Amelia HallMy friend knew she’d picked the wrong speech therapist for her child when he casually told her, “Just relax and speak clearly,” as if it were that easy.
After weeks of silence and confusing exercises, it was clear something wasn’t quite right.
Unfortunately, this story isn’t unique. Many people—parents and adults alike—struggle to find a speech therapist who truly understands their needs.
So, I decided to enlist the help of the experts at Waterview Vancouver to help me find therapists who genuinely make a difference.
Now, it’s time to share our findings with you.
How much does it cost to see a speech therapist in Vancouver?
It costs at least 100 CAD per hour to see a speech therapist in Vancouver.
This is just an estimate. The actual price will depend on whether your insurance plan covers the fee, how many sessions you have, and more.
1. Shira Meltzer of True North Speech
Address: 1236 W 8th Ave #318
Contact Details: +1 778-949-2044
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 7 AM to 7 PM
- Friday – 7 AM to 4 PM
We’re delighted that Shira Meltzer offers all her speech therapy services online. There are no waiting lists or locked-in contracts—just convenient, accessible support.
What truly stands out is how she brings over 20 years of experience. Working with kids between 4 and 19 years old, her knowledge speaks volumes about her expertise.
Her expertise in supporting children with autism and motor planning difficulties is remarkable. This includes children with sequencing actions or coordinating movement problems.
We also admire her expertise in articulation disorders, especially those tricky sounds. We’re especially fond of how she helps kids nail that complex “rolling r” sound.
One of the things we really appreciate is how she creates a friendly and relaxed environment where kids feel at ease. We’re also pleased that she utilizes games, songs, and fun activities to motivate children.
And let’s not forget that she offers financial aid guidance, which is fantastic. This makes her services accessible to a broader range of families.
However, a few parents feel that Shira’s services are more expensive than other therapists in the city. It’s worth considering if you’re working with a tighter budget.
Responsive and helpful
“Shira and her team are incredibly responsive and helpful. The speech therapy sessions with Grace were engaging and interactive, always accompanied by practical homework to reinforce learning. After several sessions, I’ve noticed significant improvement in my 6-year-old son’s speech.”
–Cristopher & Summer Fan Google Reviews
Knowledgeable, kind, and patient
“Shira was amazing at helping our son increase his communication through online sessions. The sessions were always accomodating to his needs and our schedules. She is knowledgeable, kind, and patient! With her help he went from non verbal to full speech!”
-H Coltman Google Review
2. Sue Wilson of Arbutus Speech Therapy
Address: 2033 W 7th Ave
Contact Details: +1 778-827-1043
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 7 PM
We really appreciate how flexible Arbutus Speech Therapy is—they offer at-home, at-school, online, and in-community services.
Sue Wilson, one of their therapists, stood out to us. Her extensive experience working with adults and children in early intervention is impressive.
In fact, many parents shared how their children made significant progress after just two sessions. It’s always great to hear that kind of feedback.
We especially admire Sue’s use of effective methods like Hanen’s “It Takes Two to Talk,” PROMPT therapy, and SCERTS. These programs work wonders for kids and teach parents how to engage with their children through play.
Additionally, we love that she’s certified in PESL (pronouncing English as a Second Language). These help people improve their presentation, leadership, and written communication skills.
However, one aspect we found challenging was getting in touch with her at times. It took us a while to receive a response from her via email or phone.
Offers a unique approach to speech therapy
“I worked with Sue over the course of several speech therapy sessions, and the transformation has been incredible. She not only helped me improve my pronunciation and communication skills but also guided me through a deeper process of understanding myself. Her approach is truly unique, blending speech techniques with cultural, emotional, and psychological insights. Sue was able to tap into my cultural background and fears, helping me reconnect with my roots and find confidence in expressing myself in English. One of the most impactful lessons was learning the power of ‘pauses’—Sue explained how great speakers use pauses to convey emotion and clarity. This has made me much more intentional about how I deliver my ideas. Her advice on practicing sounds like TH, Z, S, and V has been invaluable, and I’m committed to continuing this progress.
Thanks to Sue, I’ve seen major improvements not only in my speaking but also in listening and interacting with others.☺️❤️ I highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their communication skills—she’s not just a speech therapist, she’s a mentor who will help you find your voice!”
–Jung Kwon, Google Reviews
Provides practical exercises to work on
“Sue has been great to work with. I have a strong accent that I wanted to work on. Since moving to Canada I have found that people have a harder time understanding what I’m saying, especially when it comes to the sounds I find difficult to pronounce as my native language doesn’t have them. Sue has identified the sounds that make my accent strong, explained perfectly where the issues were, and gave me exercises to work on both during and outside of the session. I don’t want to lose my accent but to improve it, so I sound more professional and comprehensive. I feel very comfortable with Sue and she makes the sessions fly by.”
–Carmen P, Google Reviews
3. Vinni Panikkar of Granville Island Speech and Language Therapy Clinic
Address: 206/208, 1807 Maritime Mews
Contact Details: +1 604-338-9682
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 9 AM to 7:30 PM
- Thursday – 4:30 PM to 8 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 9 AM to 8 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 6 PM
Granville Island Speech and Language Therapy stands out with its two lovely therapy animals: Luna (the dog) and Gracie (the bunny). We love how they make therapy feel less intimidating, especially for kids.
Aside from that, one of their therapists with 35 years of experience—Vinni Panikkar—also really impressed us. Her expertise in work across all ages is perfect for families or groups.
Her work with people struggling with speech production problems was also impressive. Several clients shared their success stories, many speaking fluently within just weeks of therapy.
We were also pleased with how smooth our free consultation went. She quickly provided a personalized treatment plan that aligned with our needs.
Additionally, we liked how flexible Vinni was with her schedule. She offers session lengths ranging from 30 minutes to an hour.
While we found her service compelling, we felt that the progress tracking and feedback lacked sufficient detail. It’s worth considering for those wanting a more thorough overview of their progress.
Patient and professional
“Great help! Vinni is very patient and professional in perfecting any single problems that I am have with my mother tongue and English. It’s very recommended for everyone, particularly young adults like me.”
–Thien Huynh, Google Reviews
Offers a warm and friendly environment
“My son has been seeing Vinni for speech therapy since August and the growth in just this short amount of time is unreal. I could see a change in him from even just after a couple of sessions. If you’re looking for speech therapy this is your place! It’s a very warm and friendly environment and I can’t wait to see how much more he will grow.”
–Mary Stratidakis, Google Reviews
4. Andrea Lau of Speech Vancouver
Address: 5654 Tyne St
Contact Details: +1 604-725-8359
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 4 PM to 8 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 8 AM to 8 PM
What stood out to us most about Andrea Lau is her dedication to serving diverse communities. We love that she offers services in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. It makes her therapy accessible to a broader range of clients.
We also liked that she offers both home-based therapy and telehealth appointments. This provides her clients flexibility to choose the most convenient option for their needs.
We were especially impressed by how Andrea has helped people manage stuttering with the Lidcombe Program. It’s a practical, supportive approach that has worked wonders for many.
Her skills in using the Hanen “It Takes Two to Talk” program are top-notch. This parent-based intervention helps families develop strong communication skills with their children.
Plus, we like that she stays up-to-date with the latest research and practices in speech-language pathology. She’s constantly learning and evolving, which is key in this field.
One thing we were a bit disappointed about was her limited availability. Many clients mentioned their frustration in scheduling an appointment with her. This is something to keep in mind when seeking therapy.
Provides great in-person sessions
“I am glad that my kid is so lucky to get Andrea’s help from the very early age. Andrea is incredibly knowledgeable, encouraging, and enthusiastic. We had great sessions in person and through virtual meeting. Following her professional guidance, I saw rapid progress of my kid from speaking out the first word to exceeding the average milestone. I am so happy with my kid’s progress and highly recommend Andrea to anyone who needs speech therapist!”
–Nicholas Jeffrey Google Review
Provides well planned and comprehensive lessons
“Andrea is an incredible SLP. Her exuberant, positive and energetic approach is just what any child needs. We have tried other SLP’s with little change. Andrea is wonderfully cheerful working with my child, providing constant feedback and encouragement. She manages to hold my child’s attention for the whole lesson, which is a feat in itself. Andrea is very professional with her well planned, comprehensive lessons. She has a passion for what she does and thank goodness for her because I don’t know what we would have done. It’s quite simple. If you want progress, choose Andrea.
Thank you Andrea!”
–Marino Ben Dan Google Review
5. Jessica Sproat of Van Speech
Address: 3505 W 7th Ave
Contact Details: +1 604-356-8250
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 7 PM
We really love how Jessica Sproat helps children with communication challenges using assistive technologies like iPads and apps such as TouchChat and Proloquo2Go. These tools allow children to express themselves using pictures, symbols, or text.
It’s good to know she’s also a master at incorporating functional communication skills into daily life.
We appreciate how she doesn’t just focus on speech and language in a clinical setting—she ensures children can apply those skills in real-life situations. This makes her approach all the more effective.
We were also delighted by her experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Her wide range of expertise makes her a valuable resource for families facing diverse challenges.
Her expertise in early communication skills, language development, and motor programming techniques is incredibly valuable. She clearly understands each child’s needs and tailors her approach accordingly.
The only drawback is that Jessica’s administrative processes sometimes feel inefficient. While she excels at creating tailored treatment plans, the paperwork can be cumbersome.
A kind and knowledgeable therapist
“We were feeling extremely stressed about our son’s eating and swallowing before we found Van Speech. Jessica helped us tackle small things at a time, and taught us a lot. We feel more confident is using strategies and problem solving at home and our son has made a lot of progress since we started working with Jessica. She has been extremely kind and is very knowledgeable in the areas of feeding and swallowing and language development.”
–Anne Reid Google Review
Provides practical tools and feedback
“Jessica has provided our family with wonderful tools and feedback that have helped encourage our little boy to be more vocal. In a short time we were already seeing positive changes and progress.”
–Lori Chalk Google Review
