The Communication Café — Online Group for Anyone Affected by Communication Difficulties
An online gathering place to meet others, share experiences and feel a little less alone.
Our award-winning and hugely popular Communication Café is an online gathering place for anyone affected by communication difficulties — whether that is someone living with a communication change themselves, a family member, a carer or someone who simply wants to connect with others who understand.
It is not a therapy session and it is not a formal group. It is simply a warm, welcoming space to meet others, share experiences and feel a little less alone.
What is the Communication Café?
Founded by Sam Bowman, the Communication Café was born from a simple belief: that connection matters as much as clinical support, and that people affected by communication difficulties deserve a place to come together outside of appointments and therapy rooms.
We meet monthly online and each session is built around a different topic or activity — chosen based on the interests and suggestions of the people who attend. Every session is communication-friendly. That means we make space for everyone — however you communicate, at whatever pace feels right for you.
Everyone is welcome
- Speak in the group if you would like to
- Listen without saying a word — that is absolutely fine
- Have someone speak on your behalf
- Message or type your thoughts instead of speaking
- Send your thoughts to us beforehand and we will share them for you
There is no right or wrong way to take part. We meet you exactly where you are.
Don't worry if you just want to listen — you can do that too.
Who is it for?
- People living with communication changes following stroke, brain injury or neurological condition
- Family members, partners and carers supporting someone with communication difficulties
- People with progressive conditions who want to stay connected
- Anyone who has felt isolated or misunderstood because of communication changes
You do not need to be a current client of Talkabout to join. The café is open to all.
Customer Feedback
As someone who suffered an acute and diffuse hypoxic brain injury back in 2016, resulting in aphasia and damage to the corpus callosum, I have been one of the original members of the Communication Café since 2020, and I am still attending. Over the years, I have actually witnessed the progress of fellow members' speech over this time. They are now able to articulate words, put together sentences, and share ideas and stories with more ease and clarity. The progress is totally traceable. I believe the open format of the Café's informal group discussion, which includes catching up on everyone's news and a fun quiz, is ideal, as it allows participants to really relax, chat and blossom. As the group is supported by student Speech and Language Assistants, it provides direct feedback and a crucial observation platform for the Therapists on where some work may be focused. This is hard to see in a one-to-one therapy scenario, as life includes interactions in the community. I highly recommend this platform as an excellent and invaluable tool for Speech and Language recovery.
How to join
To sign up for any of our sessions or to find out when the next one is taking place, simply get in touch:
Email: admin@talkaboutspeechtherapy.com
We will let you know the date, time and topic of the next session and send you everything you need to join. We really look forward to welcoming you.