Meet our team!
FIONA KENWORTHY, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
Fiona Kenworthy is the Clinical Director and Lead Practitioner for Small Talk Therapy. Fiona is a NZ trained speech-language therapist and has been practising since 1999.
She completed post-graduate studies in the UK, where she also worked as a lead therapist in children’s hospitals, child development centres, schools and clinics. Fiona specialised in children’s feeding problems (dysphagia) and communication disorders in children with complex special needs (such as Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy). She supervised colleagues, taught students and was a visiting speaker on numerous post-graduate courses.
Since returning home to NZ in 2007, Fiona worked as a senior speech-language therapist in KidzFirst Child development and a clinical tutor on the speech-language therapy MSc program at Auckland University. After returning from maternity leave, she began private practice, contracting for the Ministry of Education, supervising other speech-language therapists and providing therapy for children.
Fiona’s practise is evidence-based. Therapy sessions are always individualised according to your child's interests and needs so that your child receives the maximum benefit with as few sessions as possible.
Fiona uses principles from mainstream approaches to treating communication disorders (eg. Hanen program; Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Makaton; PECS, RDI), as well as innovative and emerging techniques (eg. videofeedforward therapy and motor/sensory integration to enhance communication skills). Fiona has specialist skills and experience promoting communication skills in children with autism and Down Syndrome. She is trained in the Johansson Program for children with Down Syndrome and is registered with the UpsideDowns Education Trust.
Fiona Kenworthy is the Clinical Director and Lead Practitioner for Small Talk Therapy. Fiona is a NZ trained speech-language therapist and has been practising since 1999.
She completed post-graduate studies in the UK, where she also worked as a lead therapist in children’s hospitals, child development centres, schools and clinics. Fiona specialised in children’s feeding problems (dysphagia) and communication disorders in children with complex special needs (such as Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy). She supervised colleagues, taught students and was a visiting speaker on numerous post-graduate courses.
Since returning home to NZ in 2007, Fiona worked as a senior speech-language therapist in KidzFirst Child development and a clinical tutor on the speech-language therapy MSc program at Auckland University. After returning from maternity leave, she began private practice, contracting for the Ministry of Education, supervising other speech-language therapists and providing therapy for children.
Fiona’s practise is evidence-based. Therapy sessions are always individualised according to your child's interests and needs so that your child receives the maximum benefit with as few sessions as possible.
Fiona uses principles from mainstream approaches to treating communication disorders (eg. Hanen program; Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Makaton; PECS, RDI), as well as innovative and emerging techniques (eg. videofeedforward therapy and motor/sensory integration to enhance communication skills). Fiona has specialist skills and experience promoting communication skills in children with autism and Down Syndrome. She is trained in the Johansson Program for children with Down Syndrome and is registered with the UpsideDowns Education Trust.
JO WEAVER, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
Jo completed her Masters in Language Pathology in the UK in 2004. She has worked in a wide range of settings including clinic, mainstream schools, special schools, early childhood settings and in the family home.
Since arriving in NZ in 2007, Jo has worked for the Ministry of Education, a Special School and currently a pre-school that caters for deaf children; many of whom have additional needs. Jo has a particular interest in paediatric therapy and enjoys working closely with families to maximise each child’s communication potential. She work holistically to make therapy and goals meaningful to each child/ family and liaises with others (e.g. teachers) in the child’s life to ensure carryover of progress.
Jo has specialised knowledge in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment as well as other paediatric speech, language and communication difficulties. She uses a range of visual communication methods to support the development of each child’s communication. Jo is trained in PECS, New Zealand Sign Language/ Makaton and is Hanen certified.
Jo Weaver joined Small Talk Therapy in 2015 with over 10 years' paediatric speech-language therapy experience. Sessions with Jo are family-focused and play- oriented wherever possible for optimum therapy outcomes.
Jo completed her Masters in Language Pathology in the UK in 2004. She has worked in a wide range of settings including clinic, mainstream schools, special schools, early childhood settings and in the family home.
Since arriving in NZ in 2007, Jo has worked for the Ministry of Education, a Special School and currently a pre-school that caters for deaf children; many of whom have additional needs. Jo has a particular interest in paediatric therapy and enjoys working closely with families to maximise each child’s communication potential. She work holistically to make therapy and goals meaningful to each child/ family and liaises with others (e.g. teachers) in the child’s life to ensure carryover of progress.
Jo has specialised knowledge in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment as well as other paediatric speech, language and communication difficulties. She uses a range of visual communication methods to support the development of each child’s communication. Jo is trained in PECS, New Zealand Sign Language/ Makaton and is Hanen certified.
Jo Weaver joined Small Talk Therapy in 2015 with over 10 years' paediatric speech-language therapy experience. Sessions with Jo are family-focused and play- oriented wherever possible for optimum therapy outcomes.
TEREXA CHAN MOW, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
Terexa graduated with a BSc in Psychology (2003) and MSLT Prac in Speech-Language Pathology (2005) from the University of Auckland. She worked for the Ministry of Education for 10 years in a variety of roles and settings, with children of all ages. Terexa is Hanen certified to run the parent-child interaction workshops ''It Takes Two to Talk'' (for parents of children with language delays) and ''More than Words'' (for parents of children with autism and social communication difficulties) and has run workshops for families.
She has strengths in working with children with general speech/language difficulties, ORS funded children, autism, selective mutism and special needs. Terexa has supervised both new graduates and colleagues throughout her decade at the Ministry of Education.
She is passionate about cultural issues in communication development and multidisciplinary team working. She has a strong family focus and is very much a 'team player'. Transitioning children between home, preschool and school is also an area of particular interest.
We are very excited to welcome Terexa to the Small Talk Therapy team and we look forward to learning from her wealth of experience.
KERRIE COLLIER, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
Kerrie is a trained primary school teacher who completed her Bachelor of Speech Language Therapy at the University of Canterbury in 2004. While working at the Ministry of Education in Porirua, she completed her Master of Speech Language Therapy specializing in working with Māori students in immersion settings with language delays. After 10 years with the Ministry of Education in Wellington and Christchurch, she moved to Auckland to take a position in a special school.
Kerrie has extensive experience implementing augmentative and alternative communication, working with dyslexia and literacy difficulties, autism, language delays, social skills, stuttering, articulation and dyspraxia. She is certified in Picture Exchange Communication (PECS), Intensive Interaction and Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk. Kerrie has a particular interests in sensory issues, developing pre-communication skills in children with autism and bicultural issues. She has extensive knowledge of the Te Whaariki, NZ Curriculum and the IEP process to ensure students’ needs are catered for.
Kerrie has also been a clinical educator and guest lecturer at the University of Canterbury in cultural and ethical issues. She has presented papers in NZ, Australia and USA related to working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations with speech and language difficulties.
Kerrie loves working alongside families to ensure their children develop the skills to participate in social and learning activities.
Kerrie is a trained primary school teacher who completed her Bachelor of Speech Language Therapy at the University of Canterbury in 2004. While working at the Ministry of Education in Porirua, she completed her Master of Speech Language Therapy specializing in working with Māori students in immersion settings with language delays. After 10 years with the Ministry of Education in Wellington and Christchurch, she moved to Auckland to take a position in a special school.
Kerrie has extensive experience implementing augmentative and alternative communication, working with dyslexia and literacy difficulties, autism, language delays, social skills, stuttering, articulation and dyspraxia. She is certified in Picture Exchange Communication (PECS), Intensive Interaction and Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk. Kerrie has a particular interests in sensory issues, developing pre-communication skills in children with autism and bicultural issues. She has extensive knowledge of the Te Whaariki, NZ Curriculum and the IEP process to ensure students’ needs are catered for.
Kerrie has also been a clinical educator and guest lecturer at the University of Canterbury in cultural and ethical issues. She has presented papers in NZ, Australia and USA related to working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations with speech and language difficulties.
Kerrie loves working alongside families to ensure their children develop the skills to participate in social and learning activities.
DONNA JAYNES, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
Donna graduated from Massey University, Auckland with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (hons) in 2006. She has 12 years of paediatric experience working with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties in home, clinic, early childhood, mainstream and special school settings in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Donna has a special interest in working with children who have difficulties in the areas of speech sound production, receptive/expressive language, auditory processing, literacy, social interaction and social use of language. She completed the Level 5, Oxford, Cambridge and Reading Diploma (OCR-5) in supporting students with specific learning difficulties in London, 2016 where she also worked as a specialist literacy teacher with students who have Dyslexia, Developmental Coordination Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.
She is certified in the Picture Exchange Communication System, New Zealand Makaton Sign, Hanen-It Takes Two to Talk (for children with language delays) and has attended courses in assessing and treating severe and complex speech disorders, implementing LEGO therapy and Social Thinking for children with social communication difficulties. She has experience in providing supervision for new graduates, students and speech-language therapy assistants.
Donna is passionate about working with families, educators and other professionals to maximise a child’s ability to access and succeed with the early years and school-based curriculums. Donna uses a combination of whole-school, classroom-based, group and individual interventions to meet the individual needs and interests of the children she supports. Her sessions are evidence-based, creative and goal-oriented.
Donna graduated from Massey University, Auckland with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (hons) in 2006. She has 12 years of paediatric experience working with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties in home, clinic, early childhood, mainstream and special school settings in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Donna has a special interest in working with children who have difficulties in the areas of speech sound production, receptive/expressive language, auditory processing, literacy, social interaction and social use of language. She completed the Level 5, Oxford, Cambridge and Reading Diploma (OCR-5) in supporting students with specific learning difficulties in London, 2016 where she also worked as a specialist literacy teacher with students who have Dyslexia, Developmental Coordination Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.
She is certified in the Picture Exchange Communication System, New Zealand Makaton Sign, Hanen-It Takes Two to Talk (for children with language delays) and has attended courses in assessing and treating severe and complex speech disorders, implementing LEGO therapy and Social Thinking for children with social communication difficulties. She has experience in providing supervision for new graduates, students and speech-language therapy assistants.
Donna is passionate about working with families, educators and other professionals to maximise a child’s ability to access and succeed with the early years and school-based curriculums. Donna uses a combination of whole-school, classroom-based, group and individual interventions to meet the individual needs and interests of the children she supports. Her sessions are evidence-based, creative and goal-oriented.
NATALIE MYLES, FEEDING SPECIALIST
Natalie Myles has extensive experience working in paediatric feeding/dysphagia.
She graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2004 and since worked in a variety of settings both in NZ and abroad. She has a special interest in working with infants and children with feeding difficulties and has worked for several years in the public health system in Auckland. Natalie is trained in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding disorders. She regularly attends professional development events and special interest groups related to paediatric feeding. Natalie also provides clinical supervision to other therapists and to speech-language therapy students.
Natalie is available to see children in their home, school or preschool on Saturday mornings.
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