Telehealth
Goal-Oriented Assessment
Therapy & Capacity Building
Documentation & Reports
Goal-Oriented Assessment
At Communicate to Self-Advocate, I focus on understanding each individual’s unique strengths, needs, and preferences to work towards personalised and meaningful goals. I recognise (and celebrate) that everyone’s brain works differently, and I aim to collaboratively identify what success looks like for each person, using a flexible and supportive approach. The assessment process prioritises collaboration, self-advocacy, and respect for diverse ways of thinking, learning, and engaging with the world.
I use person-centred tools, questionnaires and interviewing to gain an understanding of an individual’s experiences in their environments and relationships.
Client goals drive how I approach assessment and information gathering. Together, we will create a goal achievement plan, to ensure that we have a clear plan and steps to achieve each goal. I also view assessment as a dynamic, ongoing process—valuable insights continue to emerge through the trusting therapeutic relationship I build with my clients.
Therapy & Capacity Building
I take a holistic approach that not only addresses immediate challenges but also focuses on developing long-term skills and independence. In therapy, the aim is to support individuals to work towards their goals using strategies that are tailored to their unique needs and strengths.
Capacity building goes beyond immediate support by empowering individuals to strengthen their abilities, build resilience, and develop the tools they need to navigate daily life with greater confidence and autonomy. This process also includes empowering families and support networks to assist in goal achievement and advocate for necessary environmental access and accommodations.
Together, therapy and capacity building create a foundation for growth, self-advocacy, and the ability to thrive across various environments.
Documentation & Reports
Documentation and reports are key tools for tracking progress, justifying the need for services, and ensuring that the support I provide aligns with each individual’s goals.
At Communicate to Self-Advocate, I take a collaborative approach to writing progress notes and reports. I believe in involving my clients in this process to promote their autonomy and encourage regular reflection on their strengths, challenges, progress, and any barriers they might face. While I may sometimes complete reports independently (usually with music in the background—because it suits my neurotype!), I will review them with my clients to make sure they understand what's being documented and agree with it. After all, nothing about them without them.
All documentation is created with a deep respect for each participant’s unique needs, preferences, and neurotype. The goal is to empower individuals, involve them in goal-setting, and ensure therapy is tailored to their specific communication, social, and functional needs.
Evidence-Based Practice and a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Speech Pathology is a structured approach that integrates three key components:
1. Best Available Research
2. Clinical Expertise
3. Client Preferences and Values.
The final component emphasises the importance of respecting and integrating an individual’s perspectives, goals, and lived experiences. In a neurodiversity-affirming approach, the preferences and lived experiences of the client are especially important because neurodivergent individuals may experience and communicate their needs in ways that differ from traditional therapeutic expectations.
What is a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach?
The neurodiversity-affirming approach to therapy is rooted in understanding and embracing neurological differences as part of human diversity, rather than framing them as deficits. This approach values the individuality and unique strengths of each person. In Speech Pathology, this means providing therapy that is inclusive and respectful, considering factors like communication style, sensory needs, and the person's social context.
Anecdotal evidence is sometimes seen as less rigorous in traditional scientific research because it is based on personal experiences or observations. However, in a neurodiversity-affirming context, anecdotal evidence can be incredibly valuable.
The collaborative nature of therapy—between clinician, client, and family—is emphasised in a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Families, caregivers, and individuals themselves often offer critical insights into what is or isn’t working, especially in more naturalistic environments (e.g., home or school). This anecdotal evidence can help clinicians build a fuller picture of the person’s needs and strengths.
Neurodiversity-affirming approaches often challenge mainstream practices that might pathologise behaviors. Anecdotal evidence helps clinicians recognize when certain behaviors that might be labeled as "disruptive" are actually coping mechanisms, communication strategies, or ways of self-regulation. This shifts the focus from changing the individual to supporting them in a way that honours their identity.