Yes, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Occupational Therapists (OT) can indeed assist if your child is having difficulty communicating.

A “late talker” is generally identified as a child who is 2 years old and is not combining 2 words together (e.g., “more milk”, “daddy, help”) and has a total vocabulary of less than 50 words. Many children who are late to talk catch up with their same-aged peers, while others continue to need support due to ongoing language difficulties. Parents working together with speech therapists can support their child and encourage their language development.

SLPs work with parents to support their “early communicators” by using strategies aimed at improving pre-verbal skills (i.e., communication-related skills that come before speaking) and encouraging functional vocabulary and combining words.

OTs can be a crucial part of early communication developmental, as they help view the child holistically and see how we can support regulation and sensory needs in a child that is not yet able to express themselves.

We love to work together to support your child in all areas of development!

Yes, Speech-Language Pathologists can play an important role in a child’s team when learning to read. We recognize the crucial link between language and literacy skills. Our literacy support services focus on developing reading, writing, and phonological awareness abilities in children.

Our therapists use evidence-based practices, such as phonics instruction, reading comprehension strategies, and multisensory approaches to help build a strong foundation for literacy development.

Private speech therapy services are not covered by Alberta Health Care (provincial health insurance); however, services provided by registered Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists are typically covered by extended health insurance plans (e.g., Alberta Blue Cross, Sunlife, etc.). We recommend checking your specific plan benefits.

Depending on your child’s age, they may qualify for Speech & Language or OT supports with AHS (Alberta Health Services).

You can call 1-888-925-4044 to make a referral for your child with AHS.

Yes, at Ruby Therapy Services, our Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Psychologists collaborate closely with schools, daycares and preschools in Edmonton, St. Albert, and surrounding areas. We regularly visit daycares and preschools to conduct speech, language and OT screenings. We are always happy to connect with school-based teams to ensure goals align and discuss how we can best support the child and family.

Is your preschool, daycare or school seeking services? Learn more about having multidisciplinary therapy services or assessments at your school or childcare centre here.

Your child doesn't need a formal assessment before starting therapy if they already have a recent one we can reference. However, we do need to spend time getting to know your child and informally observe their skills before setting goals together. While there's always some form of assessment involved—whether formal or informal—it doesn't have to be a lengthy standardized evaluation to begin services.

If you do need a formal assessment and report, such as those needed to qualify for services in preschool or school supports, we are more than happy to provide that.

You do not need a doctor’s note or referral to begin services.

Some insurance providers may ask for a referral before they will reimburse for services.

At Ruby Therapy Services, we are passionate about using neurodiversity-affirming practices. Our therapists participate in ongoing learning from autistic advocates to help inform our practices and approaches.

For pre-verbal children, or those who would benefit from alternate methods of input (i.e., hearing and receptive language) and output (i.e., using language), our speech pathologists have access to a variety of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) systems and can help identify the best system to begin building on your child’s communication strengths.

SLP & OT collaboration can be an amazing place to start, as we can work with your family to establish goals that mean the most to you.

We do not direct-bill insurance providers. Given the rise in costs, reducing the administrative load will help us keep our service rates as competitive as possible.

Most extended health benefit plans have some coverage for Speech-Language Pathology (it may be listed as “Speech Therapy”), Occupational Therapy, and Psychology.

The first appointment is a comprehensive assessment where your therapist will get to know you or your child, ask relevant background questions, and word to develop a plan moving forward. Typically, the first session is more “talking-heavy” than future sessions, as we determine what you and your family are looking for, and how we can support those goals.

We also love to incorporate you or your child’s unique interests and hobbies into the session, and get to know what you love!

Absolutely, we prefer it! For children and teenagers, parent/caregiver involvement is essential and encouraged. For adults, family members are welcome to attend with the client's consent. We believe in family-centered care and provide coaching to support skill development and carryover at home, school, and in the community.

Speech therapy is a specialized treatment provided by a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to help individuals communicate more effectively. At Ruby Therapy Services in St. Albert, our SLPs work with children, teens, and adults experiencing speech sound disorders, language delays, stuttering, voice problems, and communication difficulties. Whether your toddler is a late talker, your teenager struggles with fluency, or you're an adult recovering from stroke, speech-language therapy can help you reach your communication goals.

If your child isn't babbling by 12 months, using single words by 18 months, or combining two words by age 2, it's time to consult a pediatric speech therapist. Early intervention produces the best outcomes for speech and language delays. Our Edmonton-area SLPs assess and treat children as young as 6 months old. Don't wait to "see if they grow out of it" — an evaluation can determine whether your child needs speech therapy or simply monitoring.

A pediatric speech-language pathologist in St. Albert treats a wide range of communication and feeding challenges in children, including:

• Speech sound disorders — difficulty pronouncing sounds clearly (articulation)

• Language delays — limited vocabulary, trouble forming sentences, difficulty understanding

• Stuttering and fluency disorders — repetitions, blocks, prolongations

• Childhood apraxia of speech — motor planning difficulties

• Social communication challenges — pragmatic language, conversation skills

• Feeding and swallowing difficulties — picky eating, oral motor weakness

• Literacy challenges — reading, spelling, phonological awareness

Our SLPs create individualized treatment plans using play-based, evidence-informed approaches.

Yes, Ruby Therapy provides speech therapy for teens ages 13-18 at our clinic serving Edmonton and St. Albert. Teen speech therapy addresses stuttering and fluency disorders, articulation challenges, social communication skills, voice disorders, and literacy support for reading and writing difficulties. Our SLPs understand the unique needs of adolescents and create a supportive environment where teens feel comfortable working on their communication goals.

Our adult speech-language pathologists in Edmonton offer therapy for:

- Aphasia — language difficulties following stroke or brain injury

- Stuttering — fluency therapy using evidence-based approaches

- Cognitive-communication disorders — memory, attention, and executive function affecting communication

Adults deserve support too. Whether you're recovering abilities after a medical event or addressing lifelong communication challenges, our St. Albert clinic is here to help.

A speech and language assessment at Ruby Therapy Services ranges from $300-$740 depending on complexity, billed at our standard SLP rate of $148/hour. Simple articulation assessments may take 2 hours, while comprehensive language evaluations require more time. The assessment includes a detailed written report with diagnosis, recommendations, and treatment plan. Most extended health insurance plans cover speech-language pathology services.

Yes. Speech-Language Pathologists are trained experts in the language foundations of literacy. Reading difficulties often stem from weaknesses in phonological awareness — the ability to identify and manipulate sounds in words. Our Edmonton SLPs provide literacy support for children and teens struggling with reading, spelling, decoding, and reading comprehension using structured literacy approaches proven effective for dyslexia and language-based learning difficulties.

Speech therapy focuses on how your child produces sounds — articulation, pronunciation, voice quality, and fluency. Language therapy addresses understanding (receptive language) and expression (expressive language) — vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and social communication. Many children need both. Our St. Albert speech-language pathologists assess and treat the full range of speech and language disorders to help your child communicate clearly and confidently.

A pediatric occupational therapist (OT) helps children develop the skills needed for daily life, learning, and play. At Ruby Therapy in Edmonton, our registered OTs work with children and teens on:

• Fine motor skills — handwriting, scissors, buttons, zippers

• Sensory processing — over- or under-sensitivity to touch, sound, movement

• Self-care skills — dressing, feeding, toileting, hygiene

• Emotional regulation — managing big feelings, calming strategies

• Visual-motor integration — coordinating eyes and hands

• Executive functioning — organization, planning, attention

OT helps children participate fully in home, school, and community activities.

Consider an OT evaluation in St. Albert if your child:

• Avoids or struggles with handwriting, coloring, or cutting

• Has difficulty with buttons, zippers, or shoe-tying

• Is extremely picky about food textures or clothing tags

• Overreacts to sounds, touch, or busy environments

• Struggles to sit still, constantly seeks movement

• Has frequent meltdowns or difficulty calming down

• Falls behind peers in self-care skills like dressing

• Has poor balance or seems clumsy

Trust your instincts — early occupational therapy intervention makes a significant difference.

Yes, Ruby Therapy offers occupational therapy for teens (ages 13-18) at our clinic serving St. Albert and Edmonton. Teen OT addresses handwriting and note-taking challenges, executive functioning skills for school success, sensory processing difficulties, self-regulation strategies, and daily living skills for independence. Our OTs understand adolescent needs and create treatment plans that support your teen's academic performance and personal growth.

Sensory processing therapy helps children whose brains have difficulty organizing sensory information — touch, sound, movement, taste, smell, and body awareness. Children with sensory processing challenges may be oversensitive (avoiding textures, covering ears) or under sensitive (seeking intense movement, not noticing pain). Our Edmonton occupational therapists use sensory integration therapy to help children respond appropriately to sensory input, improving their ability to focus, regulate emotions, and participate in daily activities.

Yes. Pediatric occupational therapists address feeding challenges including extreme picky eating, food texture aversions, oral motor difficulties, and mealtime behavior problems. Our St. Albert OTs evaluate the sensory, motor, and behavioral factors affecting your child's eating and develop individualized treatment plans. Feeding therapy helps expand food acceptance, improve oral motor skills, and reduce mealtime stress for the whole family.

Occupational therapy at Ruby Therapy Services is $148/hour (45 minutes direct + 15 minutes indirect time) or $98 for a 40-minute session (30 minutes direct + 10 minutes indirect). OT assessments are billed at the same hourly rate. Most extended health insurance plans cover registered Occupational Therapists, and FSCD funding may be available for eligible children. We provide receipts for insurance reimbursement after each session.

Ruby Therapy Services provides counselling and mental health therapy for children, teens, adults, couples, and families at our St. Albert clinic. Our Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs) help with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, trauma, grief, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, life transitions, and stress management. Whether you need individual therapy, couples counselling, or family support, our counsellors provide compassionate, evidence-based care.

A Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is a mental health professional holding a master's degree in counselling with national certification through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. CCCs complete rigorous training and supervised practice in evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Many Edmonton-area insurance plans cover CCC services under psychology or mental health benefits — check your specific policy for coverage details.

Yes, our St. Albert counsellors offer child counselling using play therapy — a developmentally appropriate approach where children express feelings and process experiences through play. Play therapy effectively addresses anxiety, behavioral challenges, trauma, grief, family changes, and social difficulties in children ages 4-12. Our therapists create a safe, supportive environment where children can work through big emotions and develop healthy coping skills.

Yes, Ruby Therapy provides counselling for teenagers at our clinic serving Edmonton and St. Albert. Our therapists specialize in adolescent mental health, helping teens navigate anxiety, depression, academic stress, peer relationships, family conflict, identity exploration, and self-esteem challenges. We adapt evidence-based approaches for teens, respecting their growing need for independence while providing the support they need during these critical years.

Adult counselling at our St. Albert clinic addresses:

• Anxiety — generalized worry, panic attacks, social anxiety

• Depression — persistent sadness, low motivation, hopelessness

• Stress and burnout — work-life balance, overwhelm

• Trauma and PTSD — processing difficult experiences

• Grief and loss — death, relationship endings, life changes

• Life transitions — career changes, parenthood, divorce, retirement

• Self-esteem — building confidence, self-compassion

Our Edmonton-area counsellors provide a supportive space to develop insight, build coping strategies, and create meaningful change.

Yes, Ruby Therapy provides couples counselling for partners wanting to strengthen their relationship or work through challenges. Our St. Albert couples therapists help with communication breakdown, conflict patterns, trust issues, intimacy concerns, and major life transitions. We use evidence-based approaches to help couples understand their patterns, rebuild connection, and create a healthier relationship. Premarital counselling is also available.

Yes, our Edmonton counsellors offer family therapy to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen family relationships. Family counselling helps with parent-child difficulties, blended family challenges, sibling conflict, parenting strategies, and navigating major family transitions. We work with the whole family system to create healthier patterns and a more connected home environment.

Counselling at Ruby Therapy Services is $155 per session, which includes 50 minutes of direct client time plus 10 minutes of indirect time for clinical documentation and session preparation. This rate applies to individual therapy, couples counselling, and family sessions. Many extended health plans cover Canadian Certified Counsellors — verify with your insurer that "CCC" is listed under your mental health benefits.

A psychoeducational assessment evaluates cognitive abilities (IQ), academic skills, and learning processes to identify learning disabilities, ADHD, giftedness, or other factors affecting academic performance. Our Edmonton psychologists provide comprehensive assessments for children, teens, and adults. The detailed report includes diagnosis, school accommodation recommendations, and intervention strategies. Cost: $2,190.

Yes, Ruby Therapy provides comprehensive multidisciplinary autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments combining evaluation by a registered Psychologist and Speech-Language Pathologist. Both clinicians are trained in the ADOS-2, the gold-standard autism assessment tool. Our St. Albert assessments provide diagnostic clarity, detailed developmental profiles, and actionable recommendations for support. Cost: $2,942.

No referral is required to access speech therapy, occupational therapy, or counselling services in Alberta. You can contact Ruby Therapy Services directly to book an assessment or begin therapy. Some insurance plans may require a physician's referral for reimbursement — check your specific policy. Our team can help you understand any documentation requirements.

Most extended health insurance plans in Edmonton and St. Albert cover services from registered Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. Coverage for Canadian Certified Counsellors varies by plan. Common insurers include Alberta Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, and Canada Life. We provide receipts after each session for easy insurance submission. We recommend verifying your coverage limits before beginning services.

Yes, Ruby Therapy Services is an approved FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities) provider. We offer direct billing to FSCD and work with family-managed contracts. FSCD can cover speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other services for eligible children under 18 with disabilities. Our St. Albert clinic serves FSCD families throughout Edmonton and surrounding areas.

Therapy Assistants deliver treatment under the supervision of a registered SLP or OT at a reduced rate of $87/hour. They implement therapy plans designed by the registered clinician, making frequent therapy sessions more affordable for Edmonton and St. Albert families. Therapy Assistants are ideal for practice-intensive goals.

Ruby Therapy Services is located at 7 St Anne Street #104, St. Albert, Alberta T8N 2X4. We serve families throughout St. Albert, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, and surrounding communities. Our clinic offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling, and psychology assessments in a welcoming, family-friendly environment.

Yes, parent involvement is encouraged and often essential for the best outcomes. For speech therapy and occupational therapy, parents typically observe sessions and learn strategies to support their child at home. For child counselling, therapists meet with parents periodically while maintaining the child's therapeutic space. For teen therapy, parents are involved in intake and progress updates while respecting adolescent confidentiality.