Meet your speech pathologist

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Grow has grown! Our two new clinicians have been getting familiarized with the clinic and our clients and have been having a great time engaging in fun therapy sessions over the past month. Please meet our second new clinician, Catherine, who has come all the way from England! Due to the recertification process, she is currently only working as an SLP assistant, though she is certified as a Speech Therapist in the UK. We're hoping her Canadian recertification process should be finished in the summer. For more about Catherine, read on!

Where did you go to school and how long have you been practicing?
I studied at Leeds Beckett University in the UK and graduated in 2013. I worked as an SLP in the UK for 5 and a half years. Since moving to Canada in July 2019, I have been working as a remedial teacher for students with language-based learning disabilities and am thrilled to now also be working with Amanda.


What made you decide to become an SLP?
I have an older brother with Down Syndrome. My family used a form of sign language called Makaton to help him to communicate before he started speaking verbally when he was around 5 years old. He also has a severe stutter, but due to a shortage of SLPs, he was unable to receive ongoing support for his language skills and his stutter. This inspired me to become an SLP so that more people can be supported with their speech, language and communication skills.


What is your favorite thing to work on in therapy?
Social Skills! I love helping children to work on their social communication skills so that they find it easier to navigate the idiosyncrasies of the social world they are living in. It's lovely to watch the children I work with to feel more at ease with understanding both their own and other people's body language, thoughts and emotions.


What is your favorite thing about being an SLP?
I can't decide between 2 favourites! 1) The moments when the children I work with begin to notice their progress and surprise themselves with their newly developed skills. The pride they feel and their growth in confidence makes the job so rewarding. 2) The amount I learn from children whom I work with. They open my eyes to new ways of thinking, providing different perspectives and helping me to continue growing both as a person and as a professional.


What is an area you'd like to learn more about?
For a long time I have been interested to learn more about how and why certain difficulties with cognition, language and social-emotional skills sometimes tend to occur together. One day I would love to research learning disabilities in greater depth to understand the different areas of the brain that affect these areas of development.


What do you like to do when you aren't helping kids improve their communication skills?
Vancouver is a prime spot for exploring the great outdoors! It is also a prime spot for rain. On sunny days I love to spend time exploring this wonderful city and hiking through the beautiful nature that surrounds it. On rainy days I can be found with my head in a book, sipping herbal tea and eating chocolate.