Accepting new patients
Most major insurance — not Kaiser only
RCEB vendorized
Scholarship support available
Clinical services · Happy Talkers
Speech therapy for young children
When a child struggles to communicate — whether they're not yet talking, hard to understand, or having trouble with language — early speech therapy makes a meaningful difference. Our speech-language pathologists work with children from 18 months through age 10, coordinated alongside our other clinical services when needed.
Speech therapy at a glance
Late talking & language delays
Articulation & intelligibility
AAC & alternative communication
Feeding & oral motor
Social communication
Fluency & stuttering
🕐 Ages served: 18 months – 10 years
✓ Most major insurance accepted
✓ RCEB vendorized (PB1225)
✓ Scholarship support available
✓ RCEB vendorized (PB1225)
✓ Scholarship support available
About this service
What speech therapy addresses
Speech-language therapy helps children develop the communication skills they need to connect with the world around them. At Happy Talkers, our speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work on far more than just pronunciation — they address the full range of how children understand and use language, express their needs, and connect socially.
No prior diagnosis is required to start. If your pediatrician has raised concerns, or if you've noticed something feels off, that's enough reason to reach out.
“No single discipline solves developmental challenges alone. Speech therapy at Happy Talkers is coordinated with our behavioral, occupational, and infant development teams when your child needs more than one kind of support.”
What we treat
Late talking / language delay
Articulation disorders
Expressive language delays
Receptive language delays
Autism-related communication
AAC / alternative communication
Feeding & oral motor challenges
Social communication skills
Fluency & stuttering
Pre-literacy & phonological awareness
Who it’s for
Speech therapy across every early stage
We serve children from 18 months through age 10. The earlier concerns are addressed, the better the outcomes — but it’s never too late to start.
18 months – 2 years
Early talkers
Not yet using words consistently, limited vocabulary, not pointing or gesturing, or hard to understand even by family members.
3 – 5 years
Preschool age
Difficulty forming sentences, pronunciation concerns, struggles following directions, or challenges connecting with peers through language.
6 – 8 years
Early school age
Reading readiness, social communication, continued articulation work, fluency, or language support connected to an IEP or school evaluation.
9 – 10 years
Upper elementary
Ongoing articulation, fluency, social language, or continued support for children who began therapy earlier and are working toward discharge goals.
What to expect
How sessions work
Speech therapy at Happy Talkers is play-based, child-led, and family-informed. Here’s what the process looks like from your first contact to ongoing care.
1
Intake evaluation
Your child meets with a speech-language pathologist for an initial evaluation. We assess current communication skills, identify areas of need, and gather your observations as a parent. This is where we build the baseline.
2
Individualized treatment plan
Based on the evaluation, your SLP develops a plan with specific, measurable goals tailored to your child's age, needs, and family priorities. If other services are indicated, we coordinate with our clinical team from the start.
3
Ongoing sessions
Sessions are typically 30–60 minutes, one to multiple times per week depending on the plan. Therapy is play-based and engaging for young children. Parents receive regular progress updates and home strategies to support carryover.
4
Progress review
We reassess regularly and adjust goals as your child grows. If your child is receiving other services at Happy Talkers, your SLP participates in interdisciplinary care conferences to keep the whole team aligned.
5
Family coaching
Progress happens between sessions too. Your SLP will coach you on how to support communication at home — during meals, play, and daily routines. Parents are active partners in the therapy process.
✓
No diagnosis required
You don’t need an autism diagnosis, a school evaluation, or a referral to start speech therapy. If you have concerns, contact us and we’ll help figure out next steps.
Speech therapy is one part of an integrated system.
Many children who need speech therapy also benefit from occupational therapy, behavioral support, or a diagnostic evaluation. At Happy Talkers, these services are coordinated — not siloed. Your child’s clinicians talk to each other.
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Behavioral therapy (ABA)
Infant development
Diagnostics (ADOS)
Parent questions
Frequently asked questions
Questions we hear often from families getting started.
Common signs include: not babbling or using sounds consistently by 18 months, no single words by 18 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, being hard to understand by unfamiliar adults at age 3, or difficulty following simple directions. If your pediatrician has raised concerns — or if something feels off to you — that's enough reason to reach out. Early intervention produces the best outcomes, and you don't need a diagnosis to start.
No. Families can contact us directly — no referral needed to get started. However, some insurance plans do require a physician referral for coverage purposes. Our intake team will let you know if that applies to your plan and help you navigate it. If your pediatrician is referring your child, they can submit directly through our provider hub.
Yes — we accept most major commercial insurance plans. We are also vendorized through the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) under vendor number PB1225. Scholarship support is available for families who need it. We verify your coverage before your first appointment so there are no surprises. Visit our Insurance & Access page for the current list of accepted plans.
Session frequency depends on your child's needs, goals, and insurance authorization. Most children are seen one to three times per week. Your speech-language pathologist will recommend a frequency at the intake evaluation and adjust over time as your child makes progress.
It depends on the child's age and what works best for them. For younger children, parents are typically present and actively involved. For older children, parents may observe from outside the room or join at the end of the session for a brief coaching segment. Either way, you'll receive clear guidance on how to support your child's goals at home.
This is one of the most important things Happy Talkers does differently. If your child's speech-language pathologist identifies that occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, or a diagnostic evaluation would be beneficial, they coordinate directly with those teams here. You don't have to find separate providers and hope they talk to each other — we work together from the start.
Duration varies widely depending on the child, the severity of the delay, and how much support is happening at home. Some children reach their goals in a few months; others benefit from longer-term support. Your SLP will give you a realistic picture at the evaluation and revisit it regularly as your child progresses.
For families
Ready to get started?
Tell us about your child and we’ll help find the right services, verify your insurance, and connect you with our intake team — before your first appointment. No diagnosis needed.
Get started →
For providers
Referring a patient?
Submit a referral online, fax to (925) 236-9712, or call (925) 829-9555. We handle insurance verification and contact the family within 1 business day.
Submit referral →