Parent Coaching With a Speech Therapist: A Complete Guide for Parents
Parent coaching with a speech therapist is for you if you’re thinking, “I know something’s going on with my child’s communication… I just don’t know what to do.”
👉🏻 Maybe your toddler isn’t talking yet.
👉🏻 Maybe your child communicates differently and you’re wondering if autism support could help.
👉🏻 Maybe you left an IEP meeting with a stack of papers and more confusion than clarity.
If you’re feeling confused, overwhelmed or have questions about your child’s speech or communication a parent coaching call might be just what you need!
In this post, I’ll explain what parent coaching is, who it’s for, and how it can support you through early speech concerns, autism-related communication differences, or school-based services like IEPs.
🙌🏻 If this feels like what you’ve been looking for, you can book a parent coaching session here!
What Is Parent Coaching in Speech Therapy?
Traditional speech therapy is usually 1:1 sessions between a therapist and your child. The speech therapist works directly on skills like speech, language, social communication, feeding, etc. Caregivers may be updated or given “home practice,” but the session is mainly focused on the child.
Parent coaching is caregiver-focused. It’s a 1:1 session between you and a certified speech therapist, built around your questions, your concerns, and what’s happening in your child’s day-to-day life.
In parent coaching, we focus on:
understanding what you’re noticing (and what it might mean)
learning practical speech strategies you can use at home in routines like play, meals, and transitions
problem-solving tricky situations (meltdowns, frustration, getting stuck, school communication)
talking through next steps (evaluation, therapy options, school supports, IEP questions)
Parent coaching doesn’t replace speech therapy. It’s a supportive service that can help you feel clear and confident whether you’re deciding what to do next, waiting for services, already in therapy, or navigating school-based support.
Parent Coaching Is an Evidence-Based Approach
We take an evidence-based approach to parent coaching, meaning we focus on speech strategies that are proven to help kids build communication skills through everyday interactions with you.
You’re your child’s main communication partner long before therapy starts, and long after a session ends. Parent coaching gives you clear guidance and support so progress can happen in real life moments… not just during appointments.
We also focus on regulation before expectation. If a child is overwhelmed, tired, or dysregulated, communication gets harder. We’ll talk about how to support your child’s nervous system, so communication and learning can actually happen.
And because life doesn’t happen in one place, we’ll also focus on consistency. Simple speech strategies you can use at home, and ways to help your child’s support team (like school) stay on the same page.
The goal isn’t to turn you into a speech therapist. It’s to help you feel informed, confident, and supported in your child’s everyday communication.
Who Is Parent Coaching Speech Therapy For?
Parent coaching is especially helpful if:
You’re worried about your child's speech: Maybe your child isn’t talking yet, uses fewer words than expected, or communicates in ways that feel different and you’re stuck asking yourself, “Is this typical, or should I be doing something?”
You’re feeling unsure about the next step: Maybe you’ve been told to “wait and see,” “get an evaluation,” or “talk to the school,” but no one has really broken down what that looks like. Parent coaching for children’s speech therapy helps you understand your options and decide what feels right for your family, without pressure.
You’re trying to support communication at home: You want ideas that fit into meals, play, transitions, and everyday routines. Coaching focuses on practical speech strategies that you can implement at home.
Sessions are collaborative and individualized and may include talking things through, observing what’s going on, modeling ideas, and planning strategies together.
This support is about meeting you where you are and helping caregivers feel steadier, more confident, and less alone as they navigate child communication concerns.
Can Parent Coaching Help if You Have Autism Concerns?
Yes, you can absolutely book a call if you are observing signs of autism.
Many autistic children are non-speaking or minimally speaking, and that doesn’t mean they aren’t communicating. It just means communication looks different.
Parent coaching helps you notice those differences. We look at communication beyond spoken words, things like gestures, movement, AAC, and other meaningful ways your child expresses themselves.
Parent coaching with a speech therapist is about supporting communication in ways that honor neurodiversity, reduce pressure, and help everyday interactions feel a little easier for everyone involved.
Parent Coaching for IEP Consultation and School Support
Parent coaching is a great option if you want help understanding your child’s IEP. School-based IEP meetings can be overwhelming with acronyms, reports, goals, and decisions all packed into a short window of time.
We can walk through your child’s IEP together so you understand what the results mean, talk through speech services and goals, and make sure what’s written on paper makes sense for your child.
Questions About Parent Coaching with a Speech therapist
It’s completely normal to have questions before getting started. Here are a few FAQs:
1. Does Parent Coaching Replace Speech Therapy?
No and it’s not meant to!
This is where parent coaching vs speech therapy can feel confusing. Parent coaching doesn’t replace direct speech therapy. Instead, it supports caregivers alongside therapy. The goal is to help you feel informed and confident, not to take the place of hands-on therapy with your child.
2. Is Parent Coaching Right If My Child Is Already in Therapy?
Yes, it can be!
Many families use parent coaching in addition to therapy. Parent speech coaching can help you better understand your child’s goals, support communication at home, and talk through questions that come up between sessions. It can also be helpful if you’re feeling unsure about progress, services, or how everything fits together.
3. Do Parents Attend Sessions Without the Child?
Yep! Parent coaching sessions are done without the child present, and that’s intentional. It gives you space to ask questions, review evaluations, talk through concerns, and plan next steps without distraction.
Other sessions may include your child, depending on what feels most helpful at the time.
3. Is Parent Coaching Private Pay?
Yes. Private pay parent coaching allows sessions to stay flexible, individualized, and focused on caregiver support without insurance restrictions. This also means sessions can be used for education, consultation, and guidance even when direct therapy isn’t the right fit or isn’t available yet.
Ready to Book Your Parent Coaching Call?
Navigating your child’s communication doesn’t have to feel lonely. If you have questions, concerns, or just want a clearer next step, parent coaching gives you a supportive space to talk it through, get guidance, and feel more confident moving forward.
If you’re still reading, chances are you’re ready for clarity, reassurance, and a simple game plan you can actually use.
Click the link below to choose a time that works for you. In our 60-minute call, we’ll talk through what you’re seeing, answer your questions, and map out next steps you feel good about.
Hi, I’m Daj! Founder of UniVie Therapy
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I started UniVie Therapy Solutions with one simple goal: to help individuals of all ages communicate with confidence! My work is grounded in personalized, evidence-based support that honors each person’s strengths, needs, and differences. Whether I’m working with children, families, caregivers, or individuals, my approach is always collaborative, affirming, and focused on real-life communication.
If you’d like to learn more or stay connected, here are a few helpful resources:
