Who Bianca works with
Bianca is a speech pathologist who primarily supports neurodivergent children and young people, including those who are autistic, have ADHD or are AuADHD, as well as children with communication, literacy and social communication needs.
The majority of her caseload is neurodivergent children, which has shaped a highly individualised, flexible style of therapy. Families who see her are often navigating:
- anxiety at school or in social situations
- masking and “holding it together” all day, then melting down at home
- communication challenges (understanding, expression, social communication)
- literacy and learning differences
- sensory and regulation differences
Bianca offers supports across home, school, clinic and telehealth, with weekly or fortnightly sessions depending on the child’s needs and family routines.
A focus on safety and regulation before "working on goals"
If you have a child who is anxious, you’ll know that even small changes, new environments or social demands can feel huge. Bianca recognises that for many children, their “alarm system” is more sensitive, so uncertainty, sensory input and unpredictability can quickly become overwhelming.
Before she targets any specific speech pathology goals, Bianca prioritises helping the child feel:
- safe
- regulated
- connected within the therapy environment
What that looks like is different for every child. She collaborates closely with parents, caregivers and other allied health professionals to understand:
- the child’s sensory profile
- communication style
- special interests
- triggers
- regulation needs
Sessions might include movement breaks, sensory supports and low‑pressure activities woven throughout, with careful attention to what the child seeks or avoids — sounds, textures, movement, lighting, social demands and more.
Bianca often uses tools like:
- visual schedules
- social stories
- timers and predictable routines
- short, concrete instructions
- reduced verbal language during moments of overwhelm
For some children, direct face‑to‑face conversation can feel too intense, so Bianca might lean on:
- play
- drawings
- characters and games
- storytelling
- or inviting a trusted safe person (parent, sibling or friend) into the session
Her overall aim is to read the child’s non‑verbal cues, adjust the pace and demands in real time and support gradual confidence‑building without sacrificing a sense of safety.
Strengths-based and neuro-affirming
Bianca takes a strengths‑based, neuro‑affirming approach in her Fremantle speech pathology practice.
In everyday terms, that means:
- understanding that children may learn, communicate, regulate and participate differently
- supporting regulation before adding more demands
- adapting environments where possible
- valuing different communication styles (including reduced spoken language, AAC, gestures and more)
- recognising that capacity can fluctuate day to day
- reducing unnecessary cognitive overload
- helping children build self‑understanding and self‑advocacy
Practically, she spends time figuring out what helps each child enter a “flow state” — that feeling of being calm, engaged, capable and safe enough to participate naturally. For some children that might be construction activities, drawing, movement or writing. Therapy is then shaped around those strengths and interests, rather than asking the child to fit into a narrow mould.
Supporting school, not just the therapy room
For many Perth families, school is where anxiety, masking and learning differences show up most strongly. Bianca places a strong emphasis on understanding how a child presents across different environments — home, school and clinic — rather than relying solely on what she sees in sessions.
Her work with schools may include:
- attending IEP reviews, planning meetings, parent‑teacher meetings and behaviour support discussions
- collaborating with teachers to make small, practical adjustments (e.g. preferential seating, sensory tools, movement breaks, predictable transitions)
- helping identify patterns around sensory overload, transitions and loss of control
- shifting the focus from “managing behaviours” to proactively supporting regulation and sensory needs
Bianca also recognises the important role of school‑based support services and government specialist teams. Where appropriate, she will recommend or liaise around referrals to services such as SSEN:D or SSEN:S for school‑based support.
When a child has lost their sense of safety at school — often showing up as exhaustion, after‑school meltdowns, shutdown, sleep changes or heightened anxiety — Bianca works with families and schools to explore what may have shifted, and how relationships, routines or staffing might be adjusted to rebuild trust.
Assessments with a functional, child-friendly focus
Bianca provides assessments relating to:
- receptive and expressive language
- social communication
- speech sounds
- literacy
- fluency
- emotional regulation as it relates to communication and participation
She cannot diagnose neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, DCD or specific learning disorders (like dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia), but she can:
- build a detailed profile of the child’s communication, learning and regulation
- support the child and family while formal assessment pathways are explored
- refer families on to trusted professionals for diagnostic assessments
Her assessment process is functional and collaborative. She gathers information from parents, educators and the child themselves across everyday situations, and supplements this with formal and informal assessment tools.
Reports are written in accessible language with:
- clear summaries of strengths and challenges
- how these may look day to day
- practical recommendations for home and school
Bianca often creates one‑page summaries for teachers so they can quickly grasp what supports will be most helpful in the classroom.
What families can expect when working with Cooee Allied Health
After an initial assessment and collaborative goal‑setting process, Bianca will work with you to decide:
- how often therapy will occur (weekly or fortnightly is common)
- whether sessions are best held at home, school, clinic or via telehealth
- which goals are most meaningful and realistic for your child and family right now
- what level of collaboration with school and other professionals will be helpful
Sessions are tailored to your child’s communication style, sensory needs, interests and capacity on the day. Progress is not expected to be linear — Bianca pays close attention to fluctuations in mood, engagement and regulation, and checks in regularly with families, school staff and the broader support team.
Across everything she does, the thread remains the same: children do best when they feel safe, understood, connected and supported, and when the whole village — family, school and therapists — are working together.
Support for Fremantle and Bicton families
If you’re a Fremantle or Bicton family looking for a neuro‑affirming, anxiety‑aware speech pathologist for your child, Bianca’s approach at Cooee Allied Health may be a good fit to explore.
Practical details
Business name: Cooee Allied Health
Clinician: Speech Pathologist Bianca Christie
Location: Fremantle and Busselton
Referral: No referral is required.
Current availability: New intake open (post maternity leave) on Thursdays & Saturdays.
Bookings & enquiries:
Email: hello@cooeealliedhealth.com
Website: https://www.cooeealliedhealth.com/
