ABOUT | Shout Speech Language Therapy

Welcome To Shout

Where: SHOUT is a specialist Speech Language Therapy company servicing Otago, Southland, and Canterbury. We can provide our service by TeleTherapy if you live further afield.

What: We specialise in paediatric speech language therapy support across the full range of developmental conditions from young children to adolescents. We also provide specialist rehabilitation support to adults who have received an injury or have an acquired communication difficulty.

How: The service starts with an Initial Consultation which takes 45 to 60-minutes and is completely dedicated 1 on 1. At the end of the session you will have a thorough understanding of you or your child’s condition. You will also have a clear plan about what we can do together to make a communication difference.

Check out our Facebook page for the latest information, tips, links, and advice to help you or your child make the best progress and gain communication confidence.

Meet The Team

It takes a special kind of Speech Language Therapist to work at Shout.

Our therapists,

Are passionate about communication as a basic human need to interact with the world successfully
Have exceptional skills in 1:1 assessment and treatment and are actively engaged in ongoing professional development
Can creatively adapt and individualise therapy for each person we work with
Are approachable, compassionate, and supportive
Work effectively and collaboratively with other health professionals and teaching staff to get the best outcomes.
Are a tight team of peers – add the admin Ninjas and you’ll find a team that works hard but still manages to have fun!

We will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and support to get the best communication outcomes and make real progress. Come and meet our friendly team.

Shout Dunedin

BRIDGET MCARTHUR

Proud Owner

Bridget established SHOUT in 2003 and has been working as a Speech Language Therapist since 1997. Bridget enjoys working with both adults and children addressing a range of communication issues. Bridget has a particular interest in the relationship between communication, learning and behaviour. Creating programmes based around functional communication skills for socialisation. Bridget also enjoys sharing information with other professionals and how we can work together to provide the best possible communication support.

SARA HAPPNIE

Speech Language Therapist

Sara is one of our proud and passionate Shout Speech Language Therapists, servicing Dunedin and South Otago clients. After studying Communication Sciences and Disorders in the US, Sara went on to receive her Masters of Speech Language Therapy from the University of Canterbury. Sara began working for Shout back in 2019 and has thoroughly enjoyed helping her students thrive and jive. Currently, Sara works with both children and young adult clients with a variety of communication, language, and behavioural needs. Sara has experience in leading social skills groups for both children and adults and loves working on functional skills to help brighten each client’s day and make meaningful changes. She is most passionate about bringing the laughs to learning and language.

ALEX MAJOR

Speech Language Therapist

Alex is a UK trained speech language therapist who joined the team in January 2019. Now based in Dunedin Alex is in her 9th year of working as an SLT and still enjoying every minute of it. Alex has a keen interest in functional communication skills and client centered therapy, with professional experience in education, health, mental health, social services, criminal justice and rehabilitation. Alex specialises in Traumatic Brain Injury, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Trauma and Attachment and Mental Health, working across age groups. When Alex is not being a Speechie she loves getting out into the bush, down to the beach and visiting copious amounts of coffee shops with friends.

SHARLIE KENNARD

Sharlie is new to the Shout Team in 2021. Sharlie studied at the University of Canterbury and has a background in both the Ministry of Education and Special School settings. Sharlie loves working as part of a team on meaningful, client centered goals. She has a special interest in complex communication needs and alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). She enjoys making therapy fun and is skilled at implementing a total communication approach using Makaton sign language, low and high tech AAC equipment, along with some Te Reo Māori as appropriate to the client.

Shout Christchurch

ELLIE BLOXHAM

Speech Language Therapist

Ellie joined the team at SHOUT in January 2020. Ellie started her career as an SLT for the Ministry of Education in Southland before coming back to Christchurch, her home town, where she continued with the Ministry of education in North Canterbury.
Ellie works with clients from preschool age through to young adults. She has a special interest in working with high and complex needs, in particular the role communication has on being able to participate and engage in different environments. Ellie is passionate about helping others understand the links between communication and behaviour, and supporting clients in the youth justice setting. Ellie believes in working together with the key adults and other specialist services involved in her clients lives to ensure a holistic and client centered approach.

Shout Central

HALLIE PEARSON

Speech Language Therapist

Hallie is a Speech Language Therapist who joined the team at SHOUT in 2015. Hallie believes that all children have amazing potential and enjoys working within a family centred model to assist children in developing a broad range of communication skills. Hallie is able to support children with a range of communication difficulties. She is highly experienced working with children on the Autism Spectrum and also enjoys working with children with complex communication needs.

KRISTI BEHRENT

Speech Language Therapist

Kristi joined the SHOUT team in 2017 and is based in Queenstown. She has special interests in the area of social communication, complex needs, behaviour and the SLT role in the justice system. Kristi is passionate about ensuring communication access and inclusion for all and motivated in upskilling those around her to ensure this. Kristi enjoys working in a range of settings and within diverse teams to meet functional goals. If I am not working, I am most likely to be with friends and family exploring my own backyard.

Note: Kristi is on maternity leave from early September 2021 but has promised us she will be returning!

Emma Burnip

Speech Language Therapist

Emma joined the team at SHOUT in September 2021. Emma qualified as a Speech Language Therapist in the UK ten years ago. She has clinical experience working with children and adults on the Autism Spectrum using client-centred goals to enhance communication and independence. Emma went on to specialise in adult neurology, particularly supporting individuals with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Emma was inspired by the limited treatment options to help people with swallowing difficulties, so she moved to New Zealand in 2017 to undertake research in Speech Language Sciences at the University of Canterbury. She recently completed her PhD in swallowing assessment and rehabilitation in individuals with Huntington’s disease. Emma is now based in the beautiful Queenstown-Lakes District and enjoys exploring the mountains in her spare time

Shout Southland

MARIA RYAN

Speech Language Therapist

Maria joined SHOUT in 2016. Maria is a Southland local and services Invercargill and the surrounding area. Maria enjoys working with a paediatric caseload with children who have diverse communication needs. Maria has skills in running language and social skills groups. Maria is a real problem solver and loves applying communication strategies in everyday community settings.

Zoe Hope

Speech Language Therapist

Zoe joined the SHOUT team in January 2019. Zoe enjoys working with Tamariki and in a multidisciplinary team to make communication fun and accessible no matter the setting…even in the pool! Zoe is proficient in her use of technology and has a particular interest in AAC, early language, and literacy.

SHANNON EMMERSON

Speech Language Therapist

Shannon is a Southland local and joined SHOUT in 2018 although has a history of helping us out in the past. Shannon has experience working as a paediatric therapist and in a previous role was a clinical supervisor of Speech and Language Therapy students at Canterbury University. Shannon also has specialised skills in the area of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

Office Ninja’s

FI HEWITT

Office Administrator

Fi joined the team in 2018 and is the friendly voice you hear when you contact SHOUT. Fi trained as an Occupational Therapist and has extensive experience working in rehabilitation as a manager and administrator. She’s a keen runner and enjoys weight training. Fi is based in Central Otago but co-ordinates appointments and is the point of contact for all of our therapists across all regions. If you have any queries at all – just call Fi on 027 777 4688

Vicki Morrison

Financial Administrator

Vicki comes to SHOUT with fantastic financial administration skills having worked in many different areas of office management and administration over her career. She is our behind the scenes financial administrator and will be one of our contact people if you have any queries. Vicki grew up on a farm in South Canterbury, lived in Arrowtown for 16 years and is now based in Dunedin. She has 2 teenagers and loves running, yoga and weights – a real office Ninja!

Why Shout?

We have a strong focus on community participation and working as a team with you/your child within the environment they communicate in. We avoid clinic based work and truly believe that delivering services in the place in which you or your child communicates is the optimum way of practicing. We are specialist in making tweaks to the environment to make it easier for people to communication and foster communication independence.