Emma Gale

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Qualifying as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1990, Emma has over 35 years of experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist with adults with a range of neurological conditions. She has worked with clients in specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation settings, with outpatients, in their own homes, and in the community, and has an interest in working with clients on vocational goals.

She has a special interest in aphasia, dysarthria and dyspraxia, cognitive communication disability following brain injury, and in communication issues in Parkinson’s Disease. She is an accredited LSVT LOUD practitioner. She enjoys working as part of an interdisciplinary team to ensure clients receive holistic and meaningful rehabilitation interventions which help them to meet their goals.

Elena Simmons

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Elena qualified in 2021 as a Speech and Language Therapist with a MSc from University College London and is a registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. She has worked across a range of inpatient and community settings.

After qualifying, Elena has worked across different teams and services (hyper-acute and acute stroke units, inpatient neuro-rehabilitation centres and community rehabilitation teams) and is committed to delivering high standard evidence-based care. She gained extensive experience assessing and treating; complex swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), language (aphasia), speech (dysarthria) and cognitive-communication disorders. Her experience ranges from working with individuals who have experienced neurological conditions such as Stroke, TBI, and progressive neurological conditions, to also working within acute settings, supporting older adults, individuals with respiratory conditions, general acute illnesses, and progressive diseases. Her role allowed her to develop skills in managing complex dysphagia, assisting in the set up and implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, devising functional and vocational rehabilitation whilst using a holistic and person centred approach.

Having completed a BSc in Psychology (Hons) from Sheffield University, she has experience working within mental health settings supporting with implementing supportive psychological approaches.

Melissa Bauer

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Melissa graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology in 2010. Since moving to the UK in 2013 she has worked exclusively in neuro rehabilitation services including acute, community and short-term inpatient rehab settings in both the private sector and NHS. Her specialist skills include assessment and therapy for cognitive communication impairment, aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, dysphonia and dyspraxia in patients with acquired brain injury. She is trained and accredited to provide Facial oral tract therapy (FOTT) and LSVT LOUD. Melissa has a special interest in transdisciplinary working using a patient centred approach to help improve her patients independence and quality of life.

Yasmine Khamellah

Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Yasmine is a passionate, pioneering and committed Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Her hard work has enabled her to progress to senior positions.

She has worked in one of London’s busiest and largest hyper-acute and acute hospitals in stroke. Her experience covers complex and progressive neurological disorders, dysphagia, dysarthria, voice AAC, stammering, voice, mental health, Learning Disabilities, elderly care, critical and acute care.

Sharon Adjei-Nicol

Certified specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Sharon Adjei-Nicol is a Certified specialist Speech and Language Therapist with over 18 years’ experience working with adult clients in NHS and private settings.

Sharon was awarded her PhD from University College London in 2020 and is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice. Sharon is currently Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Greenwich, Visiting Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy at University College London, and also works clinically in independent practice. Sharon is highly experienced in the assessment and treatment of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), communication and cognitive-communication disorders in neurological conditions such as Stroke, Brain Injury, M.S., MND., Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia and disorders of consciousness.

Sharon always strives to provide person-centred care tailored to the individual client’s goals and contexts. Sharon is experienced in undertaking medico-legal work including as an expert witness and trained to deliver specialist techniques such as Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Programme (MDTP). Sharon’s particular clinical interest is in communication difficulties after stroke specifically severe/global aphasia and this is the field in which she carried out her PhD research and continues to publish in.

Gill Ward

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Professional Profile

Gill has 20 years’ experience working with adult clients.  Her specialism is rehabilitation of speech, language and communication difficulties following traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Gill also works with clients with early onset dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia.  She is experienced in impairment and functional therapy, conversation partner work and project-based intervention.  Gill is an LSVT LOUD certified clinician.

Gill works within a life participation approach to neuro rehabilitation, which embraces all areas of a person’s life. Treating the speech, language and communication difficulties within this approach allows appreciation of the environmental facilitators and barriers, personal identity and emotions, and participation in daily life. Gill works independently and with multi-disciplinary colleagues. Whatever the challenges faced by the client, Gill endeavours to find creative solutions to support attaining the best possible therapy outcomes.