About Authentic Connections Speech Pathology
Meet Brendan
Hi, I’m Brendan, the face behind Authentic Connections Speech Pathology. I work with children, teens, and young adults who need support with communication, speech production, fluency, literacy, social interaction, and everyday language skills.
My own neurodivergent experiences have shaped the way I approach therapy, with a strong focus on respect, flexibility, and real-life communication. My work is neurodiversity-affirming, which means building on each person’s strengths, respecting their communication style, and working towards goals that matter to them and their family.
I’m based in Sunshine and provide therapy across Melbourne’s Inner West and North, either at home, at school, or online.
My Story
Growing up, I didn’t realise I was neurodivergent. I struggled with social interaction, emotional regulation, and feeling like I fit in, but I didn’t have the language or understanding to make sense of those experiences at the time. I was other autistic kids at school and thought “I’m not like that”.
Like many neurodivergent people, I learned to mask. I tried to copy the behaviour of others, say the “right” things, and act in ways that would help me blend in. While this helped me get through certain situations, it was exhausting and often left me feeling misunderstood.
It wasn’t until later in life that I began to understand my own neurodivergence and how much it had shaped my experiences. That insight changed the way I viewed communication, therapy, and what meaningful support really looks like.
Those experiences now inform the way I work with clients. I aim to create a space where people feel safe to communicate in their own way, without pressure to mask or pretend to be someone they’re not.
My Approach to Therapy
At Authentic Connections, therapy is built around the individual. There is no single “correct” way to communicate, and the goal is not to make someone appear more typical, but to support them in ways that are meaningful and functional in everyday life.
My approach is:
- Neurodiversity-affirming
I support each person’s natural communication style and work with their strengths, rather than trying to make them fit a single idea of “normal.” - Focused on real-life communication
Sessions target skills that matter at home, school, work, and in relationships—not just what looks good in a therapy room. - Collaborative and family-centred
Parents, teens, and young adults are part of the process. We set goals together and adjust them as needs change. - Safe and respectful
Therapy is designed to feel calm, supportive, and engaging, especially for people who may have had difficult experiences in the past.
Working with kids who have so much to say but don’t have the tools to say it is what lights me up. Helping them build the skills to connect, share their ideas, and feel heard is the most rewarding part of what I do. Plus, I get to be the gigantic kid I am inside every day!
Why I Became a Speech Pathologist
Before becoming a speech pathologist, I first studied dietetics. Over time, I realised that my real interest was in communication, social interaction, and supporting people in more holistic ways.
I also have AuDHD, and as a child I attended speech therapy for a stutter. Those experiences gave me a personal understanding of what it feels like to struggle with communication and to sit on the client side of the therapy room.
Becoming a speech pathologist allowed me to combine my professional training with my lived experience, and to support others in ways that feel respectful, practical, and meaningful.
Areas of Passion
I have a particular interest in working with:
Neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults
Social communication and perspective-taking
Emotional regulation and executive functioning
Speech sound development and clarity
Orofacial myology and functional oral skills
Early intervention and play-based therapy
My sessions are often interest-led and adapted to each person’s strengths, motivations, and sensory preferences.
Training and Professional Development
My Training:
- DIR Floortime – Play-based therapy to support social-emotional, and language development.
- Derbyshire Language Scheme – Language intervention for children with delays.
- Social Communication and Sensory Regulation – Strategies for understanding and interacting with the world, and noticing and managing how our emotions impact our communication and engagement.
- PROMPT – A hands-on approach for speech sound production.
- Eat, Breathe, Feed, Sleep – Foundations of Orofacial Myology (Below)
- Oro-Facial Myology (Stage 1) – Muscle-based approaches for speech and feeding.
- Get Permission Institue For Anxious Eaters – Techniques for supporting mealtime peace, picky eaters, and kids with feeding challenges.
- Executive Functioning – working with the differences in how we process and think about information to achieve goals, rather than working against them.
I’m committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and evidence-based practices to make sure therapy is engaging, effective, and tailored to each child’s needs.
Who I Work Best With
My approach tends to be a good fit for:
Neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults
Clients who feel anxious, burnt out, or misunderstood in traditional therapy settings
Families looking for a collaborative, respectful approach
Older boys and young men who may feel more comfortable with a male clinician
Anyone that enjoys gaming (especially Pokemon), fantasy, movies, or animals – But I’m also interested in learning all about your family’s interests too!
If you’re looking for a speech pathologist who takes a respectful, practical, and collaborative approach, you’re welcome to get in touch.
Book a chat with me or send an enquiry to see if we’re the right fit.