Frequently asked questions

Why choose an independent therapist?

There is no difference in the training or qualifications of NHS and independent therapists. Independent therapists can sometimes offer appointments earlier as many of them do not operate waiting lists. An independent therapist may be able to offer a greater number of therapy sessions, and their service might be more flexible to suit the family’s needs.

Why is there a difference in cost between some private therapy services?

Therapists may charge for their services according to years of experience, specialist expertise, specific skills acquired from additional postgraduate training, location, type of intervention or assessment required or other factors. If you choose Speech & Language Therapy for Children Ltd you will have the benefit of 23 years’ clinical experience, specialist skills in assessing and treating social communication needs and autism and a professional author.

Where will my child be seen, and what areas are covered?

Belinda usually sees children from across London and parts of Essex. She can see some children from other parts of the country for one-off assessments and advice, school / home programmes or for second opinions, including those relating to special educational needs tribunals.
Children may be seen in their homes, school or in Belinda’s premises. Each child’s case will be decided on an individual basis.

How often will my child be seen?

Assessment might take one or more sessions. A standard initial assessment session usually lasts 90 minutes. Subsequent sessions, including therapy sessions, last 45 minutes. Frequency of therapy sessions depends on several factors, including your child’s response to therapy, the nature of their communication difficulty and other types of support available to them. If regular therapy is recommended, this could take the form of once weekly sessions for a specified number of weeks (usually 6 – 8 weeks initially). Following this, your child’s progress should be reviewed and decisions taken regarding future input should be guided by the progress your child has made, in addition to your wishes.

What’s a school/home programme?

A programme is an indirect form of intervention that might be recommended for some children, including those who are unable to make regular visits to the clinic. Following assessment, Belinda writes goals for your child’s communication / language / speech development, provides any additional information (including activities and materials) for others to implement the programme, and places these in a pack, together with record forms for monitoring your child’s progress and response to activities. The forms, together with materials included in the pack, make planning of sessions easy for parents or teaching support staff. The programme is designed to be implemented over a specified period of time (for example, one half or full term). Belinda makes an initial visit to the home / school to discuss aims and maybe demonstrate how to carry out activities. She makes a visit towards the end of the programme to discuss progress, and to help in making a decision about future input.