Once upon a time there was a little prairie girl by the name of Joyce Hignett, growing up on a farm near Young, Saskatchewan.

She loved animals and studied their behaviour, but wasn’t sure she wanted to be a veterinarian. In school, she loved English, the style, function and use of language, but wasn’t sure she wanted to be a writer or a teacher. She also loved Psychology, with the intricacies of human development, but wasn’t sure she wanted to be a psychologist or a doctor. Eureka! Joyce discovered the field of speech-language pathology, which encompassed aspects of all the areas she loved.

Fast forward a few years, past undergraduate and graduate programs, marriage and a new baby… Once Joyce became employed as a speech-language pathologist, she immediately fell in love with the trans-disciplinary team approach, working side by side with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists. Over the years, Joyce had worked in numerous settings – in hospitals, school boards, pediatric children’s centres, but she always gravitated towards settings where she could be part of the magic of a tightly-knit team.

In 2005, Joyce ventured gingerly into the world of private practice, working from her home, equipped with games, books, and a couple of nosy dogs. It was wonderful! Clients received personalized support, tailored precisely to their needs. And in return, every new client was a gift of new knowledge and success. In 2008, armed with a growing caseload and a small team of clinicians, Speak Freely Therapy Services moved into its very own clinic location. More space, more staff, more stuff, more clients, and more learning for everybody! The rest, as they say, is history!