Laura is an experienced speech and language therapist, who communicates with children and adults in an open, respectful and creative way. She is a good listener and makes both clients and their relatives feel at ease. Her analytic skills help her get to the core of the communication difficulty and devise a clear therapy plan.

Laura graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy from Queen Margaret University (Musselburgh, Scotland; 2009). She then worked as an all-round community therapist in the Scottish Highlands for several years. In 2012, Laura returned to the Netherlands and became licensed to carry out speech and language therapy in her native language of Dutch as well. Her registration in the Kwaliteitsregister voor Paramedici means that, in contrast with most English-speaking therapists in the Netherlands, Dutch health insurance companies cover part of her therapy fees.

Prior to studying speech and language therapy, she had obtained an MA in Language Acquisition from the University of Essex (Colchester, England; 2005). This gives her a more in-depth perspective on language disorders and allows her to also carry the title of Klinisch Linguïst (clinical linguist). She is a member of the Vereniging voor Klinische Linguïstiek.

Laura worked with children and adults in Scotland until her return to the Netherlands in 2012. Since then, she has worked at several international, British and European schools in the Netherlands with children of all ages. She is licensed to carry out therapy in both English and Dutch. She is also fluent in Spanish and has provided speech and language therapy in Spanish to a number of children. In addition, she knows German and British Sign Language. Laura has lived in a number of different countries and cultures and can relate to the experience of being an expat.

Laura is registered with the Dutch Kwaliteitsregister voor Paramedici (‘quality register for allied health professionals’) and is a member of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Logopedie en Foniatrie (Dutch Association of Speech and Language Therapy and Phoniatrics). She has completed post-graduate courses in adult dysphagia, orofacial myofunctional disorders, Hanen programme ‘It takes two to walk’, and various therapy methods.

As Laura feels it important to also contribute to society outside of her profession, she is co-founder and secretary of Stichting Garima. This foundation generates funds to support a home for AIDS orphans in the South of India. After being neglected due to stigma, the children now receive love, care, HIV medication and of course an education. More information can be found on http://www.garima.nl.