Speak and Grow Speech Therapy

I am licensed to provide speech therapy in both Alberta and Ontario, which means I can legally work with families across both provinces.

In Alberta:

• In-person services available in Cochrane and surrounding areas (Calgary, Canmore, Airdrie)
• Virtual services province-wide – whether you’re in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, or a rural community

In Ontario:

• Virtual services throughout the province – from Thunder Bay to Windsor, Sudbury to Kingston, and everywhere in between
• I especially love working with families in Northern Ontario and rural areas where local speech therapy services can be hard to access

Virtual therapy (telepractice) is my primary service model. Through secure video conferencing, I provide the same high-quality care you’d get in person – with the added convenience of joining from home, no travel time, and flexible scheduling.

Yes! Virtual therapy has been my primary way of working for over 5 years, and I’ve successfully helped hundreds of children across Alberta and Ontario online.

I know it might feel strange at first if you’ve never done therapy virtually, but I promise it works. Research consistently shows that virtual speech therapy (telepractice) is just as effective as in-person therapy for most communication goals.

Why families choose virtual therapy:

• Convenience – No driving, no parking, no waiting rooms. Sessions fit into your life.
• Comfort – Kids are often more relaxed and engaged at home with their own toys.
• Access – If you’re in a rural area, Northern Ontario, or anywhere without local SLPs, you can still get expert care.
• Consistency – No cancellations for bad weather, illnesses, or transportation issues.
• Parent involvement – You’re right there learning strategies to support your child all week long.
• Flexibility – Evening and weekend appointments are much easier to arrange virtually.

Whether you’re in downtown Calgary or a small town in Northern Ontario, the quality of care is exactly the same. I use interactive games, engaging activities, and evidence-based techniques designed specifically for online delivery.

Really effective! I wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.

Research shows that virtual speech therapy (telepractice) is just as effective as traditional in-person therapy for most communication goals – including articulation, language development, fluency, and more.

I’ve personally worked with hundreds of children online over the past 5+ years and have seen incredible results. Kids learn speech sounds, build vocabulary, improve fluency, and develop confident communication skills – all through the screen.

In fact, many children actually do BETTER virtually because:

• They’re more comfortable and relaxed at home
• Parents can actively participate and learn
• We can easily incorporate their own toys and books
• There’s no anxiety about going to an unfamiliar office

For families in rural Alberta, Northern Ontario, or other underserved areas, virtual therapy means you don’t have to choose between “drive 2 hours each way” or “go without services.” You can access quality care right from home.

This is a common concern, and I totally understand!

The good news: Many shy or young children actually do BETTER with virtual therapy because:

• They’re in their safe, comfortable home environment
• They can have a parent right next to them
• They can use their own familiar toys
• There’s no scary trip to an unfamiliar office

For very young children (18 months – 3 years), I use a parent-coaching model where I teach YOU strategies to use throughout your day. This is often more effective than direct therapy at this age anyway.

For shy older kids, I take time to build rapport gradually. We start with topics they love and activities they enjoy. Most kids warm up quickly when they realize therapy is actually fun!

I’ve successfully worked with hundreds of children online, including many who were initially hesitant. We’ll figure out what works best for your child.

I have extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum and would love to support your child!

For children with autism, speech therapy often focuses on:

• Functional communication (requesting, protesting, commenting)
• Social communication skills (turn-taking, greetings, conversation)
• Understanding and using language
• Augmentative communication (AAC) if needed
• Play skills and joint attention

My approach is:

• Highly individualized to your child’s unique profile
• Play-based and motivating (using your child’s interests)
• Family-centered (you’re part of the team)
• Collaborative (I often work with OTs, behaviorists, teachers)

Virtual therapy can work really well for children with autism because:

• Less sensory overwhelm (comfortable home environment)
• Visual supports are easy to share on screen
• Parents can learn strategies to use all day
• Consistent schedule without travel stress

I’m comfortable working with children at all levels of the spectrum, from minimally verbal to highly verbal with social communication challenges.

Yes, I can diagnose speech and language disorders and provide a comprehensive assessment.

As a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in Alberta and Ontario, I’m qualified to:

• Conduct assessments
• Diagnose speech and language disorders
• Provide detailed reports
• Make treatment recommendations
• Start therapy right away

You don’t need to see anyone else first. Many families come to me directly when they notice concerns, and I can complete a full assessment virtually.

After the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report that includes:

• Diagnosis (if applicable)
• Your child’s strengths and areas of need
• Specific goals we’ll work on
• Recommendations for therapy frequency

This report can be shared with your child’s doctor, school, or other professionals if needed. Some families use it to access funding or school supports.

If I find that your child needs services beyond speech therapy (like audiology, occupational therapy, or medical evaluation), I’ll let you know and help connect you with appropriate professionals.

Referral: No, I do not require a doctor’s referral for assessment or treatment, though some private insurers may request one.

Extended Benefits: I strongly recommend checking your extended health benefits plan. Many employer programs offer coverage for Speech-Language Pathology services (typically $500-$2000 per year). Virtual therapy is usually covered the same way as in-person therapy.

I provide detailed receipts you can submit to your insurance company. I also offer parent training and home programs to help you continue supporting your child’s communication development after insurance benefits are used up.

This depends on your child’s specific needs, goals, and your family’s schedule. Typical frequencies:

Intensive Support:

• 2x per week (for significant needs or quick progress)
• Best for: Complex goals, active skill-building phase

Standard Support:

• 1x per week (most common starting point)
• Best for: Most articulation, language, fluency goals

Maintenance/Monitoring:

• Every 2 weeks or monthly
• Best for: Late-stage therapy, parent coaching focus

We’ll discuss the ideal frequency during your initial assessment and adjust as needed based on:

• Your child’s progress
• Your schedule and budget
• Insurance coverage
• Family priorities

The beauty of virtual therapy is flexibility! We can adjust frequency up or down as needed without the constraints of clinic scheduling.

Every child is different, but most families notice small improvements within the first 4-6 weeks. You might see your child attempting new sounds, using more words, or showing less frustration when communicating.

For specific timelines:

• Simple articulation goals (one or two sounds): 3-6 months
• Language delays: 6-12 months depending on severity
• Stuttering: Varies widely, but many kids see progress in 3-6 months
• Complex needs: Ongoing support, with measurable goals every few months

The key is consistency – weekly sessions plus practicing strategies at home really accelerates progress. We’ll set specific, measurable goals during your initial assessment so you’ll know exactly what we’re working toward.

Speech therapy is personalized, evidence-based treatment focused on strengthening a child’s communication skills. I work with children facing challenges in several areas:

• Articulation (pronouncing speech sounds clearly)
• Language (understanding and using words, grammar, sentences)
• Fluency (managing stuttering)
• Social communication (conversation skills, taking turns)
• Voice (pitch, volume, quality)
• Communication related to autism, Down syndrome, or other diagnoses

My goal is to help your child communicate confidently and effectively – whether that means saying their first words, improving speech clarity, building sentences, or developing social language skills. Every child and every plan is unique!

Every child is different, but here’s the general approach:

Session Length: Typically 30-45 minutes for younger children, up to 60 minutes for older kids. We’ll decide what’s right for your child during our consultation.

Frequency: Usually once or twice per week to start, though this varies based on your child’s needs and your schedule.

What happens in a session:

• Warm-up and rapport building
• Targeted practice using games, activities, or conversation
• Parent coaching and home practice ideas
• Progress updates and questions

My approach is:

• Evidence-based (using techniques proven to work)
• Play-based (therapy should be fun!)
• Family-centered (you’re part of the team)
• Individualized (every child gets a custom plan)

For families across Alberta and Ontario doing virtual sessions, I use interactive games, digital activities, screen sharing, and real-life materials to keep kids engaged. Most children love virtual therapy because they can use their own toys and stay in their comfortable home environment.