Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

At Communicating Together Therapy & Wellness Associates, we provide personalized, evidence-based private speech and language therapy to support your child’s communication development. Our services are designed to meet the unique needs of each child, from infancy to young adulthood, while empowering you as a parent or caregiver throughout the therapy process.

Assessment

Comprehensive evaluations are offered to assess your child’s speech, language, and/or communication skills. These assessments help identify areas of strength as well as areas that may benefit from targeted support. We use a variety of tools and strategies to help gain a thorough understanding of your child’s needs, including standardized assessments, parent/caregiver interviews, and observations during play and/or conversation. To learn more about how we begin therapy with a detailed understanding of your child’s communication, read our blog post with an embedded video by Rhonda MacKinnon, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and clinic owner, Why Speech Therapy Starts with an Assessment | Waterloo Speech-Language Pathologist Explains.

Treatment

Each child’s treatment plan is individualized based on their specific needs and goals. We create a supportive and engaging environment to help your child thrive. Therapy sessions are built around evidence-based approaches designed to promote speech clarity, language development, social communication, and overall communication confidence. To learn more about how we build a foundational therapeutic relationship, we’ve shared an article and video by our owner, Rhonda MacKinnon, SLP: Why Building Trust Is the First Step in Speech Therapy: What the “Warm-Up” Is Really For.

Strengths-Based Speech Therapy

At Communicating Together Therapy & Wellness Associates, therapy begins with your child’s strengths—their interests, abilities, and unique ways of learning. When children feel seen and valued for who they are, communication grows more naturally and confidently. To learn more about this approach, read our blog post by speech-language pathologist Rhonda MacKinnon:

Strengths-Based Speech Therapy for Kids: Why It Works

(Includes a short video and practical examples for parents.)

Parent Training & Coaching

Collaboration between the therapist, child, and caregivers is fundamental. Parents and caregivers are integral members of the therapy process. Practical training and coaching are provided to help you understand the strategies used during therapy and how to reinforce those skills at home and in the community. This approach supports consistent progress toward goals, encourages meaningful development over time, and facilitates carryover to real-world settings.

By supporting you and your child throughout the process, we foster a strong foundation for lifelong communication success. Our goal is to work together with you and your family to achieve the best possible outcomes for your child. Learn more about the importance of family involvement in a blog post by our speech-language pathologist, Rhonda, Your Role in Speech Therapy Is More Powerful Than You May Think, which includes a helpful video.

Clinical Areas of Focus

With extensive experience in the following clinical areas, we provide personalized therapy to address a wide range of communication needs. This includes children with no identified diagnosis, those with developmental or chromosomal differences, and those who may benefit from support in specific areas of communication development:

• Neurodiversity (e.g., autism, ADHD, learning differences, and other developmental or chromosomal conditions): Supporting individuals through tailored strategies for communication development. Our speech-language pathologist, Rhonda, is an approved provider on the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Provider List. While speech-language pathologists do not make formal diagnoses such as autism or ADHD (which falls within the scope of a medical doctor or psychologist), we can provide valuable support for your child’s communication development in ways that honour their unique thinking, learning, and communication styles:
  • Learn more about Rhonda’s approach in her blog post and video, What is Neurodiversity-Affirming Speech Therapy? | Speech Therapist Explains
  • Discover why understanding how their brain works can help children build confidence and communication skills in Rhonda’s blog post and video, The Power of Explaining “How Your Brain Works” to Kids
• Speech Sound Development: Helping children develop clearer speech by targeting articulation, phonology, and sound production.

• Motor Speech Needs (e.g., Childhood Apraxia of Speech – CAS): Providing specialized therapy for motor speech differences, with certification in the PROMPT approach to support speech production, clarity, and coordination.

• Language Development & Differences (e.g., Developmental Language Disorder – DLD): Supporting both understanding and expression of language, such as the ability to respond to directions and questions, vocabulary development, grammar use, and storytelling skills. Learn about two main language-learning styles (Analytic vs. Gestalt) and how a speech therapist can support your child’s communication journey in Rhonda’s blog post and video:
  • Gestalt Language Processing in Kids: Understanding How Your Child Learns Language

• Selective Mutism & Reluctant Talking: Providing support for children with selective mutism or those hesitant to speak in certain situations, helping them feel safe and supported in their communication. While a formal diagnosis of selective mutism is made by a psychologist or medical doctor (e.g., a pediatrician), a speech-language pathologist can provide valuable therapy and strategies to help your child communicate more comfortably and confidently. Rhonda can also collaborate with other professionals and guide families toward supportive community services if parents or guardians wish to pursue a diagnostic assessment. Learn more and watch a short video in Rhonda’s blog post:
  • Selective Mutism in Kids: What It Is and How Speech Therapy Can Help

• Social Communication Skills: Supporting children in developing the social use of language—how we communicate, connect, and build relationships with others. This includes helping children understand and use social cues (like body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions), take turns in conversation, interpret others’ perspectives, and express themselves effectively in a variety of social settings. Therapy is personalized to each child’s needs and may include play-based activities, role-playing, and real-life practice to build confidence and flexibility in social interactions. Social communication goals are often important for children with or without formal diagnoses, including those with autism, ADHD, social anxiety, or developmental language differences. Families are supported to carry strategies into everyday routines—at home, at school, and in the community—so that skills can grow naturally where children live, learn, and play.
• Stuttering: Helping children manage stuttering through evidence-based techniques that promote fluent speech and emotional well-being. Our specialized training includes the Lidcombe Program, a structured approach for children who stutter, and the Preschool Fluency Pathway, an indirect treatment protocol for young children in the early stages of stuttering. We’ve also created blog posts and short videos to help families feel informed, supported, and empowered—feel free to explore:
  • Talking About Stuttering with Your Child: Embracing Openness and Support
  • The Hidden Side of Stuttering – Why It Matters
  • Helping Your Child with Hidden Stuttering: What Parents Should Know

• Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC): Working with children who require alternative methods of communication, including AAC systems, to support their ability to express themselves. Learn more in our blog post, Not Bad, Just Misunderstood: How We Can Reframe Behaviour as a Form of Communication, which includes a short video where our speech-language pathologist, Rhonda, explains how behaviour can sometimes be the clearest message when other supports aren’t yet available—and how AAC can make communication more reliable and less frustrating.

• Literacy Development: Targeting key areas of literacy, such as sound awareness, reading comprehension, and written expression, to support academic success.

• Cognitive-Communication Development: Addressing skills related to memory, attention, problem-solving, and executive functioning to improve overall communication and learning.

Collaborative Care for Your Child

While speech-language pathologists do not provide formal medical diagnoses (such as autism, ADHD, or selective mutism), if you believe your child may benefit from further assessment by a medical doctor or psychologist, we are happy to collaborate with you and share information—with parent/guardian permission—to support your child’s overall development.

Comprehensive, Individualized Care

At Communicating Together Therapy & Wellness Associates, we are committed to providing comprehensive care across a variety of communication challenges. Our goal is to support your child’s growth and development with an individualized plan that fosters confidence, skills, and success for lifelong communication.

Learn More About Fees and Coverage

We understand that every family wants clarity about how services, payments, and coverage work. You can find detailed information about professional fee guidelines, payment policies, and available funding options on our Fees & Policies page.

Care Meets Possibilities!