Frequently Asked Questions
What is "relationship-based, neurodiversity-affirming, non-compliance-based therapy" anyway?
Relationship-based therapy means we take the time to get to know your child as an individual and adjust our approach accordingly. We meet the child where they are (physically and conceptually) rather than forcing the child to interact with us on adult-stipulated terms. Learning new skills takes vulnerability, and we must establish trust before we can expect someone to be vulnerable with us.
Neurodiversity-affirming means we support a child's strengths, their goals, and ultimately, their own autonomy. We build from strengths the child already has rather than seeing them as a collection of deficits to be remedied. Our goal is not to make a child appear "more neurotypical/less neurodivergent" but instead work to help support clients and their families as they move towards effective communication and self-determination.
Non-compliance-based therapy means that we respect bodily autonomy and do not physically touch or move a client's body during therapy sessions without their consent. We do not use behavioral strategies (token boards, withholding of preferred items, blocking stimming, etc.) to enforce compliance with a task, but instead we will modify the task or the environment rather than seek to "extinguish undesired behaviors". We aim to work with the child to support their sensory and emotional regulation to allow them to participate.
Do you treat autistic children, children with ADHD, children with Down syndrome, or children with other diagnoses? Do you treat children who do not have a formal diagnosis?
Yes! We treat children regardless of diagnosis, including those without a formal diagnosis. We are more concerned with how to support your child's communication skills, and a medical diagnosis doesn't actually tell us all that much about their communication needs or about the best way to support your child - that's what our evaluation is for.
How long do evaluations take?
Evaluations are typically conducted in one 1.5 hours session.
Can you work with my child if they get speech therapy services at school?
Yes, if you would like additional, individualized support, increased ability for parent participation and coaching, and closer communication with the speech therapist, you can choose to pursue private services outside of school-based services. Getting services with a private speech therapist will not impact your child's ability to receive the school-based services that they have been deemed eligible for.
Can you work with my child if they did NOT qualify for services at school?
Yes, as a private practice, we are not required to meet the same strict eligibility requirements that are required to qualify for school-based services, which are based on educational need and often require a student to measure significantly below their peers on standardized assessments. As a private practice, we only need to determine that the client is likely to benefit from our services based on our evaluation and the client's stated goals, which is independent from the school-based eligibility evaluation. Your child may still benefit from speech therapy services even if they were found to be ineligible for school-based services or if they had previously been eligible and later exited from school-based speech services.
How often do we come to therapy?
This will be determined in collaboration with the therapist following the evaluation process. Based on the goals and therapeutic approach, services will typically be recommended for 1-2 times per week for 45 minutes each session. 45 minute sessions allow for time to discuss progress, answer questions, provide parent training, and review home practice materials.
What is Natural Language Acquisition / Gestalt Language Processing, and how do I know if my child might benefit from that therapeutic approach?
Gestalt (geh-SHTALT) Language Processing is another way to process and learn language, where a person communicates using whole, memorized phrases, or "chunks" of language (also sometimes referred to as delayed echolalia or scripting). These "chunks" may be from media (books, movies, shows, songs) or phrases they have heard other people use, usually have rich intonation and emotional affect, and often cannot be taken literally but instead can require some investigative work by their communication partners to determine the meaning underlying the gestalt.
Natural Language Acquisition is a framework to help these communicators "break down" these "chunks" in a methodical way in order to guide them towards producing original, flexible, and self-generated language. Your child may benefit from the Natural Language Acquisition approach if you notice your child using scripts or whole "chunks" of language and/or you have tried other therapy approaches that attempt to start at the single word level and build up without much success - the issue may be the approach, not your child's ability to produce spontaneous, original language.
Is an evaluation required prior to beginning services?
In general, yes. An evaluation is required due to the highly individualized approach we take. Evaluations completed within the previous 6 months may be accepted in lieu of a new evaluation if the prior evaluation is determined to provide adequate diagnostic and therapeutic information related to your child's communication, at the sole discretion of Alameda Speech Therapy.
Can I leave my child with you and go somewhere else while you conduct therapy?
No, you must remain on the premises/in the immediate area for the duration of the session. Family involvement is encouraged!
What forms of payment are accepted?
Credit cards, Health Savings Accounts (HSA) cards, and medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards.
Do you accept insurance?
Alameda Speech Therapy is primarily a private-pay clinic, with the exception of specific insurance plan referrals - please contact us for more information. In general, we are considered an out-of-network provider for most insurance plans.
Services are provided on a private pay basis and payment is due at time of service. At your request, we will provide a Superbill (monthly invoice) that will contain the applicable CPT codes (related to procedures provided) and ICD-10 codes (related to diagnoses relevant to speech therapy). You may submit the Superbill to your insurance company to pursue out-of-network reimbursement where applicable based on your individual insurance plan's policies. Please contact your insurance company for more information regarding reimbursement. Alameda Speech Therapy can provide you with information about seeking out-of-network reimbursement but does not submit to insurance on your behalf.
Do I need a doctor's referral to begin speech therapy services?
If your are paying privately for services, you do not need a referral to begin services at Alameda Speech Therapy, though if you would like to pursue reimbursement from your insurance company, a doctor's referral is often advisable.