Communicate Canterbury Communicate Canterbury Speech & Language Therapy
NZSTA Registered Speech-Language Therapist

Helping Canterbury children find their voice

Warm, experienced speech and language therapy for children — I come to you, at home or in your child's preschool or school. 30+ years of practice across New Zealand, the UK and the Caribbean.

Book a free 15-minute call Should I be worried?
A speech-language therapist working warmly with a young child Communicate Canterbury
NZSTA Registered Member 30+ years' experience Toddlers to teenagers I come to you
Where to start

Is your child…

Not sure whether your child needs speech therapy? Have a look through these. If you answered yes to one or more, I'd love to help.

  • Difficult to understand, even for people who know them well?
  • Not talking as much as other children their age?
  • Using fewer words, or a smaller vocabulary, than their peers?
  • Finding it hard to understand what you tell them, or to follow directions?
  • Struggling to think of the right words to use?
  • Having trouble saying the correct sounds in words?
  • Getting frustrated because others don't understand them?
  • Stuttering, or repeating sounds and words?
  • Struggling to learn to read or spell?
  • Finding it hard to make friends or play with other children?

Book a free 15-minute phone call and we'll talk it through together. If therapy isn't needed at this time, I'll tell you that too, and suggest ideas you can use at home.

Book a free 15-minute call Should I be worried?
How I help

Areas of support

Assessment and therapy across the full range of children’s communication needs — always tailored to your child and family. I come to you, across Rangiora, Waimakariri, North Canterbury and Christchurch.

Speech sounds production

Help for children who are hard to understand, mispronounce sounds, or whose speech is behind their peers due to articulation delays, phonological delays and Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

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Language development

Support for delays in understanding (receptive) and talking (expressive) language — including late talkers.

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Processing, memory & problem solving

For children who take longer to process what they hear, lose track of instructions, or find it hard to organise their thinking.

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Stuttering & fluency

Gentle, evidence-based support for stuttering and stammering, including the Lidcombe Programme for young children.

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Voice

For children whose voice is persistently hoarse, croaky, too quiet or strained.

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Social communication & Autism

Developing play, interaction and social language, with support for autistic children and children with other developmental disabilities.

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Augmentative communication (AAC)

Support for children who communicate using signing, symbols, communication boards or speech-generating devices.

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Feeding Difficulties - Picky Eaters

SOS-certificated feeding therapy for picky and selective eaters, and children who find mealtimes difficult.

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Literacy - early reading and spelling support

Structured literacy support built on the Science of Reading — Orton-Gillingham, Jolly Phonics and UFLI, including support for dyslexia.

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About

Meet Louise Frazer

I believe every child is capable, competent and full of potential to communicate. My role is to help them discover that potential.

I'm Louise Frazer, a paediatric Speech and Language Therapist and the founder of Communicate Canterbury.

Communication is about so much more than talking. It's about getting your message across in any way possible — speech, signing, or using AAC — being understood, building relationships, developing confidence and taking a full part in everyday life.

Read more about Louise
What makes us different

Why choose Communicate Canterbury

  • Over 30 years working with children, in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
  • Evidence-informed therapy, grounded in the best available research and combined with real clinical experience.
  • Individual programmes created just for your child's needs.
  • Parent coaching, in person or through shared video of your child's school sessions.
  • Close liaison with schools, teachers and other professionals involved in your child's care.
  • Comprehensive written reports and session notes so you always know what we're working on.
  • Home, preschool and school visits — therapy in the places your child already feels comfortable.
  • Friendly, play-based sessions with ideas you can fold into everyday routines.
  • Children look forward to coming, and often don't even realise they're working on goals.
  • Clear, honest communication with families at every step.
Families

What parents say

To Louise. Thank you for helping me. I had so much fun.
— Bailey
Thank you for helping H with his speech sounds. He went from a child who was frustrated and cross because he could not be understood to a chatty boy who never stops talking and uses such clear speech. Everyone comments on how well he has done. Thank you.
— Kelly
Thank you for helping J find his voice. It has been one of the greatest gifts to him and our family. We cannot thank you enough.
— Katherine

Read all 8 parent comments

Fees

Simple, transparent pricing

Clear, simple pricing — all prices include GST. I come to you: sessions take place at your home, or in your child's preschool or school.

Free phone consultation A 15-minute call to talk through your concerns and work out whether an assessment would help. If therapy isn't needed, I'll tell you that too.
Free
Assessment A one-hour assessment using a combination of formal and informal assessments, clinical observations and discussion with parents. Verbal feedback and recommendations are provided at the end of the session.
$225
Assessment + written report A comprehensive assessment plus a written report. The final fee depends on the amount of assessment required, the complexity and length of the report, and any additional scoring or analysis needed.
From $350

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Questions

Frequently asked

Not every child who gets in touch needs therapy. During our free phone call we'll talk through your concerns, your child's development, and whether an assessment would be helpful. Sometimes I can simply reassure you that your child's communication is developing as expected.
You're welcome to contact me directly — no GP or specialist referral is needed. Parents, caregivers, teachers, GPs, paediatricians and other health professionals can all refer a child, although I do need parent or caregiver consent before seeing them.
Many families choose to access private speech and language therapy while waiting for Ministry of Education services. Once your child begins receiving Ministry support you may choose to pause private therapy, or continue both if that's appropriate. With your permission I'm happy to liaise with your child's Ministry therapist so everyone is working towards the same goals.
I work with children and young people from toddlers through to teenagers, tailoring therapy to each child's age, needs and goals.
Assessment appointments usually take 60 to 90 minutes. Regular therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes.

All 19 questions

Contact

Get in touch

The quickest way to get started is to book a free 15-minute phone call — we’ll talk through your concerns together and work out whether an assessment would help. If you’d rather just ask a question first, send a message and I’ll reply within the next working day.