About Suzanne Turner
Suzanne Turner, BMedSci (Hons), MRCSLT, RegHCPC, MASLTIP, Independent Speech & Language Therapist
Founder, NI Private Speech Therapy
I’m Suzanne Turner, although most people know me as Suzi. I’m an experienced Speech and Language Therapist supporting children and adults with speech, language and communication needs. I established my private practice in 2018.
I’ve had a varied career across clinical practice, service leadership and family support, and I continue to serve as a board director at Larne Community Care Centre.
I now enjoy a lovely mix of clinic appointments and working with people in their own homes, alongside delivering training in schools and professional organisations.
I have a particular interest in the relationship between communication, emotional regulation and wellbeing. This shapes my approach to therapy, understanding someone’s communication needs alongside how they feel, the demands they face and what helps them participate.
Clinical Experience
I was Head of Children and Youth Services at a Belfast-based charity, where I led regional services supporting children and young people affected by acquired brain injury. Alongside this, I developed and facilitated parent and carer support groups and an advocacy service.
My clinical experience spans both children and adults with a wide range of communication needs.
My particular clinical interests are early years communication and speech sound disorders. I enjoy working with young children and their families to support communication through play, interaction and everyday routines.
Speech sound work is an area I’m especially passionate about, particularly understanding the patterns behind phonological errors. I enjoy the detailed assessment and clinical reasoning involved in identifying those patterns and choosing a therapy approach that helps a child or young person develop clearer speech.
I also have extensive experience working with individuals with acquired communication difficulties following brain injury and stroke, including adults with aphasia and dysarthria, supporting them to improve communication, confidence and participation in everyday life.
Wider Experience & Leadership
I have significant experience delivering training in schools, helping staff support pupils’ speech, language and communication needs within the classroom and wider school environment. This includes whole-staff training and tailored guidance around an individual pupil’s communication needs.
I also deliver training and talks for community and professional organisations on topics including communication, emotional resilience and regulation, managing worry, and navigating change and transitions. My experience ranges from small-group workshops to a keynote address for an audience of over 600 employees. I enjoy developing engaging, practical sessions that make the subject relevant to the people attending.
I have previously delivered training for Parentline NI, Children in Northern Ireland and IT company Idox, as well as training on supporting communication in care home settings. As a trained mediator, I also bring experience in facilitating discussion and helping people navigate difficult conversations.
Alongside this, I provide clinical supervision to senior leadership teams and serve as a board director at Larne Community Care Centre, contributing to the governance and development of services supporting the local community.
Qualifications & Professional Registration
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First-Class Honours BMedSci Degree in Speech Science – University of Sheffield
On graduating in 2016, I received three university prizes:
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Colin Stark Prize in Speech Science — awarded to the best final-year BMedSci Speech Science student.
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Tracey E Cox Memorial Prize — awarded for distinguished performance in clinical practice.
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Phillippa Cottam Memorial Prize — awarded for the best dissertation.
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Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
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Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
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Member of Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP)
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Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Training & Professional Development
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Certificate in Motivational Interviewing – British Psychological Society
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Accredited Mediator – Phoenix Dispute Solutions
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Diploma in Coaching – New Skills Academy
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Trauma Informed Practice – CPD and in-service training
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Early Years Training – Speech and Language UK
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Designated Safeguarding Officer Training – CiNI
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Keeping Children and Adults Safe – Volunteer Now
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First Aid – First Aid Trainers NI