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The Speech Den, formerly known as Cathy Shilling and Associates was founded in early 2004 by Cathy Shilling, Consultant Speech & Language Therapist. Cathy achieved a BSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy and Pathology from De Montfort University in 1991.
All of the team are fully qualified Speech and Language Therapists and are registered with the with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC); and hold Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and are members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Cathy Shilling
Cathy created a successful career in the NHS and the British Forces Germany, which offered her the opportunity to develop innovative ideas based on evidence based practice and “real” hands on Speech and Language Therapy. On her return from Germany Cathy worked as a lead Consultant for mainstream school services in Swindon. This was the turning point both personally, (Cathy had two children under 3 years old), and more poignantly professionally. Cathy set up Cheltenham and Gloucestershire’s leading Independent Practice. The need for direct intervention for children in pre-school and school was becoming more evident. At this time local services were being reduced and parents and schools were requesting more support.
Over the past 14 years Cathy’s practice has grown and a number of highly experienced Speech & Language Therapists have joined the team.
Cathy specialises in working with children with speech and language difficulties, literacy difficulties, social communication and autistic spectrum disorders, and supports both children and adults with Auditory Processing difficulties. Cathy is the National UK Supervisor for the Johansen Individualised Auditory Stimulation Programme. She provides training both nationally and internationally for Johansen and Auditory Processing difficulties as well as tailored training for schools and preschools. Cathy works in a number of Local authority and Independent Schools and preschools across Gloucestershire.

Tori Gunn
Tori qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist following completion of the Clinical Communication Studies MmedSci master’s degree course at University of Sheffield. Since qualifying, she has worked in Asia’s largest and highly regarded private therapy centre in Singapore and throughout Gloucestershire independently and for the NHS.
Tori has experience working in special and mainstream schools, clinics and early years settings with children with a range of speech, language and communication needs.
Tori creates professional colourful semantics resources for schools and parents to use.
Tori is a qualified Makaton signer.
Tori also specialises in supporting children with Auditory Processing Difficulties and is a Johansen Individualised Auditory Stimulation Programme provider.

Rebecca Burnham
Rebecca is a local Gloucestershire Speech and Language Therapist joined The Speech Den in September 2020.
She qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2018 and has subsequently had a busy career working with children and young people of different ages with a wide range of communication needs.
Rebecca is committed to providing intervention that is collaborative, holistic and tailored to the individuals’ needs.
Rebecca specialises in working with children with speech language and communication needs in mainstream school settings.

Kirsty Finnegan
Kirsty is exceptionally passionate about supporting children, their families and educational setting; she has over a decade of experience in the NHS and independent services, as a hands-on therapist, and previous to this worked as a carer and play worker for children and adults with learning disabilities.
Kirsty is committed to providing a high quality of creative speech therapy to children directly. Kirsty specialises in supporting children with Autistic spectrum disorders, phonological difficulties and a wide range of speech and language difficulties.

Nicola Holmes
Nicola studied in Plymouth and qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2007.
She has worked across the South West for nearly 15 years and her experience includes working for the NHS and the charitable sector. Nicola specialises in early language and communication, focusing on primary aged children with speech sound disorders.
Nicola joined The Speech Den in 2021 and divides her time between seeing clients at the den and going into schools.
Contacting The Speech Den:
You can contact the service between 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday – Friday
Telephone enquiries: 07876 537213 or 01242 539016
Email enquiries: enquiries@thespeechden.com