Students participating in virtual speech therapy services provided by a speech teletherapist

Virtual Speech Therapy | Online Speech Therapist

Support your child’s communication skills with individualized virtual speech therapy designed to help them succeed at school, home, and in everyday life. At The Essential Teletherapist, we provide expert virtual speech therapy for students ages 3 through high school through secure online sessions.

Schedule a consultation today to learn how we can support your child.

Serving Clients in Pre-K through High School

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Who We Help

We work with children and young adults experiencing a wide range of communication challenges, including:

• Speech sound disorders (articulation and phonological disorders)
• Childhood apraxia of speech
• Expressive and receptive language delays
• Social communication differences
• Stuttering and fluency
• Executive functioning and communication related to ADHD
• Phonological awareness and language skills related to reading
• Developmental language differences

If you are unsure whether your child would benefit from speech therapy, we are happy to talk with you about your concerns.

Ready to get started?

Early support can make a significant difference in your child’s communication development.

If you have concerns about speech, language, or communication skills, we are here to help.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about evaluation and therapy options.

Contact

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Speech Therapy

You may consider a speech and language evaluation if your child:

• Is difficult for others to understand
• Struggles to express thoughts or ideas clearly
• Has trouble following directions
• Has difficulty answering questions or telling stories
• Becomes frustrated when trying to communicate
• Struggles with social conversations or peer interactions
• Has trouble with reading-related language skills such as sound awareness
• Stutters or repeats sounds and words

If you are unsure whether your child needs speech therapy, an evaluation can provide guidance.

What Speech Therapy Can Help With

Speech and language therapy supports many important areas of development. Therapy may help children and young adults:

• Speak more clearly so others understand them
• Express ideas, thoughts, and feelings more effectively
• Follow directions and understand language more easily
• Develop stronger conversation and social communication skills
• Improve reading-related language skills such as phonological awareness
• Build confidence when communicating with peers and adults
• Advocate for themselves in school and daily life

Our goal is to help students develop the communication tools they need to participate fully in their academic, social, and community environments.

Why Families Choose Virtual Speech Therapy

Virtual therapy offers several advantages for busy families:

• No travel time
• Flexible scheduling
• Access to specialized clinicians
• Comfortable environment for children
• Easy parent participation in sessions

Research shows that telepractice can be an effective method for delivering speech-language services when implemented using evidence-based practices.

Trusted by Families, Educators, and Speech Professionals

  • “Ellie provides an incredibly collaborative and inclusive environment for her colleagues and families. I have consulted with her on several clients that I felt needed a more thorough assessment of their language skills, particularly ESL clients. She always went above and beyond providing me with any resources I needed while cheering me on. I am certain that any family who has an opportunity to work with her will feel exactly as I do about her as a therapist, and more importantly as a human being!”

    — SLP and Private Practice Owner, Illinois

  • “Ellie is one of the most talented practitioners I've ever worked with, professionally as an educator or in a clinical setting seeking treatment for my son. Her patient kindness and sincere interest in her patients as individuals helps her connect and build trust on a deep level sets her apart. My son had seen a handful of SLPs and none were as creative and engaging as Ellie. She was able to draw him out and really help him improve his communication. Our family is forever thankful for Ellie!

    — Client Parent, Missouri

  • “It is clear that having a relationship with the students it a priority, and that really shows in how the services are provided.”

    — Special Education Assistant, Minnesota

  • “Your team absolutely impressed me. I feel like the students are receiving the appropriate services and their skills are truly developing. Honestly, I could not ask for it to be going better. Thank you for everything you are doing for our students.”

    - Preschool Teacher, Minnesota

Our Therapy Approach

Every child learns differently. Because of this, therapy is never one-size-fits-all.

Our sessions are designed to be engaging, individualized, and grounded in evidence-based practices. Therapy may include structured activities, play-based learning, conversation practice, and targeted skill-building exercises depending on the student’s needs and age.

Family involvement is an important part of the process. We work closely with caregivers to help them understand their child’s strengths, challenges, and ways to support communication growth outside of therapy.evidence-based practices.

Our Process

Begin therapy

Step 3

Complete an evaluation

Step 1

Schedule a consultation

Step 2

What to Expect from the Evaluation

Before therapy begins, we complete a comprehensive evaluation to better understand your child’s communication strengths and areas that need support.

Evaluations typically take 90–120 minutes and may include:

• Review of developmental, medical, or academic history
• Parent or caregiver interview
• Observation of communication skills
• Structured interactions with the student
• Standardized assessments when appropriate
• Informal language and communication tasks

At the end of the evaluation process, we will:

• Discuss the results with you
• Provide therapy recommendations
• Develop an individualized treatment plan
• Share a written report summarizing the findings

This evaluation helps ensure that therapy targets the skills that will make the biggest difference for your child.

Therapy Sessions

Speech therapy sessions are conducted one-on-one with a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Sessions may be scheduled for:

• 30 minutes
• 45 minutes
• 60 minutes

The recommended session length and frequency will be discussed after the evaluation and determined based on clinical recommendations and your family’s schedule. Most students attend therapy once or twice per week.

Parent Involvement

We believe parents and caregivers are essential partners in the therapy process.

Depending on the student’s needs and age, parents may be invited to:

• Observe sessions
• Participate in parts of therapy
• Learn strategies to support communication at home
• Receive regular updates on progress

Our goal is to give families the tools and knowledge needed to support communication growth outside of therapy sessions.

Working Alongside School Services

Many students receive speech therapy through their school. Private therapy can complement school services by:

• Providing additional practice and intensity
• Targeting goals not addressed in school
• Supporting academic language and communication skills
• Collaborating with school-based therapists when appropriate

Both services can work together to support your child’s progress.

Payment Information

The Essential Teletherapist is currently not in-network with insurance plans.

Payment options include:

• Credit or debit card
• FSA or HSA cards

Payment is collected at the time of service.

Families who wish to submit for out-of-network reimbursement may request documentation for their insurance provider.

Ready to get started?

Early support can make a significant difference in your child’s communication development.

If you have concerns about speech, language, or communication skills, we are here to help.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about evaluation and therapy options.

Contact

Our practice combines clinical expertise with extensive experience delivering high-quality teletherapy in school and private settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. An evaluation allows us to determine your child’s specific communication needs and develop an appropriate therapy plan.

  • Speech therapy services do not require a referral.

  • The length of therapy varies depending on the child’s goals, progress, and level of need. Estimated frequency and duration will be discussed after the evaluation.

  • Most students attend sessions once or twice per week, but this may vary based on recommendations.

  • Private therapy can support and extend the services provided at school. With permission, collaboration with school therapists may occur to coordinate care.

  • Yes. Parent participation is encouraged when appropriate, though some students may benefit from working independently during sessions.

  • Yes!

Meet the Founder

Ellie Richter, virtual speech therapist, teletherapy coach, and founder of The Essential Teletherapist

Hi, I’m Ellie Richter, a certified and licensed bilingual speech-language pathologist based in St. Charles, Missouri, with 16 years of experience. Since 2010, I’ve supported children’s communication development in both English and Spanish across a variety of settings, including schools, early childhood centers, home health, private clinics, and nonprofit organizations.

In 2020, I transitioned fully into teletherapy and have since partnered with families and school districts in Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri to provide high-quality virtual speech therapy services. Speech Language Pathologists with The Essential Teletherapist help your child communicate.

My approach is collaborative and student-centered. I work closely with administrators, staff, and families to provide services that are consistent, engaging, and tailored to each child’s needs. Families that partner with us gain not just accessible therapy, but a reliable, experienced professional dedicated to delivering results.

Additional Trainings and Certifications

  • PROMPT trained

  • Mental Health First Aid Certified

  • TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certified

  • ACE Award Recipient