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.
Children can receive guidance from our skilled speech therapists in:
- 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.
We’re here to help children who are late to talk, who others have difficulty understanding, or who face challenges joining in with peers at school.
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.
Parents often wonder whether their child will just catch up in time, but difficulties with speech and language usually don’t resolve without help. This isn’t about your child not trying; it’s about giving them the right support to succeed.
As children mature, expectations in learning, social life, and daily activities expand. Without timely support, difficulties can widen the gap. Early intervention matters because it aims to strengthen foundations and reduce the chance of challenges turning into long-term barriers.
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
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:
- Tailor sessions to your child’s unique learning style and developmental stage
- Rely on evidence-based practices supported by up-to-date studies
- Build on your child’s strengths while supporting the areas that are tricky
- Help your child grow in confidence, build meaningful connections, and gain 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
You’re a vital part of your child’s progress. That’s why we coach and support you with practical strategies you can use at home, in the car, or during everyday routines.
We believe in working with both children and families, because when families feel confident and supported, children grow stronger too.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
We regularly check your child’s progress during sessions, allowing us to respond immediately to their needs. This way, therapy stays achievable, impactful, and suited to your family’s goals.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
We work in a way that affirms neurodiversity and highlights every child’s strengths
- Our therapy is guided by a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach that celebrates differences and supports growth
- Our approach involves working alongside you to develop family-centred goals and therapy plans that can adapt as needed
- We create therapy that’s enjoyable, stimulating, and tailored specifically to your child
- Our team helps children grow across different areas of development, all under one roof
- Our services include speech therapy delivered in person or through online sessions
- We’re therapists with skill and heart, committed to making a real difference
All of this is included in what we do, but do you know the most important reason?
What makes families choose Chatterbox is knowing their child is in the hands of people who combine skilled therapy with genuine 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.
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.
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.
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?
It’s difficult to predict exactly how long therapy will last, as factors such as age, learning style, personality, developmental progress, and diagnoses all play a role.
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.
We ensure your child sees the same speech pathologist each session, so they may form a strong, trusting bond. With that consistency, your child may feel safe and supported, and therapy can be tailored more precisely to their needs.
Since life isn’t always predictable, we keep therapy flexible. Whether you need to change an appointment, book extra sessions, or your clinician is away, another member of our experienced team can step in to keep therapy consistent.
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?
The great news is that you can play an active role in helping your child make the most of therapy and continue moving ahead:
- Ensure therapy sessions are attended consistently to build momentum
- Help your child by completing practice activities between each therapy session
- Whenever you can, move sessions instead of cancelling to support steady progress
- Consider holiday intensives to give your child extra support during breaks
- Join in during therapy sessions, your participation helps your child progress
Your child may benefit most when you’re consistent and take an active role in their therapy journey.
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?
With our primary clinics based in easily reachable locations across Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, you’ll find a friendly administration team on-site to help guide you and your family. Enjoy the convenience of free on-site parking at all clinics, making your visit for assessments or therapy as simple and stress-free as possible.
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.
