Jess Drake - About Me

I first became interested in speech and language therapy as a career when suffering from vocal cord nodules as a Drama and English student. I enjoyed the therapy so much that it inspired me to go on and complete postgraduate training!

I qualified in 2004 and spent the first 8 years working for the NHS in Kent and London. I then moved overseas, working in both Singapore and Bali. Eventually home beckoned and I returned to my West Yorkshire roots. I settled in Hebden Bridge and set up in independent practise in 2016.

I have always worked with children, extensively within early years and with primary age. I love being able to deliver therapy and work closely with children, families and their nurseries/schools. I firmly believe in going at a child’s pace to build trust and confidence. I aim to make sure your child feels valued, has fun and feels good; a parent recently described me as a “speech therapy wizard!” Over the years I have trained in many interventions and I access regular supervision to support my learning. My skills are constantly evolving, and I am on a journey to ensuring that my practise is neurodiversity affirming. I also value the benefits of the outdoors and have completed training as a Forest School Leader.

In my spare time I can be found trying to learn the piano again, running and wandering the woods with my 4 soon to be school aged 5-year-old… where does the time go!