Hello, I’m Rachael

I studied Speech and Language Therapy at Leeds Beckett University and graduated in 2021. I was a mature student and mum to a little toddler. It was hard work but I loved it.

I have worked in primary schools and nurseries since 2021 supporting a range of children’s speech, language, and communication needs. I learn a lot, every day, from the amazing children I work with, although my special interest and passion lies in stammering and the benefits of outdoors therapeutic support. Stammer in the Woods was created in 2024 with a view to providing an outdoors wellbeing group for 6-11s who stammer. It is important to me that Stammer in the Woods is an accessible, good value, and long term form of support for children and families. I would like it to be a safe and friendly space that you can come along to whenever needed, without any hefty commitment or price tag.

The main message I share with children and families is that stammering is a natural difference in the way some people talk and that we can live happy, successful and full lives with a stammer. Stammering is a journey, we may change how we feel, understand, and think about stammering throughout our lives and I hope that Stammer in the Woods will be a helpful part of your child’s and family’s journey. I aim to provide opportunities for children to play with and talk to other children who stammer, provide a non-judgemental space for everybody to explore the things we think and feel about stammering, and build some tools and strategies for taking good care of ourselves along the journey. I do not teach strategies which aim to change speech by suppressing or hiding a stammer.

Take a look at my FAQs for further information and advice on stammering and how the groups can help your child.