Align's new paediatric speech therapy touts holistic support for families

Families seeking compassionate, comprehensive and individualised care for their children’s communication needs can now turn to Align for paediatric speech and language therapy.

Led by a multidisciplinary paediatric team — including Speech and Language Therapist Harmony Scott, Paediatric Physiotherapist Marie Phillips and Occupational Therapist Ashley Drover — Align’s expanded offering takes a holistic, nurturing approach to therapy.

The newest paediatric therapy addresses various speech, language and developmental challenges in toddlers and children up to the age of 18. These include early language development support, social communication skills training and specialised intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Specialised care is also available for children facing challenges with articulation, literacy/dyslexia, apraxia, stuttering, executive functioning disorder, voice, picky eating and other developmental needs. 

Collaborative care 
The list of therapies provided is comprehensive, but Align’s ability to provide expert, collaborative care under one roof is what sets the practice apart. Therapists take pride in treating a child and their family unit as a whole through collaboration with other therapists, specialists, doctors or educational professionals who may also be treating or working with the same child. 

“Children don't develop skills in isolation — language, motor skills and social-emotional growth are all interconnected,” said Scott, a speech and language therapist, massage therapist and baby massage instructor. “By working closely with families, teachers and other specialists, we ensure that therapy extends beyond our sessions and into the child’s everyday life. Our goal is to create meaningful progress that not only treats a delay or disorder, but also empowers children to thrive in school, at home and within their community.” 

Scott says that by coordinating treatment plans and enabling direct communication with everyone involved in a child’s care, families can avoid feeling overwhelmed, stressed or confused. 

Individualised treatment plans 
“No two children are the same,” said Phillips, Align’s paediatric physiotherapist. “Each treatment plan considers a child’s unique needs and the family’s specific circumstances. We work hard to ensure that every child feels understood and supported though a personalised plan.” 

The practice places a strong emphasis on family involvement, empowering parents with strategies to reinforce therapy goals at home that are tailored to their child’s needs. In addition to ensuring each plan is individualised, the location of the therapy sessions is tailored to the environment in which a child is most likely to respond and succeed and can take place at the Align clinic in Camana Bay or at a child’s school or home.  
 

Early intervention 
“We often tell parents or carers to follow their gut,” said Scott, referring to how early a child should be evaluated. “You know your child better than anyone else, so if you have a concern, then it’s best to address it as soon as possible. We believe early intervention is key.” 

Align’s evaluation process is thorough, and its therapists take great care to listen to the specific concerns of parents and caretakers while helping them set realistic expectations. Practical resources, coaching and guidance ensure families play an active role in their child’s developmental journey.  

Parents can take comfort in Align's focus on creating positive and engaging experiences for children. Sessions are thoughtfully designed to be interactive so young clients feel motivated and excited to participate. This helps reduce anxiety and encourages children to embrace learning new skills. 
 
Align also offers paediatric physiotherapy, baby massage classes and other therapeutic services that can help babies sleep better, improve digestion and reduce cholic. The practice accepts insurance from all local providers with a doctor’s referral.   

This article was first published in the April/May 2025 print edition of Camana Bay Times.