What happens when you take therapy out of the clinic and into the paddock?

In this episode of Growing Up with A Growing Understanding Speech Pathology, Practice Director Lauren Haskins is joined by Nadine Delaney from Hunter Valley Children’s Therapy to explore how creative, collaborative programs are opening up new ways to support communication, connection, and self-expression - outdoors and in nature.

Lauren and Nadine share the story behind our new group program, Trail Talk: An Equine Experience, and how it brings together the expertise of both teams to create a neurodiversity-affirming space where young people can connect with animals, learn through experience, and practise communication skills in organic, real-world ways.

Nadine reflects on her own journey into Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and how working alongside horses in a natural setting offers participants unique opportunities to connect with themselves, with others, and with the animals around them.

The conversation also touches on how understanding the communication style of horses can help young people better understand their own, and how partnerships like this one allow professionals to learn from each other while extending the impact of therapy beyond the walls of a clinic.

If you're curious about how nature-based, strengths-focused group programs can support meaningful growth for young people, this episode is one to tune into.

What do dice rolls, fantasy characters, and magical quests have to do with speech pathology? A lot more than you might think.

In this episode of Growing Up with A Growing Understanding Speech Pathology, Practice Director Lauren Haskins is joined by Speech Pathologist Zoe McCauley and Dungeon Master Hayden Moore to explore how Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is being used to help tweens and teens develop social communication skills in a creative, safe, and fun setting.

Together, they unpack the thinking behind AGU’s new interest-based group program, designed for young people who love imaginative play, storytelling, or gaming, and who might benefit from support with flexible thinking, collaboration, and self-expression.

More than just a tabletop game, D&D creates space for character development, problem-solving, teamwork, and real-world communication practice through the DOTS model: Desire, Obstacle, Tactics, and “So, what happens now?” Zoe and Hayden share how the program supports diverse needs and personalities, offering structure and flexibility in equal measure.

Whether a participant is diving deep into a character or just quietly observing, the goal is a sense of achievement, belonging, and connection. And yes, there’s a little courage involved in stepping into something new, but the reward can be a truly magical experience.

If your young person is curious about the program, or if you’re wondering how fantasy storytelling can support real-life growth, this episode is a must-listen.

Communication is about so much more than words. From gestures and facial expressions to tone, timing, and connection - it’s how we relate to each other, especially in the early years of a child’s development.

In this episode of Growing Up with A Growing Understanding Speech Pathology, Practice Director Lauren Haskins sits down with Speech Pathologist and Clinical Lead Jamie Cullen to explore the many ways communication shows up in our lives and how understanding different communication styles can help families better support their child’s development.

Lauren and Jamie discuss how each person’s communication style is shaped by preferences, environments, and emotional states, and how being aware of your own communication style can help you connect more meaningfully with your child.

They talk about the value of flexibility, the impact of fluctuating communication capacity in different situations, and why it’s important to create space for families to explore how they communicate as individuals and as a unit.

This conversation is a reminder that communication is dynamic and deeply personal. Whether it’s shaped by sensory input, emotions, energy, language skills, or who we’re speaking to, our communication style matters. And parents are often the ones who know their child’s communication best.