Frequently asked questions

You can book your evaluation online through our website and client portal. If you have questions first, you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation. The consultation is a short phone call to talk through your concerns and see if we are a good fit. The evaluation is a 1-hour video session that gives us a full picture of your needs and a plan for therapy.

No. You can book with us directly. If your insurance plan requires a referral for out-of-network reimbursement, let us know. We can help you request a referral from your doctor and share our evaluation report with them.

No. Our calendar is open, so you can book your evaluation for a day and time that works best for you. Therapy sessions usually start 1 week after your evaluation.

We spend about 15 minutes on the phone talking about what you are noticing, answering your questions, and explaining how teletherapy works. There is no cost and no commitment. If we are not the right fit, we will provide resources to help you find other providers in your area.

The evaluation begins with a conversation about your concerns and your child's history. Your speech therapist then observes your child at play, talks with them, and completes testing as needed. For adults, the evaluation includes a conversation and testing as needed. At the end of the session, we review the results and our recommendations with you. Your written report will be ready within 3 business days.

Speech therapy may help if your child:

• Has trouble following directions or answering questions
• Is hard to understand when they talk
• Is not talking yet or uses only a few words
• Is a very selective or picky eater

If you are not sure, a free 15-minute consultation is an easy place to start.

Speech therapy may help if you:

• Stutter, or feel that stuttering holds you back at work or in conversation
• Have a voice that often sounds hoarse, strained, or tired, or gives out by the end of the day
• Are hard for others to understand, or are often asked to repeat yourself
• Have trouble finding words or putting your thoughts into sentences
• Use, or may need, a device or app to help you communicate
• Want to speak with more clarity and confidence in presentations, meetings, or interviews

If you are not sure, a free 15-minute consultation is an easy place to start.

Yes. We complete our own evaluation so we have a full, current picture of your child's needs and can build a plan from it. If you have past reports, you are welcome to share them.

After you book, you will get an email from our client portal with intake forms, consent forms, and a telehealth consent. These forms take about 15 minutes to complete. Please submit them before your evaluation so your speech therapist can prepare.

Sessions happen over a secure video call on our online platform, from your home or another private, quiet space, such as a work office. You get a link before each session and join from your computer or tablet. Your speech therapist uses a variety of online materials, along with everyday things you already have at home.

Yes. Research shows that speech therapy by video leads to results similar to in-person therapy for many children and adults. Because sessions happen at home, the skills your child practices carry over into everyday life. Read the study: in-person and telepractice outcomes compared (Musaji et al., 2021)

Yes. For teletherapy to have the most impact, we ask that a caregiver is part of every session. Your speech therapist coaches you in the moment on strategies you can use every day, in your child's natural environment. We use your child's favorite toys and activities, movement breaks, and things already in your home to keep them engaged. When their attention drifts, we gently guide them back to the task or switch to a new activity.

Yes. A parent or caregiver is part of every session. You learn the strategies as we go, which helps your child practice between visits.

You need a laptop, desktop, or tablet with a camera and microphone. A phone works too, though the screen is small. You also need a steady internet connection and a quiet spot with good lighting. Headphones can help older children and adults hear clearly. No app purchases are needed. You join through a secure link from our client portal.

We will try to troubleshoot and reconnect first. If we cannot, we will reschedule. If the problem is on our end, you are never charged. If it is on your end, we will reschedule at no charge.

We cannot see children by video during the school day. At a daycare or preschool, it may be possible if the center agrees. An adult from the center would need to join each session, and your child would need a quiet, private place to meet. If you are interested, please bring it up during your evaluation or a free consultation call.

We work with children from birth to 17 and with adults 18 and older.

We see children for a variety of needs, including early language delays, speech sounds and clarity (articulation), stuttering (fluency), social communication, AAC (devices and picture systems for children who need another way to communicate), and feeding therapy.

We see adults for a variety of needs, including speech sounds and clarity (articulation), language, stuttering (fluency), voice therapy, and AAC. We also offer professional speech training for clearer, more confident speaking at work, in presentations, and in interviews.

Yes. We work with children who have an autism diagnosis and their families. We are glad to work alongside ABA therapists and other providers on your child's team.

Yes. Teletherapy works well for picky or selective eating, because your speech therapist can join you in your natural setting, such as at your kitchen table. If your child has trouble with choking, food or liquid going into the lungs (aspiration), or needs tube feeding, we may refer you to a provider who can see your child in person.

We have experience with a variety of low-tech and high-tech AAC systems, including PECS, Proloquo2Go, Accent devices, Lingraphica, and LAMP Words for Life. If you are interested in a system that is not listed, we are happy to help. If your child does not have an AAC device yet, or needs a new one, we can help you try different options and apply for a device.

No. ECI is a Texas state program for children from birth to 3 years old. Talking Jay is a private practice. Many families come to us when their child turns 3 and leaves ECI, or when they want more support. If your child is in ECI now, talk with your ECI service coordinator about adding private therapy. We are happy to help you think through what fits your family.

Yes. School therapy is often in a group and focuses on what your child needs to learn in the classroom. Our sessions are one on one and focus on the communication your child needs in everyday life. Just let us know and complete our release of information form, and we are happy to connect with your school SLP or any other school support your child receives.

Yes, we welcome bilingual children and families. Whitney speaks English, so therapy sessions are currently in English. If you would like your child to work on both languages, Talking Jay will provide an interpreter to support sessions.

You pay per session. There are no long contracts or sign-up fees.

Talking Jay is private pay only and does not accept insurance at this time. If you would like to seek out-of-network reimbursement, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance plan. We cannot guarantee reimbursement.

Private pay lets us start care sooner, without waiting for approval from an insurance company. It also lets us set goals with you based on your concerns and your family's needs, not on what a plan will cover. You will not face visit limits set by an insurance plan, and you see the same therapist every session.

A superbill is a detailed receipt with the codes your insurance company needs to consider reimbursing you for out-of-network speech therapy. You submit it to your plan yourself. Many plans with out-of-network benefits pay back part of the cost. We cannot promise what your plan will cover, so call them first and ask about your out-of-network speech therapy benefits. We create superbills monthly, and you can ask for one any time.

Before you start, call your insurance plan and ask whether you have out-of-network benefits for speech therapy, and whether teletherapy is covered. Ask about your out-of-network deductible, how much of it you have met, and what percent they pay back after that. Find out whether they need a doctor's referral or a diagnosis for reimbursement. Finally, ask how to submit a superbill.

Speech therapy is usually an eligible expense for HSA and FSA accounts. Check with your plan administrator to be sure. You can pay with your HSA or FSA card like any other card.

We keep a card on file in our secure client portal and charge it after each session. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA and FSA cards.

Federal law says that people who are not using insurance have the right to an estimate of what their care will cost. We give you a written Good Faith Estimate before services start. If your bill ends up at least $400 more than the estimate, you can dispute it.

Therapy sessions are 30 minutes. After your evaluation, your speech therapist will recommend how often to meet. Most clients attend 1 to 2 times a week.

Yes. You will have one primary therapist for every session, starting with your evaluation.

We see clients Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time. You can see open times and book online through our client portal.

Our cancellation policy protects your time and our therapist's time, and helps keep therapy moving forward. Please give as much notice as you can when you need to cancel or reschedule, so we can offer your time to another client. Cancelling 24 hours or more before your session or evaluation is free. If you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, the fee is $50 for a session or $100 for an evaluation, and we can waive it if you reschedule within 7 days and attend. A no-show, with no notice and no log in, is charged the full fee: $75 for a session or $175 for an evaluation. After 2 late cancellations or no-shows, your regular weekly time is released. After 3 no-shows, we have the right to end services. You can cancel by messaging us in the client portal or emailing [email protected]. Full cancellation policy

If you or your child is sick, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will work together to reschedule. If you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, there is no fee as long as you reschedule within 7 days and the new appointment happens.

If you are running late, please let us know right away. We offer a 10-minute grace period. If you have not joined by then, the session counts as a no-show. If you log on late, the session still ends at the scheduled time.

If we cancel, you are never charged, and we will offer you a new time as soon as possible.

We are based in Lubbock, Texas, and every session is virtual. Whitney is licensed in Texas, Arizona, and Virginia. Right now we are accepting patients in Texas, and you must be physically located in Texas during each session.

Licensing rules follow where you are during the session, not where you live. If you will be in another state, tell us ahead of time. We can reschedule or pause sessions while you are away. If you move to a state where we are not licensed, we will help you find a new provider.

Whitney Silverthorn is a licensed speech-language pathologist certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has worked in outpatient clinics, home health, and telehealth with children from birth to 21, and with adults with a variety of needs. Read Whitney's full bio

Yes. We use a HIPAA-compliant platform for video sessions, scheduling, records, and payments. We follow HIPAA privacy rules and give every client a Notice of Privacy Practices. You can read our full privacy policy on our website. Privacy policy

The length of therapy depends on each client's needs and goals. Therapy is not one size fits all. We talk about expected timelines and the end of therapy at your first evaluation, so you know what to expect from the start.

We write a note after every session, and you can read your session notes. We also complete progress notes regularly to report on each goal. If a goal needs to change or a new concern comes up, we update the plan of care.

We will give you simple activities that build on what we practice in sessions. The goal is to fit them into your everyday routines, not to add homework to your to-do list. If you would like more practice activities for home, just ask.

Yes. If you would like us to speak with another provider on your or your child's care team, we are happy to. We require a signed release of information form first. We can share reports and coordinate goals with your pediatrician, teachers, school SLP, or other therapists so everyone is working toward the same things.

Planning for the end of therapy starts at the evaluation. We talk about goals, realistic timelines, and your family's concerns and needs. A client is usually ready to finish when they have met their goals, have the everyday skills they need, or the family no longer has concerns and is ready to stop. You can always come back if new or ongoing concerns come up later.

Send a secure message through the client portal or email [email protected]. We reply within 1 business day. Please do not send private health details by regular email.