Kristen Hammond BA, MSc-SLP

I am based in beautiful Marlborough and also offer web-based speech & language therapy throughout New Zealand

I have lived in New Zealand for the last ten years settling in beautiful Marlborough with my husband and two children. Originally, I hail from Nova Scotia, on the East coast of Canada. 

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Psychology and English from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. I also have a Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

Over the last 13 years I have worked in a variety of settings as a Speech-Language Therapist (SLT). Initially I worked as part of a multidisciplinary team focused on Early Intervention in a specially designed preschool for students with significant disabilities. I have also worked as a school-based SLT working directly in the classroom and alongside teachers and parents. Over the last 10 years I worked for the Ministry of Education across all education settings (Early Childhood to College). I have finally landed in private practice which allows me to use all of my skills and experience to flexibly work with clients in their own environment in the most evidence-based way. My experience has helped me gain insights into supporting students with mild difficulties to those with significant, complex communication challenges. I've also developed my teletherapy skills and repertoire through COVID-19 challenges and previously in my career while offering online therapy sessions to students and young adults in the remote Northern Mariana Islands.

I have additional training and/or certification in:

  • Hanen - It Takes Two to Talk and More Than Words
  • Best Practice Structured Literacy Workshop (May 2023) 
  • Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition
  • Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) for Motor Speech/ Childhood Apraxia 
  • Lidcombe Program for Stuttering 
  • Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - Workshops delivered by Temple Grandin, Amy Wetherby (SCERTS model developer), Tony Attwood and Autism New Zealand
  • Apraxia/dyspraxia techniques - Including professional development delivered by the late Pamella Marshella
  • Routines Based Interviewing and Goal Setting
  • Goodfellow Dysphagia Training - Level 1 through Auckland University

"Kristen Hammond and I have been colleagues for several years. Kristen is a highly skilled speech and language therapist with a diversity of expertise as a paediatric therapist. She is respectful of other team members and values parental input and knowledge."

  • Jerri
  • Speech and Language Therapist

"Kristen is a very talented and knowledgeable Speech and Language Therapist, who works with families in a very holistic way. She has a particular strength in choosing the right pathway for therapy and ensuring her clients avail of every opportunity open to them. Kristen is gifted at working with people and establishes rapport with ease."

  • Clare
  • Speech and Language Therapist

Memberships and Associations

I am an active member of the New Zealand Speech Language Therapists Association (NZSTA).