Why I Started V-Well: A Speech Pathologist’s Story
The Moment That Changed Everything
It was only a year into my career as a therapist when I met Leo and his mother, Sarah. Leo was quiet and spoke only a handful of words. Sarah was frantically busy cooking dinner during a session, the father was working in the office, and the two siblings ran around as I tried to continue my 1on1 session with Leo.
A dose of reality had sunk in. Most parents are often extremely overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks and feel helpless in making a real difference in improving their child’s speech.
After this experience, I saw repeatedly that the most important things don’t happen in therapy rooms. Parents must be empowered with the right communication skills and practices that create real, long-lasting change in their child’s speech development.
After a few sessions in which Sarah was introduced to participate and communicate with Leo, Leo’s speech development improved dramatically. The new sessions gave Sarah an effective communication approach, which was key to helping facilitate Leo’s speech development.
Leo’s transformation shifted my perspective, realising that what mattered most in speech therapy was to instil confidence in parents and caregivers. Sessions must become part of a child’s everyday activities, not something that stops after the hour is over. This experience was the seed that became V-Well. Parents should participate in their child’s development.
Realising What Families Really Needed
Eventually, I gained more experience in traditional speech therapy settings. However, I began to notice some things missing. Despite the tools and training, families (parents, caregivers, and relatives) who showed up were not always brought in. Therapies were often child-focused and clinic-bound.
This was when I started focusing on the gaps.
Little parent involvement: Sessions focused on the child while parents sat in the waiting room or were only observed at the back of the room.
Generic handouts filled with jargon: Families are provided with printed resources that are full of technical or medical language they can't understand. This only makes them more unsure where to start.
Weekly one-hour sessions: Therapies were limited to only one hour per week and had little connection with the child's daily routines or schedules. This resulted in poorer progress as strategies were not practised in a child's natural environment.
Strict clinic-based approach: Traditional therapies rarely adapt to each family's culture, routine, or parenting styles. There was no flexibility or personalised care.
The more I started working with parents in their homes, doing their regular routines, I saw how effective therapy could be. A mum singing songs during her child's bath time, a dad modelling words during snack time, or a grandparent using gestures during play time. These are ways for real change to happen, and where V-Well was built to enhance.
From Practice to Purpose: Creating V-Well
These small, meaningful moments help promote quiet confidence in parents and caregivers. This is the essence of V-Well’s Parent-Powered Communication Approach. When children start to respond more openly during play or when they start using simple words to express themselves, parents become more confident and more involved in their children’s development.
The Parent-Powered Communication Approach goes beyond worksheets or therapies. It is about connection, trust, and partnership. The more I worked with parents and families, the clearer it became that this was more than just a method; it’s a philosophy.
V-Well was built around this philosophy. It is not another service that runs on time or uses clinic scripts. It is flexible, personal, and real, where families are heard, seen, and supported. The Parent-Powered Communication Approach helps clinicians work with parents, placing them at the centre of their child’s progress. Children can better adapt to life's natural challenges with support from their families.
The V-Well Difference Today
At the heart of V-Well is the Parent-Powered Communication Approach, a philosophy that helps every clinician empower parents and families, provide coaching, guidance, and lasting confidence.
The V-Well difference is in every part of the experience:
Practical tools: We guide families using personalised resources like the Speech Notebook. This simple, jargon-free tool helps parents become involved in their child’s progress.
Parent coaching: We provide personalised coaching for parents and caregivers. They acquire strategies that fit into their daily routines and parenting styles.
Flexible support: We are not just limited to clinical settings. We are at home, school, and via telehealth to ensure families get the best care they deserve.
Personalised, family-first care: We develop plans alongside parents to ensure these are tailored according to their lifestyle, culture and goals. This helps us provide our clients with real, doable, and meaningful solutions.
Over time, parents become confident leaders and partners in their child's communication journey. Many families remain connected with V-Well, even after formal sessions end. This means the progress we build together lasts beyond therapy timelines.
Why This Work Still Fills Me With Purpose
Even after years in this field, the smallest moments never fail to remind me why I started V-Well. I have witnessed quiet yet powerful transformations that do not always show on data sheets but mean so much to the families involved.
A child’s first word as they listen during story time
A parent telling me they can do it and they are ready for the challenge
A sibling joining in a communication game with the family
Watching these connections affecting the whole family can be deeply moving. Being a part of these moments again and again fills me with a sense of purpose that never wears off.
And of course, what I love most is knowing that our work isn't just short-term. We are equipping families with the tools and confidence that will last forever. I’m proud of the families, the V-Well team, and our work rooted in heart, trust, and real-life connections.
Final Thoughts and Invitation
Are you looking for a more personal and practical approach to speech therapy? Are you a clinician who believes in the role of the family in a child’s progress? If so, I would love to hear from you.
V-Well was built on a simple, powerful vision: real progress happens through relationships. When families are supported, confident, and included, children will thrive in ways beyond therapy.
You are always welcome at V-Well. We are a caring, collaborative, and committed community that’s ready to make a lasting difference. Let us build meaningful connections!
Check out our list of role vacancies here.
Disclaimer: The scenario/s described in this article are based on real events and experiences without our professional practice. However, the names of our clients have been altered for privacy reasons.
