Speech therapy from the comfort of home
Shine Therapy now offers online speech therapy for kids anywhere in Texas. Your child gets the same one-on-one care, the same therapist every week, and the same focus on progress, all through a secure video visit from your living room.
Is online therapy a good fit for my child?
For many kids, it’s a great fit. Teletherapy tends to work especially well for school-age children, who are usually ready to focus and engage through a screen. It’s also a great option for families who:
Live outside Waco or in a rural area where speech therapy is hard to find.
Have packed schedules and can’t add another drive to the week
Want to keep therapy going during a busy season or summer break.
For children ages 3 to 5, we’ll decide together whether online sessions make sense. For children under 3, we recommend in-person therapy. Either way, we’ll look at your child’s needs and recommend online, in-person, or a mix of both.
What we work on online
Many areas of speech therapy can be addressed online, and we decide what’s appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Articulation (speech sounds) and language skills are among the areas most readily addressed through teletherapy, because they can be targeted effectively with interactive activities, visual supports, and structured practice led by your therapist.
Not sure if your child’s needs are a good match for online therapy? Just ask. We’ll give you an honest recommendation.
What to expect
Before your first session
After you fill out our Tell Us About Your Child form, we’ll call to learn more about your child and schedule an evaluation. If you live in the Waco area, we prefer to do the evaluation in person. For families farther away, we can complete the full evaluation online using a digital assessment portal.
Before the first online visit, we’ll send you:
- A secure Google Meet link for your session
- A short consent form for teletherapy
- Simple tips for setting up your space
There’s nothing to buy or install on a computer. Just click the link to join from your web browser. On a phone or tablet, the free Google Meet app works best.
Setting up your space
You don’t need anything fancy. Here’s what helps:
- A laptop, desktop, or tablet with a camera and microphone. A phone works in a pinch, but a bigger screen is better for kids.
- A reliable internet connection
- A quiet spot with good lighting, a table, and a chair where your child can sit comfortably
- Headphones with a microphone for older kids, if you have them (they help your child hear clearly and cut background noise)
- Siblings, pets, and TVs in another room when possible
During the session
Sessions are 30 minutes, one-on-one, with your child’s therapist. We use interactive games, digital activities, visual supports, and screen sharing to keep kids engaged and practicing. Your therapist can see and hear your child clearly and will give feedback in real time, just like in the clinic.
Your role as the parent
For younger children, you’ll sit beside them to help them stay focused and engaged. For older kids, you’ll help them log in and get settled, then stay close by in case they need you. Either way, one of the best parts of teletherapy is getting to see exactly what your child is working on
After the session
Your therapist will share a quick update and a few simple practice ideas for the week. Little bits of practice at home make a big difference, and we’ll keep it doable for busy families.
Safe, private, and secure
Your child’s privacy matters to us. Online sessions happen through Google Meet on a HIPAA-compliant Google Workspace account, and sessions are never recorded without your permission.
Teletherapy questions
Does online speech therapy really work?
Yes. Research has found that online speech therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for many children and goals. The keys are a good fit for your child, a consistent therapist, and parents who are part of the process. If we ever feel your child would do better in person, we’ll tell you.
How young is too young for teletherapy?
Teletherapy usually works best for school-age children. For kids ages 3 to 5, it depends on the child, and we’ll help you decide. For children under 3, we recommend in-person therapy.
Do we have to live in Waco?
No. We can see children anywhere in Texas online. Because of state licensing rules, your child needs to be physically located in Texas during each session.
Can we switch between online and in-person sessions?
Yes. Some families like a mix, such as online sessions during a busy school season and in-person visits in the summer. Your child keeps the same therapist either way.
How much does teletherapy cost?
Online sessions are the same base rate as in-person sessions, with no travel fee. We’ll go over rates on your first phone call. See our Payment Options page for the ways you can pay.
What if our internet goes out?
It happens! If we lose connection, we’ll do our best to reconnect and make up the rest of the session. Sessions are charged at the full rate. If connection problems keep coming up, we’ll talk with you about whether in-person or a different setup would work better for your child.
Ready to get started?
Tell us a little about your child, and we’ll reach out to talk through whether online, in-person, or a mix of both is the right fit.