Cary Spotlight Connect 🎧
Host: Dr. Chris Coetzer, Founder of Cary Spotlight
Guest: Allison “Alli” Platter, Speech-Language Pathologist and Owner of C.U.E. Therapy (Intensive Feeding and Communication Therapy)
Empowering Parents
Through Child-Led Therapy
What if the key to helping a child eat, communicate, and connect begins with understanding their entire body?
In this episode of Cary Spotlight Connect, Dr. Chris Coetzer welcomes Allison “Alli” Platter, speech-language pathologist and owner of C.U.E. Therapy, located just outside downtown Cary, North Carolina.
C.U.E. stands for Communication Universally Empowers.
Alli shares her unique, whole-body approach to supporting autistic children and medically complex infants through intensive feeding and communication therapy. Rather than focusing solely on speech or feeding challenges, she considers nervous system regulation, primitive reflexes, and the importance of creating a safe, trusting environment.
Discover how child-led therapy builds meaningful connections, why parent coaching is central to her work, and how individualized intensive sessions help families develop practical skills.
Alli also explains what parents should look for when choosing a therapist and why respecting a child's individuality can transform the therapeutic experience.
At its heart, this conversation is about empowering families, honoring different ways of experiencing the world, and helping children thrive.
What You’ll Learn
Why the whole body matters: How nervous system regulation, primitive reflexes, and past medical experiences can influence feeding and communication.
The power of child-led therapy: How following a child's interests helps establish trust and create meaningful opportunities for communication.
Understanding intensive therapy: How C.U.E. Therapy's concentrated, individualized sessions support children and their caregivers.
Why parent coaching is essential: How involving caregivers directly in therapy helps families build confidence and continue making progress at home.
Finding the right therapist: What terms like neuro-informed and neuro-affirming mean, and why parents should look beyond the labels.
Redefining therapeutic success: Why helping parents understand and support their children can be just as meaningful as reaching developmental milestones.
Memorable Quotes
"And through that trust and validation, I can help lead them to communicate." — Allison “Alli” Platter
"The parent leaves feeling empowered because almost always the kid is never the issue." — Allison “Alli” Platter
"I can't tell you how many times a parent's perspective has been ignored and they're always right." — Allison “Alli” Platter
"All my therapy is coaching." — Allison “Alli” Platter
Call to Action
Discover how C.U.E. Therapy helps children and families build meaningful connections through individualized feeding and communication therapy. Visit the website to explore Alli's services, and follow @cue_speech_therapy on Instagram for a closer look at her approach.
Subscribe to Cary Spotlight for more conversations with inspiring local business owners and community leaders.
Business: C.U.E. Therapy
Website: Cuetherapy.com
Instagram: @cue_speech_therapy
Stats & Moments
Ages birth to two: Alli frequently works with medically complex infants and toddlers.
1–3 weeks: Intensive therapy programs involve sessions five days per week.
5 consecutive days: Local Cary families may attend monthly intensive therapy sessions.
Worldwide reach: Families travel internationally to work with Alli.
Approximately 50% local: About half of Alli's caseload consists of children from Cary.
Caregiver-centered approach: Parents and caregivers actively participate in therapy rather than simply dropping children off.
Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Allison “Alli” Platter and C.U.E. Therapy
00:35 — Who C.U.E. Therapy Serves
00:58 — Understanding the Whole-Body Approach
03:26 — Supporting Medically Complex and Autistic Children
03:42 — Developing a Personalized Therapy Approach
05:40 — Recognizing Specialties and Referring Families
07:31 — What Child-Led Therapy Really Means
08:58 — Empowering Parents to Understand Their Children
10:14 — How Intensive Therapy Programs Work
11:43 — Finding the Right Therapist for Your Child
14:06 — How Families Experience C.U.E. Therapy
15:49 — Connecting with Alli and Final Thoughts
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