Parent coaching for
the parents of
neurodivergent kids.

Can we get support if my child is not ready for direct sessions?

Yes. Parent coaching gives parents of autistic and neurodivergent children a way to discuss communication without asking their child to join a session. You can bring questions about a difficult routine, your child's ways of communicating, or how to explain their needs at school. You do not need to arrive with a therapy plan.

This is its own parent coaching service. It may be a starting point when your child is not ready to work directly with a speech pathologist, or when you want space to ask questions yourself. The free call helps us discuss whether coaching, direct sessions, or both fit what you need.

Parent coaching or direct speech therapy?

In parent coaching, the conversation is with you. We talk through what communication looks like at home and what you want help with. In direct sessions, the work involves your child and their communication goals. Our family guideexplains how those sessions follow the child's interests, regulation and consent.

For example, you might want to understand how to use your child's communication system during a meal, or how to talk with a teacher about the ways your child communicates. Coaching gives you space to discuss those situations. If you are looking for direct speech and language supportor AAC support, tell us on the call so we can discuss the right starting point.

What does online parent coaching involve?

Telehealth coaching takes place over Zoom. Because the session is with you, your child does not need to sit in front of a screen. Bring a situation you want to talk through, such as a transition that is hard to communicate about or a question about AAC. We use the conversation to work on practical communication support that fits your family.

Use a laptop or tablet with a microphone, a stable internet connection and a space where you feel comfortable talking. Read our telehealth guidefor the general setup. If online sessions do not suit you, ask about in-clinic coaching on the Gold Coast.

Who books parent coaching

• Parents of newly identified autistic kids who want to understand what comes next
• Parents whose kid won't engage in direct therapy (yet)
• Co-parents trying to get on the same page about communication and regulation
• Parents who've left a compliance-based program and want a different way forward
• Parents preparing for a hard conversation — school, paediatrician, family
• Parents in burnout who need a thinking partner who actually understands the wiring
• Autistic parents of autistic kids, who want a coach who doesn't pathologise either of them

What we work on

• Communication-rich routines — where the language opportunities already are in your day
• Co-regulation tools — what it actually looks like, not "stay calm"
• Translating behaviour back into communication — the muscle of asking "what is this telling me?"
• Advocacy — drafting emails, prepping for IEPs and plan meetings, scripts for paediatricians
• Sibling dynamics — especially when one kid is ND and others aren't, or are differently
• Burnout-aware planning — what's sustainable for the actual humans involved
• Recovering from earlier compliance-based therapy — for parents and kids alike

What we won't do

No homework folder. No flashcards. No "do these activities for 15 minutes a night". No recording yourself for review. No grading your parent performance. We discuss communication in routines you already have, rather than asking you to run therapy sessions at home.

We also won't pathologise your kid in front of you. Their stims, interests and ways of communicating aren't symptoms. They're how this specific human shows up. Coaching is about meeting that human with more skill, not less.

Logistics

Sessions are 45 minutes, usually fortnightly or monthly. Telehealth is available across Australia, with the camera optional for parent coaching. Gold Coast parents can come in-clinic at Burleigh Heads if that suits better. Kids do not need to be present.

NDIS

Ask about your plan and communication goals before booking funded sessions. Funding depends on individual circumstances. Check with your plan manager or the NDIA if you are unsure what your plan covers. See NDIS at Speech Sprout.

Starting

A free 15-minute call is the right next step. We'll talk through what's going on and decide together whether parent coaching is the right shape, or whether you'd benefit more from direct work with your kid, or both, or something else entirely.

You can ask about session fees, current availability and funding on the call before deciding whether to book. Read our approach if you want to understand how we work before getting in touch.

Common questions