether your clinician is away, you need to move an appointment, or want to book an extra session, we’ve got your back. We offer families the option for their child to see another one of our qualified clinicians when needed, so therapy stays consistent and flexible.
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:
- Ensure therapy sessions are attended consistently to build momentum
- Follow through with practice activities at home between therapy visits
- If possible, rebook appointments instead of cancelling to keep consistency
- Make the most of therapy intensives during school holidays
- Get involved during sessions — your input makes a difference
The more consistent and involved you can be, the more your child may benefit.
Do you offer online speech therapy for children?
That’s right! We provide speech and occupational therapy both in clinic and online , giving families choice and flexibility. Online therapy suits busy families, children who are most comfortable at home, and families 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.
Several options are available to help with the cost of therapy. You can find out and learn more about 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?
At each of our primary locations in Bella Vista, Kinsgwood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, a dedicated team is ready to assist you and your family, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. With free on-site parking available at every clinic, attending assessments or therapy sessions is made easy and stress-free.
While our speech pathologists in Oran Park primarily support people from surrounding suburbs including Oran Park, Gledswood Hills, Gregory Hills, Harrington Park, Mount Annan, Currans Hill, Campbelltown, and Leppington, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.
