Karien
Pediatric Speech Therapist
Karien: A Global Leader in Pediatric Speech Therapy
Karien is an accomplished speech therapist from South Africa, with an impressive 33 years of experience specializing in pediatric care. A graduate of the University of Pretoria (1991), she has consistently pursued excellence through numerous advanced certifications and post-graduate training, including DIR Floortime, PROMPT, DTTC, Neurodevelopmental Therapy (Bobath), SOFFI Infant Feeding, SOS Feeding, LSVT-Loud for Kids, TalkTools, VitalStim, and Alternative Communication techniques such as PODD and CVI.
Her clinical expertise spans a wide range of developmental delays and neurological conditions, including Autism, Apraxia, Syndromes, Dysarthria, Feeding Difficulties, and Cerebral Palsy. Throughout her illustrious career, Karien has worked in diverse settings, including private practices, schools, hospitals, and universities, where she has also contributed as an educator.
In 2000, Karien earned her qualification as a Neurodevelopmental (Bobath) Speech Tutor and has since become a sought-after presenter of NDT (Bobath) courses, both in South Africa and internationally. In 2020, she further expanded her expertise by becoming a Certified PROMPT Instructor, training countless professionals over the past four years.
Karien’s passion lies in empowering children with the ability to communicate and express themselves, whether through verbal or alternative methods. Her approach is grounded in clinical reasoning, ensuring that each child receives a personalized intervention strategy tailored to their unique needs.
A thought leader and mentor, Karien’s dedication to her field and the children she serves continues to inspire therapists worldwide, making her a true guru in pediatric speech therapy.
Areas of speciality and training/certification includes:
- PROMPT Instructor: Introduction to technique, Bridging technique to intervention, PROMPT Certification Project
- Advanced Speech Therapy Course on Neuro-developmental Therapy
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Expert
- DIR Floortime
- Childhood apraxia of speech: The PROMPT and DTTC approaches are very effective for Childhood apraxia of speech.
- Sensory integration strategies for speech therapists
- Respiration Coordination, feeding and Swallowing Function.
- Talk Tools: Oral motor and feeding in Down Syndrome
- Talk Tools: Oral Placement for speech Clarity
- SOS Feeding course
- SOS Advanced course: Feeding children with Autism
- Assessment and Intervention Strategy for At-Risk Infants
- Suck, Swallow and Breathing Therapy
- NMES and sEMG Biofeedback in the treatment of dysphagia
- Vital Stim training
- Course on Infant Feeding
- Cerebral Palsy: feeding, speech breathing difficulties, speech production (Dysarthria) and Alternative communication.
- Tiny Handz Signing course
- Written Language Disorders: Assessment and Therapy
- Handling a Child with challenging / Problem Behavior
- Auditory Processing
- Developmental Phonological Disorders
- Functional vision in CP
- LSVT Loud Kids
Languages: English and Afrikaans
