About

Larissa Gawthrop is the founder of Bendigo Myofunctional Therapy and a qualified Oral Health Therapist with a genuine passion for helping people breathe, chew and swallow as nature intended.

After graduating from La Trobe University in 2019, she gained experience working across both public and private dental settings. Throughout her career, Larissa recognised that many children and adults were experiencing oral dysfunction that could not be fully addressed through dentistry alone. Larissa's interest for myofunctional therapy is also shaped by her own personal experience. After navigating oral ties and oral dysfunction with two of her own children, she gained first-hand insight into the challenges many families face when seeking answers and accessing appropriate care. Her clinical experience and personal journey fuelled Larissa's passion for understanding the underlying causes of orofacial dysfunction. This led her to complete her qualification in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy through mYofocUs in 2025, followed by certification as a Myo Munchee® Practitioner in 2026. These qualifications have further advanced her clinical expertise, enabling her to provide comprehensive assessments, personalised therapy and evidence-informed guidance to support infants, children, adolescents and adults in achieving lasting improvements in oral function, breathing, swallowing and overall wellbeing.

Today, Larissa combines her background in oral health with an intensive, individualised 8-week myofunctional therapy program to support clients experiencing concerns such as restricted oral function, mouth breathing, tongue-tie related dysfunction, incorrect swallowing patterns and other orofacial myofunctional disorders. She is also a certified Myo Munchee® practitioner and incorporates this therapy tool into treatment where clinically appropriate.

Larissa welcomes infants, children and adults to her purpose-designed private home clinic in Bendigo, where she is committed to providing affordable, personalised, compassionate care in a calm and supportive environment. Her goal is to ensure every client feels heard, understood and empowered with the knowledge and tools to achieve lasting improvements in oral function, airway health and wellbeing.