Hamilton Speech Therapy | Hamilton Feeding Therapy

Speech Therapy Hamilton | Table Talk Therapy

Join us at Table Talk to enhance speech, language, and feeding skills for childen and adults.

Hamilton Speech, Language and Feeding Therapy

Where Words and Meals Come Together

At Table Talk Therapy, our aim is to empower people of all ages to communicate confidently and enjoy mealtimes with their family and friends. Whether you are seeking support for speech and language needs or need help overcoming feeding challenges, I am here to assist you. Support is provided in the comfort of your own home or via telehealth.

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Comprehensive assessments and personalised therapy are provided for children with diverse speech and language challenges. Sessions are tailored to fit your child’s unique needs and personality, ensuring they stay engaged, have fun, and achieve their goals.

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Speech, Language and Swallowing Therapy for Adults

Families and children are equipped with the skills and techniques to develop a positive relationship with food using a child-centered, trust based approach. This allows children to learn to love eating, feel safe and comfortable around food, while building confidence in their eating and drinking abiliities.

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By offering comprehensive assessments and personalised rehabilitation for adults with various communication challenges and swallowing disorders, we prioritise what matters most to you. This ensures therapy is customised, practical, and enjoyable.

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Talk - Feed - Flourish

Curious about how Table Talk can help? Have questions?
Feel free to get in touch. We love hearing from you!

Table Talk welcomes referrals from parents, teachers, doctors, and other specialists.

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Feeding your child isn’t a test of your worth as a parent. Your parenting is not defined by what or how much your child eats 🍽️💖

Every meal is a chance to show patience, understanding, and love – not perfection. So if today was tough, give yourself some grace. You’re doing your best, and that’s more than enough. 💪✨

Tag or share this with someone who could use a reminder that they are doing an amazing job 💕

🥑FOOD PLAY🍓
Today, the kids got creative with food by decorating their own “faces”! They had fun deciding which foods would be perfect for each feature—would peach slices for mouths work? Maybe chips for eyes, and could we try blueberries for cheeks?

As they chatted and brainstormed together, it was amazing to see how curious and creative they became with foods they might usually ignore. Watching them decide what to use for each 'face part' added to the fun and kept the mealtime positive and relaxed.

Food play is a powerful tool in helping kids build comfort and confidence with different foods. By engaging their senses and allowing them to explore food in a fun, pressure-free way, children become more familiar with various textures and flavours. This not only reduces mealtime anxiety but also encourages curiosity and self-expression.

Giving kids the chance to make their own choices and explore food creatively can be a fun addition to mealtimes while also helping them feel more relaxed and in control. All factors that help support a child with their food relationship 🌈🍅🍇

Comment 'Food Play' below, and I'll send you a copy of the fun food face template for you and your kids to decorate yourself!

🌟 Understanding the Feeding Dilemma 🌟

At Table Talk Therapy, we recognise that mealtimes can be challenging for many families. With the insights from Katja Rowell’s model, we see how children facing sensory issues, motor delays, anatomical problems, interoceptive issues, or anxiety can lead to a cycle of stress for parents and kids alike.

That’s why we focus on a Responsive Feeding approach. This method fosters a positive mealtime environment, building trust and reducing pressure, while supporting children in feeling safe and confident with food.

Feeding matters, and with the right support, we can break this cycle together.

Are you a feeding therapist and have used this in your work? Or are you a parent and this model resonates with your experience? Let me know in the comments 💬

📖 Book Review: Hey Warrior by Karen Young 📖 @karenyoung_heysigmund

"Hey Warrior" by Karen Young is a powerful, insightful read for understanding how anxiety works in young minds. With simple language and engaging illustrations, the book introduces us to the amygdala, our brain’s natural “security guard,” which steps in to keep us safe by triggering a “fight or flight” response whenever it senses a potential threat. For some children, this part of the brain is on high alert at the dinner table, where unfamiliar or challenging foods can feel like a real threat.

This understanding is transformative in feeding therapy. When we know that for some children, their resistance to food is their amygdala stepping in, we can support them without rushing. Therapy becomes about creating small, positive experiences with food, carefully guiding children to explore without triggering that “security guard.” With this foundation, we build trust around food and gradually shift mealtime from a place of anxiety to one of curiosity and calm. 🌈

SIDE NOTE: Karen Young, the author of Hey Warrior, is a child psychologist who specialises in anxiety. Her workshops are incredible—if you ever get the chance to attend one, I highly recommend it! Her insights have had a huge influence on my work in speech, language and feeding therapy as well as in my own parenting journey. She also has lots of other incredible children's books 🌱

This is my go to. We've all been there – you serve dinner and after all that effort, the first thing you hear is "YUCK!" 😩 But instead of getting frustrated, here's a way to turn it into a learning moment:

✨ "OK, what can we do to make it better?" ✨

Remember, it’s still your role to decide what food is offered, but giving your child some say in how it’s eaten can make all the difference! This gives them some autonomy and a sense of control, while still keeping the mealtime boundaries in place.

Here are a few ways to offer choices:
🍅 "Would you like to dip it in tomato sauce or mayo?"
🍚 "Do you want your stir fry on top of the rice, or separate?"
🥖"You can crunch up some crackers on top, or keep it plain!"
🧀 "Should we add a sprinkle of cheese, or you could have a dollop of sour cream?"
💭 "What ideas do you have to help make this meal better?"

Small adjustments like these let kids tailor the meal to their preferences while still eating what’s been prepared, empowering them to explore new foods at their pace!

Do you have any go-to tricks for making meals work with your cautious eaters? Share below! ⬇️

Pause and reflect...
Is what I’m doing during this mealtime building connection or creating conflict with my child? 🤔💭

By choosing conflict, we’re missing the chance to connect with our child and explore food in a positive, pressure-free environment. 🌿🍽️ When we take on their role at mealtimes—trying to control what or how much they eat—we often create power struggles.

But when we let go and trust them to decide what’s right for their body, we foster connection, reduce stress, and support a healthier relationship with food—for both of you. 💕🥗

Connection > Conflict. Always. Let’s keep mealtimes positive. 😊

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