Let's Talk Small Talk

Libby discusses Selective Mutism with Anna Biavati, and Anna's new book, My Brain Land. Anna is a well-respected, very experienced, highly specialist speech and language therapist who works with children with selective mutism. She is also passionate about helping fellow therapists who feel stuck in their practice go from feeling overwhelmed and ineffective with managing selective mutism to confidently applying a safe, brain-based, and connection-led framework. This empowers them to support children to naturally communicate, restoring both their passion for their profession and alignment with their values.

Anna has written a children's book 'My Brain Land' which is a delightful, heartfelt story which introduces children to the connection between emotions, the body, and communication in a gentle, child-friendly way.

Available on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/0bjADhCS

Anna has also created My Brain Land Adventures—a fun monthly online session where children learn about their amazing brains, build confidence, and realise they're not alone in their worries. Even better, for every two tickets sold, one copy of My Brain Land is donated to a school or hospital, helping even more children understand anxiety and their emotions.

Anna's website https://www.selectivemutismsupport.uk/

Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@annabiavatislt

Libby discusses the upcoming conference on 7th September in London with Lucy Sanctuary and Ruth Fine: 'International Developments and Perspectives in Autism Research and Clinical Practice.'

Understanding of Autism has changed considerably since it was included in the DSM-3 as “Infantile Autism.” However, research highlights what we don’t know, as much as what we do. Even though there is a diagnostic criteria, we still cannot answer the question, “What is autism?” Attempts to answer this, have raised even more questions, e.g., are there gender-based differences? Are there different genetic groups within the umbrella of autism? Global perceptions, cultural beliefs and practices are equally varied, which is reflected in research, assessment, intervention, equality, diversity and inclusion across the world. The conference  brings together renowned speakers from different backgrounds and parts of the world to share international perspectives on research and clinical practice in Autism.

Book here https://lucysanctuary.com/autism-conference-2026

Lucy Sanctuary is a neurodivergent Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, an internationally certified ADOS-2 Trainer,  a cognitive behaviour therapist, specialising in autism. She works work with neurodivergent young people and their families & is deeply committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion, to reducing stigma that surrounds neurodivergence as this has a significant impact on quality of life.

Her job has 3 main parts:
- Diagnostics: ADOS-2 as part of a multi-disciplinary team with all ages. She specialises in complex assessment and has a particular interest in working with autistic girls & women.
- Intervention: Lucy uses adapted CBT to support young people and their families. Her approach is bespoke to the individual.
- Training and talks: Lucy is an ADOS-2 trainer. She  runs ADOS-2 training courses, reliability workshops & ADOS Refresher courses. She is often part of GAIN Reliability Workshops.  She has hosted webinars on autism and related topics for ACAMH, and she has written four published resource books, contributed to Mary Sheridan’s From Birth to Five Years, been involved in research on autistic girls & masking.
Websitelucysanctuary.com

Ruth Fine is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with diverse and varied experience of working with children, young people, and adults with speech, language, and communication needs. She has worked in a range of settings carrying out assessment, intervention, and training, developing her knowledge and skills around online assessment and input using a variety of platforms.

She has a wealth of experience across a range of settings and in multidisciplinary teams. She primarily works in the area of diagnosis and therapeutic input for autistic people and other neurodivergence and is passionate about neurodiversity informed practice, providing an exceptional standard of care, using evidence based practice, and continually learning and developing her knowledge and clinical skills.
 fineruthie@hotmail.com

All HCPC registered staff are required to have supervision; Libby interviews Rachel Jackson,  who is a very experienced clinician but also a very experienced and skilled supervisor.

Indeed, she has over 30 years of experience as a Speech and Language Therapist — including 10 years as an NHS Team Leader — and more than 15 years delivering clinical and operational supervision to AHPs (such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, specialist nurses, and health visitors), she offers a supportive, practical space designed to meet both your needs and those of your clients.

If you want to know more about her tailored supervision for independent Speech and Language Therapists and other Allied Health Professionals, guiding you through complex cases, refining your skills, and enhancing your clinical decision-making, you can contact her  www.speechandlanguage.co.uk/supervision

Libby Hill talks to Rike Brand about PDA and Rike's new book. It has been a best seller in Germany for a while and is now available in the UK. Rike is a mother of two. It was her journey as a parent which sparked her interest in PDA. With a background in cultural anthropology, she has spent years deeply immersed in the PDA community, learning from families, advocates, and lived experience. A seasoned nonfiction author and entrepreneur, Rike combines her research and storytelling skills to create practical, empathetic guidance for parents navigating the complexities of neurodivergent and PDA children. She is an active part of the PDA community on Instagram (@rikebrand). 
The book is available on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/03ZNpaqu

In this episode, Libby is joined by author and advocate Elly Chapple, founder of Flip the Narrative and writer of Diagnosis Human. Elly shares the deeply personal story behind her book and the lessons she learned from her deafblind daughter, Ella — lessons about identity, presence, and seeing the world differently.

Together, they explore the realities many families face when navigating education systems and professional support for children with complex needs. The conversation touches on advocacy, the impact of budget cuts on services, and the challenges parents experience when trying to ensure their child is understood.

Libby and Elly also discuss the importance of language, relational safety, and moving from reactive to responsive approaches in both families and professional settings. Above all, this episode highlights the importance of trust, allyship, and collaboration between parents and professionals to support children in ways that truly respect who they are. 
Read more about Elly at www.ellychaple.com and buy her brilliant book here https://amzn.eu/d/08VWyVTs available in paperback and kindle

Libby interviews Rishi Kaushal who has created "The Speech Heroes" to empower children with speech and language delays, inspired by his son Aryan's journey. Following a diagnosis, Rishi used music (song "Speech Bound") and authored the book The Speech Heroes vs. The Word Stoppers (released Feb 2026) to help children find their voice. They talk about what led to this and his personal journey. His book is proving very popular with both children and their parents https://amzn.eu/d/00VKcx53
To find out more https://www.thespeechheroes.com/about

The podcast episode focuses on the intersection of autism and OCD, featuring the amazing speaker Dean Beadle sharing his personal experiences and insights. Dean explained how OCD manifests differently in autistic individuals, emphasising the distinction between autistic rituals and OCD compulsions. He describes his own struggles with OCD, including recent flare-ups triggered by life changes, and shares coping strategies such as acknowledging intrusive thoughts without giving them credence. Dean also highlights the importance of support and validation for individuals experiencing OCD, particularly young people who may feel isolated.  

https://www.facebook.com/dean.beadlespeaker/directory_contact_info
https://www.youtube.com/@DeanBeadleuk
https://www.instagram.com/deanbeadlespeaker?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Hallie Sherman, M.S. CCC-SLP has worked with older students for many years.  She has a practical, pragmatic approach to her work to make sure her therapy is effective. She prioritises using students' interests in order to keep them engaged and making progress.  She has made lots of resources to help SLT/SLPs save time and energy. 

Her book came out in November, which is great 'The Secondary SLP Roadmap: Motivating Students to Crush their Speech and Language Goals.' 

Libby and Hallie discuss why it is so important to support older students in this month's episode.
Contact details and link to buy the book:

https://speechtimefun.com/
https://amzn.eu/d/0eXsPhW 

Libby Interviews Ruth Rowntree, Speech and Language Therapist and Founder of Speech Apraxia UK dedicated to information, advocacy and support for individuals with Speech Apraxia. https://speechapraxia.co.uk/
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is the new term which was previously known as verbal dyspraxia in the UK but Ruth is keen that all types of apraxia is supported.
Speech Apraxia UK are a growing, internationally recognised leading non-commercial community organisation which reaches 85+ countries across their website and social media network to raise awareness worldwide. They support those with apraxia of speech, whether childhood, acquired, or primary progressive.

Services they offer-

Advice from a team of specialists

Resource Hub

Comprehensive information on therapies and diagnoses

Showcase research and recruit participants/collaborators

Parent/Carer network

Events/training

Newsletter

Therapy App reviews

Extensive resource gallery.
You can become a member, free of cha.rge  Use this link https://forms.office.com/r/6t0msV1w9z

"Did you know that some children talk freely at home but can’t get a single word out at school?  It’s not stubbornness, and it’s not shyness — it’s something called selective mutism, an anxiety condition that literally freezes a child’s ability to speak.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Small Talk, we dive into the most common questions parents and teachers ask.
What causes selective mutism?
How can you tell the difference between being quiet and having SM?
And most importantly — what actually helps, and what makes it worse?

If you’ve ever wondered how to support a child with selective mutism — or you just want to understand it better — this episode is for you.
Libby's book is on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/dRlx2Fp

Libby talks to Cathy Wassell who is the CEO and founder of the Autistic Girls Network Charity and founder of The Haven online provision. She is also author of 'Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person: A parents handbook to supporting newly diagnosed teens and pre-teens.'

This is the website where you can also learn more about the charity itself and also The Haven https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/
This is the link for the book https://amzn.eu/d/eBx7XYf

Libby talks to Joel Roskin, who was diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) as an adult. He is an amazing advocate for DLD and has a story that both inspires and informs. He is happy to be contacted and would make an ideal speaker for your CEN or support group. I certainly want to pick his brains for several projects that I have in mind and look forward to working with him again soon joelroskin1@hotmail.co.uk

Libby interviews Cathy about Gestalt Language Processing and the natural language acquisition process. Listen to her explanation and rationale for working in a different way to previously, how the approach embraces a nuero-diveregent affirming style and has completely altered the look and sound of the clinic rooms at The Speech Den. They also touch upon the fact that not everyone agrees with them.  Cathy's website https://thespeechden.com/
Cathy is organising another conference this October, which is her third year in a row. This years' conference bringsfresh insights, the latest evidence base, practical ideas and solutions, and retrospective reflections. Professionals, parents and adult Gestalt Language Processors will explore how Gestalt Language Processors are supported across diverse settings and celebrate the real-world successes families and professionals are experiencing. To book a place on the on-line conference which starts 9th October  https://registration.glpconference.co.uk/glp25

Join us for a fascinating conversation with  Dawn and Libby as they discuss her  new book Born Naughty? Decoding PDA – A Decade of Discovery in Practice. Drawing on over ten years of clinical experience, Libby shares powerful insights into Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), exploring why it's so often misunderstood and how we can better support children and families. Whether you're a parent, professional, or simply curious about neurodivergent experiences, this is a must-listen episode packed with practical wisdom, real-life stories, and compassionate expertise. https://amzn.eu/d/cHVRPRU

Libby interviews Sally Cat about this lesser-known type of PDA. Many of us are confident we know what PDA looks like but what if we are missing a huge group of people who don't show overt signs of PDA? Read more here http://www.sallycatpda.co.uk/2024/10/a-quick-guide-to-internalised-pda.html Sally Cat's blog is full of information that you might not have come across before including her Big  Traits study http://www.sallycatpda.co.uk/2019/06/a-demonstration-of-differences-between.html

Libby talks to the lovely Anna Biavati. Anna Is a multilingual speech and language therapist specialising in selective mutism and multilingualism. With years of experience, she has developed a unique and holistic approach that focuses, not just on speech, but on building resilience, self esteem, and fostering independence in all aspects of a child's life. Anna is the creator of the brave muscle method which takes into account the brain function approach, and her method is designed to empower children by starting from what they can already do and gradually building their ability to communicate in a pressure-free way. Her Steps to Brave Talking program provides a structured step by step process to help children with selective mutism find their voice in a supportive and encouraging environment. Believing that family plays a crucial role in a child's Progress, Anna developed the Family Dynamic Approach, ensuring that parents and caregivers are actively involved in their child's journey. She provides practical tools, training and guidance to help families create a nurturing and supportive environment for communication growth. In addition to her work in speech and language therapy, Anna is trained in primitive reflex integration, which she incorporates into her approach to address underlying motor and sensory challenges that may impact a child's ability to communicate confidently. By integrating these reflexes, she helps children develop greater emotional regulation, body awareness and communicational readiness. 
https://stepstobravetalking.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@annabiavatislthttps://www.edinburgh-speech-therapy-wordsteps.co.uk/

Liz is an award winning Occupational Therapist (OT) with 25 years of expertise. As someone who is dyslexic and part of a neurodiverse family, Liz brings a unique perspective to her work. She is passionate about collaborating with children, young people, parents and caregivers, supporting them to discover understanding, connection, neuro-affirming and trauma and sensory responsive tailored solutions and support that fits each family's individual needs. She helps parents and carers to regain clarity and confidence in their parenting experience, creating more meaningful moments with their kids, whilst remembering their own well being matters too. She supports parents and carers in additional needs families with parental burnout, mental health and well being so they can be the parents they want to be.   web site: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/  Podcast: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/#section-fojBZLwt8

Dawn interviews Libby about her new book 'Doing what it takes' which is about Libby's work with children and young people with selective mutism. Available from Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/6niLwWK

Libby interviews the wonderful Ali Battye, Speech and Language Therapist on Ali's three passions. She has written books about all of them. We love all her books but her latest book is definitely her best work yet.  https://amzn.eu/d/gkW4FqJ

Libby, Donna and Bernadette were on the advisory panel for the NHS England commissioned Autism and parental blame study. In this episode they they discuss their reasons for wanting to be involved, the implications of parental blame and some of the other aspects covered by the report. You can access the report in full https://www.wm-adass.org.uk/improvement/autism-and-parental-blame-research. They all feel very strongly that the messages which are delivered within the report MUST be shared as widely as possible so that we can move forward. Families must get the help they need, not the blame they might receive instead through a damaged system.
Donna has organised a conference in Stafford for 28th January. If you are interested contact voiceforchange@btinternet.com

Libby interviews Jodie about autistic burn-out. This is a topic everyone needs to know about as it is certainly on the increase and is very damaging to the child or young person. Jodie is an independent specialist working with autistic children, their families and their schools, who has written two books on the topic. 
One for children and young people: 'Young, autistic and burnt out' https://amzn.eu/d/a0XMWRv
and one coming out later this month for parents and professionals: 'Stop the World I Want to Get Off: A guide to understanding and supporting the recovery of autistic burnout in  children and young people https://amzn.eu/d/bqjX5aU

She is also the author of The Secret Life of Rose https://amzn.eu/d/e4lFBIz which I highly recommend to anyone wanting to know more about autism, including children themselves.

Dawn interviews Rachel Winder about what it really means to be neurodivergent-affirming. Rachel was diagnosed as autistic with dyslexia and ADHD in her forties, has become an 'accidental' neurodivergence influencer. We have known Rachel a number of years now while we have been on our journey to get it right. We realise that it is a work in progress but we are passionate to make it the best it can be. Listen to Rachel's views here.

DLD is the biggest learning difficulty you've never heard of. 2 out of every class have it. At Small Talk most of the SLTs have extra training in order to be confident about diagnosing it and working with children with DLD. We are passionate about making a difference for children who have it. Listen to Libby and Dawn discuss their views.

Libby discusses the new book that she has been working on with Georgina Smith and Laura Graham. Georgina Smith, a specialist  dyslexia  tutor, and Laura Graham, independent occupational therapist and sensory integration practitioner teamed up with Libby on this project to look at why many children are struggling at school with literacy but it's not all due to dyslexia. This team of professionals all practice clinically and bring a wealth of experience along with tried and tested advice and strategies to help parents and teachers alike gain the correct support for the young people in their care. Topics covered include:
*Developmental Language Disorder *Dyslexia *Developmental Coordination Disorder *Cerebral Visual Impairment *Autism *Attention Deficient Hyper Activity Disorder *Trauma *Sensory Processing Differences *Anxiety *Executive Functioning *Auditory Processing Disorder
Georgina's website https://www.dyslexia-codebreakers.co.uk/  
Laura's website https://lauragrahamot.co.uk/  
Join them at the book launch 10th October 2024 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-what-if-its-not-dyslexia-tickets-1023433616497?aff=oddtdtcreator

Libby interviews the lovely Danielle about her experience of PDA and also her new book Black Rainbow about a family's PDA journey through 
https://amzn.eu/d/9pr6aGQ

Cathy organised 2 very successful conferences last year. This year she is going bigger and better! She has all the experts on NLA in one place including Marg Blanc and Barry Prizant. It's online over 5 days with the recording available to tickets holders for 6 months. Check out her website for details of the conference and to buy tickets. https://thespeechden.com/ Parents recieve a discount and there's an early bird rate til tonight!

Small Talk Speech and Language Therapist Dawn Tomalin interviews the brilliant Laura Kerbey, Autism & Education Consultant and Author. They discuss PDA and Laura's recent book about PDA for teens. Laura has been working with young people with a range of learning difficulties for over 20 years, but er passion has always been working with and teaching those who are autistic. Having worked in schools and colleges, she understands the barriers to learning that autism creates and the frustration and anxiety that this causes to student's, their parents and staff alike.

Her empathetic approach has always enabled her to engage and work effectively with young people especially those with PDA.

Dawn talks to Helen Daniel about her work and her recent book. Helen is an autism and neurodiversity support practitioner who helps neurodivergent families  find their own path to radical self-acceptance. She supports neurodivergent children and young people to better understand themselves through empowering workshops and resources. Listen to them talk all about Helen's work and neuro-divergence acceptance

To celebrate the end of SMIRA's selective mutism awareness month, Libby and Dawn discuss all things selective mutism. Small Talk have several speech and language therapists who have extra training and experience to be able to work with children and young people with selective mutism, yet across the country it remains difficult to access speech and language therapy for this particular client group

Libby and Paula discuss Paula's new book with her approach to family life when you have SEN in the mix, autism, parental blame and much more. 

Listen to Libby interview Steph Curtis parent, blogger and author