South Downs Therapy
Independent speech and language therapy for adults
Working together to maximise your potential with voice, communication and swallowing
JULY 2024 - I am unable to take on any new client until further notice
Theresa Samms
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Speech & Language Therapist
Highly trained:
BSc. (Hons) Speech & Language Pathology & Therapeutics
MSc. (Merit) Human Communication
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Highly experienced:
Over two decades of clinical work in the NHS
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Registered in all the right places:
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Winner of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust's Sue Eckstein Award for putting patients first, outstanding leadership and compassionate care (2018)
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What I do:
I am pleased to offer independent, tailored assessment and therapy, working with you to respond to your individual needs.
I also provide professional leadership to the adult speech and language therapy service in Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
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Expertise:
I have expertise in assessing and managing communication and swallowing difficulties arising from a wide range of organic and functional causes. I contribute to the diagnosis where the cause is unknown.
I have a high level of skill in supporting people with throat, swallowing and/or voice and communication disorders which may be linked to stress and emotion. I provide high quality assessment which provides you with clarity and reassurance, then use my diverse therapy skills to support symptom relief and recovery. As a trained amateur singer myself, I am particularly passionate about helping people achieve good vocal quality for both speech and singing.
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I provide expert-level second opinions regarding dysphagia management.
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"You did such a good job of synthesising all that information so concisely whilst balancing all sides of the issue. You delivered your opinion in a compassionate but fair way, keeping our patient at the very heart of it." Speech & Language Therapy Service Manager, NHS
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I strongly believe in active rehabilitation for swallowing disorders and may incorporate therapy techniques including Expiratory Muscle Strength Training and the McNeill Dysphagia Training Programme to actively rehabilitate the swallow, even with progressive neurological conditions.
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What do you get when you choose me?
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Kindness, experience and clinical expertise
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Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
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Support/coaching to set your goals and tackle your barriers
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Holistic work, integrating care for you as a person as we work together towards fulfilling your potential
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Outcome measures to evaluate your progress
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I visit clients at home and will travel across Sussex, please see Fees page for travel costs. Online therapy is also available if preferred and clinical viable. I have a fortnightly clinic near Lewes.
I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and am committed to safe care. Risks are constantly assessed and managed. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
TESTIMONIALS
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"Theresa has been amazing in helping deal with my throat problem. She has given so many coping mechanisms. I thought my symptoms would never decrease but she gave me hope and encouraged me to look at my problem in a positive way which has really assisted my recovery and my symptoms have almost gone in just three sessions. She is so supportive, encouraging and patient and really listens to you. I would thoroughly recommend her services." LT
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"Thank you for the meeting, it is still helping and has taught me a great deal, more than I initially realised. I did an all day Mozart Req and the voice worked all day." Dr C
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"I reached out to Theresa, as I developed a sudden fear of swallowing. From our first session, she was quick to create a safe environment for me, in order to explore the symptoms and to help me understand how it all came to happen.
She is a wonderful therapist, with an initiate ability to create empathy, which I found helped my progress greatly." JM
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"Theresa has been of great help to improve my wife's speech (who has Parkinsons plus). She is very professional and knowledgeable about all aspects of speech therapy. And, as importantly, she is a really nice person and easy to get along with and has provided support to all the family." RT
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"Many thanks for all of your help, S found your enthusiasm and positive approach really uplifting, as we all did" CJ
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"The service was fantastic, the objectives met and we cannot think of anything that had made the service better" MirianG
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"Your swift reply and the mixture of openness and professional approach I perceived when we spoke on the phone made me decide" RC
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"My lifestyle and well-being were completely changed with the diagnosis and onset of Parkinson’s Disease including a loss of volume and articulation in my voice . Communication was difficult. I then began a course of Therapy with Theresa and with her passion , commitment, encouragement and caring attitude my voice began to improve. I would thoroughly recommend Theresa, and I will be forever grateful for her help." DH