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.
At Chatterbox, our paediatric speech pathologists work with children at every stage of development. We support toddlers learning to talk, preschoolers building their language skills, and school-aged children managing speech, language, literacy, and social communication challenges.
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 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?
Every child develops at their own pace, but sometimes speech and language skills don’t come as easily.
While everyday interaction often helps, some children require more guidance to strengthen their skills in a way that suits their learning style. Speech therapy offers this focused support and may make a genuine difference.
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.
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
Taking the first step into speech therapy can feel challenging, but we make it easy to understand and reassuring from the very beginning.
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
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
No two children are the same, and therapy shouldn’t be either. At Chatterbox, our therapists:
- Customise therapy to match your child’s learning style and current developmental needs
- Apply therapy techniques that are grounded in the latest research and evidence
- Highlight and grow your child’s strengths, while guiding them through the skills they find harder
- Support your child to develop greater confidence, stronger connections, and more independence
In therapy, sessions may involve games, movement, conversations, or practical activities, all chosen to help your child engage in ways that feel comfortable and enjoyable. We keep our approach play-based and interactive, focusing on building everyday communication skills while respecting each child’s unique way of learning. Our work is neurodiversity-affirming, giving children space to grow in confidence, connection, and independence as themselves.
4. Family Support and Coaching
Because your involvement is key to progress, we provide coaching and practical tools you can apply at home, in the car, or during regular routines.
At Chatterbox, our commitment extends beyond children to families, recognising that your wellbeing directly supports your child’s progress.
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 approach is neurodiversity-affirming and focused on building from each child’s strengths
- We take a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approach
- 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 provide support for a range of developmental needs in the one place
- We offer both face-to-face and online speech therapy options
- 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?
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?
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.
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?
Drawing on current research, your clinician will recommend a therapy schedule that suits your child’s needs and supports progress.
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.
Some therapies (like the maintenance phase of stuttering therapy) may require reduced intensity (e.g. fortnightly or monthly sessions), but these are the exception, not the rule.
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?
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.
As your therapist learns more about your child, they can share a clearer picture of the journey ahead. Still, it’s vital to understand that therapy is a gradual process, not a quick fix.
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.
Seeing the same speech pathologist every session allows your child to build a close, trusting connection. That consistency aims to provide a sense of safety and support, making therapy more meaningful.
Because life doesn’t always run to plan, our team-based approach makes a difference. Should your clinician be away, or if you’d like to shift or add an appointment, another skilled clinician can step in so therapy continues smoothly and flexibly.
Our clinicians collaborate closely, sharing strategies and progress so sessions stay consistent, even if another therapist steps in. Experiencing a new clinician from time to time may also help your child practise flexibility, strengthen generalisation, and gain confidence communicating with different people, just like in everyday life.
How can I get the most out of our therapy sessions?
The best part? You can do a few simple things at home to boost your child’s therapy and keep their progress moving forward:
- Ensure therapy sessions are attended consistently to build momentum
- Complete practice tasks between sessions
- If possible, rebook appointments instead of cancelling to keep consistency
- Consider holiday intensives to give your child extra support during breaks
- Actively take part in sessions, your support makes a big impact
When you stay consistent and actively engaged, your child could make the greatest progress.
Do you offer online speech therapy for children?
Yes! Families can choose between in-clinic appointments and online speech and occupational therapy sessions, depending on what works best. Online sessions are ideal for busy households, kids who prefer home, or families in regional or rural locations.
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?
At each of our primary locations in Bella Vista, Kingswood, 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 therapists in Penrith primarily support people from surrounding suburbs including Penrith, Emu Plains, Emu Heights, Glenmore Park, Cranebrook, Jamisontown, Glenbrook, and Blaxland, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.
