Creating Communication Confidence

Principal Therapist: Danielle Cottam - Senior Speech Pathologist BSc (Hons) MSPA CPSP
A Senior Speech Pathologist with over a decade of experience working with children, families, schools and community services in Australia and the UK. Danielle is registered with The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Private Practice, Speech Pathology Australia and The United Kingdom’s Health Professionals Council.
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As a Mum herself, Danielle is passionate about the delivery of fun, evidence-based interventions that consider the needs of the whole child and family. Danielle has extensive experience in providing in-home and in-school therapy services and understands the need to tailor interventions so that they are manageable (and enjoyable) for everyone involved. Danielle is passionate about empowering parents to help their children and teens become confident communicators and learners in all their walks of life. Alongside this, she works together with the child/teen, schools and other health professionals to provide training and therapy to target Selective Mutism where it happens day-to-day!
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Danielle has developed specific expertise in the areas of Selective Mutism and Oral-Motor Issues (speech sound and eating and drinking difficulties) following post-graduate training and specialism in these areas. She has been involved in the set-up and management of services in these areas across the UK and Australia for over 10 years. This includes the Bolton NHS Selective Mutism Care Pathway, Western Australia's first Selective Mutism Support Group and Western Australia's first, community based, multidisciplinary mealtime team at one of WA's largest Not for Profit organisations.
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In addition, Danielle has many years of experience working in the public and Not For Profit sectors. This has enabled experience in the full range of childhood communication difficulties e.g. speech sound difficulties, language delay, AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication), social communication needs e.g. Autism which ensures a well rounded approach to any therapeutic interventions.
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Communication and mealtime issues rarely require a one-fits-all approach. Having worked closely with Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Psychologists and medical teams for over a decade Danielle is adept at recognising the needs of the whole child and is an advocate for trans and multidisciplinary interventions. Similarly, Danielle is skilled in the development of holistic treatment plans, that integrate a variety of approaches, based upon in-depth assessment. To enable this approach Danielle is trained in many specialist skills and programmes including:
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Post-Graduate Selective Mutism training – Maggie Johnson
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Selective Mutism Across the Lifespan
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - children and adolescents
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Core Sensitivities - Attachment Circles of Security
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Triple P – Positive Behaviour Management
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Emotion Coaching - Gottman Institute
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KidzMix
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Hanen
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Lego Therapy
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Talk Tools Oral Placement Therapy
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Talk Tools Sensory Motor Impact on Mealtimes
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Ellyn Sattyr Division of Responsibility
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Suzanne Evan’s Morris – Feeding the Whole Child
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Post-graduate Dysphagia qualification
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LAMP – Liberator AAC
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PECs
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Key Word Sign and Signalong
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Talking Mats
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Word Aware
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Danielle’s work has often involved supporting others and spreading the word about speech, language, communication and mealtime needs. Some example conference presentations and media articles can be found below.
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Media Articles
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Language delay – https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/spotting-delayed-development-signs-for-parents-and-teachers-ng-b88744879z
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Selective Mutism – https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/rare-condition-selective-mutism-makes-children-so-panicked-they-cannot-speak-ng-f352d0f1804fa4af7bc9c3cf3a030410
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Selective Mutism – https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-west-australian/20170708/282033327227697
Conferences
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2018 Paediatric Interagency Conference – A transdisciplinary approach to mealtime intervention in the disability sector
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2018 Curtin University – Undergraduate lecture: Dysphagia Across the Lifespan an Ethical Perspective
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2016 Speech Pathology Australia Conference – Transdisciplinary Management of Dysphagia and Mealtime Needs in the Disability Sector
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2016 Western Australia Teaching Assistant Conference – Selective Mutism in Schools
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2015 National Disability Service WA Conference – Differential Diagnosis in Mealtime Management
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Fee Schedule
See the below attachment for information on fees and prices To contact us for services click below
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