NDIS registered provider·Speech Pathology Australia member·5+ years experience·Telehealth Australia-wide & in-clinic Gold Coast
Your first session
What to expect at your first session.
No mystery, no sales calls. Here's the whole sequence from "I'm curious" to "we've had our first session" — written by the person you'll actually be talking to.
It's on Zoom, no commitment. The only goal is for me to listen — to what's happening, what you've tried, what's working, what isn't, and what you're hoping for. If we're not a good fit, I'll tell you, and I'll try to point you toward someone who is.
02
You decide if we book
No pressure on the call. If you'd like to go ahead I'll send a short intake form (background, what funding you have, anything I should know about sensory or regulation) and we can discuss available session times.
03
First session — mostly conversation
The first 45 minutes is mostly me and you talking, while your kid plays or stims or hides under the table — all of which is fine. I'm watching, listening, and following their lead. No assessments, no testing, no demands. By the end of the session we'll have a working sense of where to start.
04
A short plan, in plain language
If you decide to continue, we can agree on next steps and discuss how support could fit your goals and routines.
05
Ongoing — small, sustainable, real
Sessions are 45 minutes. No minimum contract, no upfront block — we run on what is actually useful, week to week. We reassess together every few months. If something stops being helpful, we change it.
FAQ
Things people actually ask.
Ask about current fees and how a session would be charged before booking. If you plan to use NDIS funding, check that the support fits your plan and ask how your funding management affects provider choice.
No. You can book directly. We work with autistic, neurodivergent, and self-identifying communicators of every age. A diagnosis is welcome but never required.
If useful, bring your child's usual communication supports and a familiar comfort item. Previous reports are optional: share any you would like to. You might ask what the first session will involve, what support could fit your goals, and how to tell whether it is helping.
Less than you think. Don't coach them, don't rehearse, don't bribe. Just tell them you're going to meet Hannah and that they can do whatever feels right when they're there — including being quiet, moving around, or not engaging at all. The session is built for the actual kid who walks in, not the version we hope they'll be.
Whatever fits your family. For most communicators, telehealth works genuinely well. In-clinic suits younger kids (under 3), some motor speech work, and AAC device fittings. We can flex between modes session by session.
Progress varies with the person, their goals and the support around them. We can talk about what change would be useful to you and how to notice whether the support is helping.
Tell me, and I'll happily refer you on. Fit matters. There are excellent affirming speech pathologists on the Gold Coast and around Australia, and I'd rather you find the right one than stay somewhere that isn't working.
Availability can change. Ask about current appointment options on the free call.