About Me
I am specialist speech and language therapist with over twenty years experience. I offer assessment and therapy for adults to empower them to be able to reach their full potential. I have expertise in working with a wide range of conditions arising from brain injury or stroke, including:
- Speech problems e.g. slurred speech
- Language difficulties e.g. aphasia
- Assessing and improving safety of swallowing
- Reading and writing difficulties
- Strengthening and training mouth and throat muscles
- Adjustment, mood and identity changes
- Cognitive communication disorders
- Assessing capacity and enabling decision making.
After graduating in Leeds, I started my career in London before returning home to Devon. I was fortunate enough to work in New Zealand for a year which gave me a fascinating insight into a health service outside of the NHS.
I have worked with clients with communication and swallowing difficulties in a wide range of settings including peoples' own homes, community clinics, nursing homes and acute hospital wards (including neurology and acute stroke).
I have a wealth of experience of working with people who have been given diagnoses of stroke, acquired brain injury, brain tumours and progressive neurological conditions e.g. Parkinson’s, dementia or motor neurone disease.
Research positions
Principle investigator and provider of motivational interviewing on the Confirming the Mechanism of Motivational Interviewing Therapy after Stroke trial (COMMITS). This is a study through the University of Central Lancashire looking at whether receiving a 'talking therapy' can reduce the psychosocial effects of having a stroke.
https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17065351
Assessor on the ‘Singing for People with Aphasia’ feasibility study (SPA). This was a study funded by The Stroke Association looking at whether attendance at a singing group could reduce depression and anxiety post stroke.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33441355/
Computers in therapy Clinical Excellence Network
I am on the CITCEN committee, a national network of speech and language therapists with a special interest in utilising computers in therapy. I take pride helping facilitate biannual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) meetings. Our network is dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. Through these regular CPD meetings, we aim to enhance professional skills, share valuable insights, and contribute to the continuous growth of our field.
Samantha Cooper
Speech & Language Therapist
BSc (hons), MRCSLT, MASLTIP, HCPC Reg