Rethinking Speech Therapy: The Story Behind STAR Space
Kia ora and welcome – we’re so glad you’ve found your way to STAR Space. Whether you’re a client, family member, fellow clinician, or simply curious about communication, we’re so happy you’re here.
This is our very first blog, and it feels like the right place to share who we are, why we've rebranded, and what STAR Space is really about.
Why "STAR Space"?
STAR stands for Speech Therapy and Reconnection – a name that captures the heart of what we do. We support people of all ages who experience communication and swallowing difficulties.
The Star represents the light within each person – sometimes hidden, sometimes dimmed, but always there.
The Space represents the environment we create together – a place to grow, explore, belong, and reconnect. It’s not a clinical box or a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s a living, breathing, person-centred space that shifts and expands around whoever walks in.
How We Got Here
Over 20 years of working in speech-language therapy across Aotearoa New Zealand, our practice has grown and evolved. What began as a traditional, clinic-based approach has transformed into something more holistic, flexible, and deeply person-centred.
We’ve learned that speech-language therapy isn’t about correction - it’s about connection. It’s about helping people express themselves, participate fully, and experience confidence and joy in communication and swallowing. Whether we’re supporting someone to find their voice after an injury, build confidence in social communication, or rediscover the safety and pleasure of eating and drinking, our focus is always on reconnection.
That evolution is what inspired our rebrand. STAR Space isn’t just a new name - it’s a reflection of everything we’ve learned over two decades: that speech-language therapy isn’t just about practising sentences, refining pronunciation, or completing swallowing exercises. It’s about relationships, confidence, identity, and the joy of connecting with the world around you.
What Makes Us Different
When people hear the words speech therapy, they often imagine drills, flashcards, and repeating words until they sound “right.” That’s not us.
At STAR Space, we don’t start with a checklist - we start with you.
- Who are you trying to reconnect with?
- What moments do you miss?
- What do you want your voice - in whatever form it takes - to do for you?
Sometimes that means helping a child rediscover the joy of communication through play. Other times it means supporting an adult to rebuild connection after a stroke or brain injury. And sometimes it’s working alongside someone navigating swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), helping them enjoy meals safely and confidently again.
Whatever the goal, we create a safe and empowering space for individuals and whānau to be heard, understood, and supported.
We believe speech-language therapy should feel human - it should invite curiosity, joy, and possibility. It should help people reconnect, not only with communication, but with life itself.
Building a Community
We want STAR Space to be more than a therapy service - we want it to be a community.
A place where people feel inspired to see communication and swallowing therapy differently: not as something broken to fix, but as something deeply human to nurture and celebrate.
At the heart of STAR Space is whanaungatanga - connection, belonging, and shared understanding. This blog is part of that. It’s a space for stories, reflections, and ideas that explore communication, identity, and confidence across all ages and stages - for people living with communication and swallowing differences, their families, and the professionals who support them.
Join Us
If any of this resonates with you, we’d love for you to follow along.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram (@starspace_slt) to hear stories, see practical tips, and explore new ways to reconnect through communication.
In our upcoming blogs, we’ll share more about the services we offer - including our specialist aphasia service, designed to support people living with aphasia and their families.
At STAR Space, reconnection starts here. We can’t wait to see where it leads. 🌟
Warmly,
Patty Govender
Founder & Speech-Language Therapist
STAR Space – Speech Therapy & Reconnection