At Let’s Talk Guelph, we are a team of devoted and highly trained health care professionals, including Speech-Language Pathologists, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists and Support-Care Professionals. We deliver a multidisciplinary approach to providing assessments and treatment for adults & children of all ages, with a wide variety of needs, including:
- Speech/Phonological delays
- Receptive and Expressive Language delays (“understanding” and “output”)
- Apraxia of Speech
- Dysfluency (“stuttering”)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Written Output
- Reading/Writing delays in school aged children
All of our therapists are licensed professionals.
We offer services at a variety of times convenient for families.
Services are usually covered by private extended health care plans.
We provide structured therapy and a child-friendly environment in “theme-based” therapy rooms.
Our mission is to help your child improve their speech and language skills and academic functioning to the best of their potential.
We are here to help. We will take good care of you.
Deb McKelvey – M.Sc. M.H.Sc.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Founder of Let’s Talk Guelph Clinic
Deb has great experience treating children of all ages, with a variety of communication delays. As the founder of Let’s Talk Guelph (formerly Briggs Speech and Language clinic), she has been in full-time private practice for over 20 years, helping families and their children reach their communicative potential. She received her first Masters of Science degree in Neuroanatomy from the University of Guelph in conjunction with the Playfair Neuroscience Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, in 1987. Deb holds a Clinical Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto. She continues to treat children with phonological delays, articulation, receptive and expressive language delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder, using a structured Verbal Behavior approach to therapy. As the creator of the “I Just Want To Read!” reading remediation programme, she continues to change lives and help children achieve academic success.
Contact Deb here.
Deveney D’Souza – MSpPathSt
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Deveney received her Master of Speech Pathology Studies degree from The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Guelph is home, and she’s excited to be back in the community she grew up in! Deveney has a wide range of experience working with children and adults, including clients with early speech and language delays, articulation, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), literacy difficulties, aphasia, and brain injury. Her interest areas include literacy, language development, AAC, and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Deveney combines a creative and friendly approach, with a focus on evidence based practice, to provide quality, family centred-service that engages her clients and creates meaningful improvements in their lives.
If you have any questions, come talk to her! Deveney has experience in the Hanen “It Takes Two to Talk” program for early language delay, and in the “Picture Exchange Communication System” (PECS) for children with ASD.
Contact Deveney here.
Nicole Bauman, M.Sc. [ON LEAVE]
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Nicole received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from McMaster University in 2020 and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science of Language from McMaster. Nicole started volunteering at Let’s Talk Guelph a number of years ago, during her undergrad, and completed her final Speech-Language Pathology placement here, so she is very excited to officially be working here as an SLP!
Nicole has a wide variety of experience in child and adult communication disorders, but has a particular interest in literacy, language development, and speech sound disorders. Nicole takes an evidence-based, client-centred approach and looks forward to working with families to help their children make meaningful changes in their communication.
Nicole is trained to provide literacy intervention that follows the “I Just Want to Read!” programme and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy offered at Let’s Talk Guelph.
Contact Nicole here.
Janelle Smith
Teacher/Instructor
Janelle received her Bachelor of Education from Wilfred Laurier University in 2011 and holds a Bachelor in Applied Science majoring in Child, Youth and Family Studies from the University of Guelph. She has taught in the classroom for several years and has worked one-on-one with individuals with learning disabilities. Janelle loves teaching kids how to read and building their confidence as readers! She creates a positive, encouraging and fun space for kids to learn how to read.
Janelle is trained to provide literacy intervention in the “I Just Want to Read!” programme.
Contact Janelle here.
Emily Kovach –M.Sc.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Emily Kovach received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from McMaster University in 2021 and holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Cognitive Science of Language & French from McMaster. Born and raised in Guelph, Emily is thrilled to be working back in her hometown, assisting individuals of all ages to achieve their communication and literacy goals. Emily has experience working with both children and adults with communication disorders, with a special interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), speech sound disorders, and literacy. Emily strongly believes in the importance of developing meaningful goals and tailoring each therapy session to support the needs and interests of each individual- she loves finding creative ways to make therapy sessions fun and engaging for all!
Emily is trained to provide literacy intervention that follows the “I Just Want to Read!” programme offered at Let’s Talk Guelph.
Contact Emily here.
Christina Meier –M.Sc. [ON LEAVE]
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Christina received her Masters of Science degree in Speech-Language Therapy in 2018 from the University of Reading, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph. She worked in York Region and Toronto for a few years but is now excited to have returned to Guelph. Christina has experience working with school-aged children with articulation, fluency and resonance disorders, as well as working with adults with speech, communication and dysphagia needs. Christina is enthusiastic about tailoring her treatment to the individual in order to provide meaningful, client-centred therapy.
Christina is trained to provide literacy intervention that follows the “I Just Want to Read!” programme offered at Let’s Talk Guelph.
Contact Christina here.
Renée Kearney –B.A., M.Sc., S-LP (C)
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO
Renée earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 2000, and her Masters of Science from the University of British Columbia in 2002. She has worked in a variety of settings in Alberta, Ontario and overseas, including preschool initiatives, children’s treatment centres and multidisciplinary teams. She addresses the range of communication needs of the preschool population such as speech, language, social communication, pre-literacy and low-tech AAC. Renée uses a framework of self-regulation and a play-based approach that makes use of movement and sensory experiences to create connection and optimal learning.
Renée has been trained in a variety of techniques and approaches that have influenced her intervention style including, Hanen programs (It Takes Two to Talk, Target Word, More Than Words), DIR (Introductory Level), Shanker Self-Regulation, PROMPT (Introduction and Bridging Levels), and various trainings focusing on the use of sensory experiences in learning and self-regulation.
Contact Renée here.
Jon Crawford
Clinic Director
Jon brings a varied background to the clinic, including sales management and mediation (the latter of which he has, thankfully, yet to draw upon at Let’s Talk Guelph). He obtained his B.A. in English from the University of Guelph and still loves to read, although – these days – with children, it’s more likely to be Mo Willems than Mark Twain…
Jon is happy to help with anything and everything. Contact him here.