What Is Speech Therapy?
Through speech therapy, children learn to strengthen the skills that allow them to communicate, connect, and grow. The ability to both express themselves and comprehend others fosters meaningful relationships, builds resilience, and encourages participation in learning and daily activities.
At Chatterbox, our paediatric speech pathologists support children across all stages of growth. From toddlers beginning to speak to preschoolers strengthening their language and school-aged children working on speech, literacy, and social skills, we’re here to help.
Our qualified speech therapists aim to help 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?
Children all progress differently, and for some, speech and language skills take a little longer to emerge.
Not all children pick up speech and language through daily experiences alone. Many need targeted support that may help them develop step by step, tailored to how they learn best. This is where children’s speech therapy could be life-changing.
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.
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
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
After learning more about your child, we’ll work together to design goals that are relevant, achievable, and meaningful to their everyday life, like engaging in play, managing school directions, or expressing themselves at home.
3. Fun, Personalised Therapy That’s Evidence-Based
No two children learn in the same way, so therapy must be individualised. At Chatterbox, our therapists:
- Adapt each session to suit your child’s individual way of learning and stage of development
- Use evidence-based strategies backed by current research
- Support your child by building on their abilities and working through the tricky parts together
- Support your child to develop greater confidence, stronger connections, and more independence
Therapy might look like games, movement, conversation, or hands-on activities, whatever helps your child engage and learn in a way that feels safe and enjoyable. Our sessions are play-based and engaging, designed to build real-world communication skills while honouring your child’s unique learning style. Everything we do is neurodiversity-affirming, so your child can feel supported to develop confidence, connection, and independence just as they are.
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 support not only the child but the whole family, because a supported family creates the best environment for a child to thrive.
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
Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming and focused on building from each child’s strengths
- We take a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approach
- Our approach involves working alongside you to develop family-centred goals and therapy plans that can adapt as needed
- Therapy is designed to be enjoyable, interactive, and personalised for your child
- We support multiple areas of development all in one place
- Speech therapy is available with us either face-to-face or via Telehealth, giving families choice and convenience
- We’re therapists with skill and heart, committed to making a real difference
These are just some of the things we provide, but the biggest reason goes deeper.
Families come to Chatterbox for the reassurance that their child is supported by people who care as much as they do, not just by therapists delivering sessions.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
Together with you, we decide on the goals that matter most for your child. From there, we design step-by-step targets that are realistic and achievable, allowing your child to build confidence and enjoy progress.
As we set goals, we carefully consider your child’s age, current stage, and daily needs, making sure the plan is realistic, personalised, and effective for their way of learning.
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.
In most cases, therapy works best when it’s regular and consistent. The more chances children have to practise and strengthen their skills, the greater the progress tends to be. Ideally, this would involve several hours of therapy each week, though that isn’t always practical for families.
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.
At Chatterbox, sessions are available in 60 or 90 minute formats. We deliver weekly therapy consistent with research, with opportunities for extra sessions or intensive blocks, a great option for school holidays.
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.
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?
Our therapists are not only qualified and experienced, but also registered with Speech Pathology Australia. They’re committed to guiding children’s development with evidence-based strategies and supportive, family-focused 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.
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 collaborate, they pass on progress notes, strategies, and goals, so sessions remain connected regardless of who’s in the room. Exposure to different people may benefit your child by helping them to adapt and learn new skills.
How can I get the most out of our therapy sessions?
The great news is that you can play an active role in helping your child make the most of therapy and continue moving ahead:
- Make sure your child attends therapy regularly
- Follow through with practice activities at home between therapy visits
- If possible, rebook appointments instead of cancelling to keep consistency
- 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 flexible options with both in-clinic appointments and online speech and occupational therapy sessions. Online sessions work well for busy families, children who feel secure at home, or those based in rural or remote 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.
You may be able to access different funding options to help cover therapy. 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, 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 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.
