While all speech language pathologists are trained to assess and treat a wide range of speech and language related disorders, many SLPs choose to narrow the focus of their practice so they can dive more deeply into those areas. Many clinics offer a variety of SLP services, but Melanie Tapson Voice Care is as niche as they come!

Regardless of your concern, you want an SLP who is confident and competent in the area you specifically need help with. Our practice focuses (almost) exclusively on voice & voice disorders, accent & dialect work, and professional communication. If you have another type of speech or language concern, the Find A Professional listing at www.caslpo.com is an excellent resource to help you find a clinician who can help you meet your goals.

Not sure if your concern is voice-specific enough? Don't hesitate to contact us via the form below and we can help direct you to the best professional to help you with your needs!

What does voice therapy look like? To start, the initial assessment is one hour. Together, after the initial assessment, we will discuss a plan to help you achieve your goals, and we'll work collaboratively to determine what works best for you in terms of therapy options.

While traditional therapy tends to lean towards weekly regular sessions, we actually love alternative service delivery models and are always looking for ways to get creative to help you reach your goals! We also strongly believe that voice therapy must be individualized to the person and their context and needs. This means that the sky is the limit in terms of what therapy and/or voice work can look like.

For example, therapy might look something like:

• once a week one-on-one intensive therapy sessions, typically 45 mins each
• several shorter sessions across a week - 3 x 15 minute sessions or 2 x 20 minute sessions weekly
• asynchronous voice therapy, where we meet briefly when needed and your therapist provides support and feedback as you submit samples of your homework via whatever secure communication platform feels most accessible to you
• masterclass-style group therapy (60 or 90 min weekly sessions with a small community of others who share similar goals)
• do-it-yourself voice work in a unique membership with access to heaps of amazing self-directed content with weekly live studio hours where you can touch base with a clinician and get questions answered 
• drop-in "punch card" sessions where you come to studio hours or a masterclass as you need it
• individual intensive single sessions of a length that is appropriate to work on a very specific project or goal, like audition prep
• ...or even something else we design together to get you to where you want to be!

Frequency: Any and all options can be scheduled at a frequency of weekly, biweekly, monthly, or something else that fits your needs - we're open to whatever will best get you to your goals.

Duration: Typically, for most general voice issues, we see clients for the assessment, and then at minimum, two therapy sessions - the first is where we dig in together, and the second is where we take stock, determining what exercises/tasks to keep and what to move on from, and determining how much and what kind of support you need going forward. In that first of two therapy sessions, we work together to teach you exercises, assign you lifestyle modification and behavioural change tasks, provide the tools and resources you need to feel successful, give you accountability and feedback tools to help you succeed, and provide education and answer any questions you have about what's happening with your voice or your care. You'll put things into practice at home/work/everwhere you use your voice and come back for a second session with data, feedback, and more questions, ready to model what you've been working on! 

After that, we typically discuss what ongoing support looks like considering how close you are to reaching your goals, and what you need to get there. Sometimes you're ready to fly solo, and sometimes you need a little more guidance. Whatever it is, we're here to help!

Home Programming: Most importantly, all options include some form of home programming with support. This is because you have the time, focus, and real-life context to practice what you're learning in a way that really helps make strides! You'll have all the resources and accountability tools you need to be successful, and you're never more than an email away from more support if you need it!

Commitment: If you're ready to take the plunge and realize your voice dreams, if you're choosing to do voice therapy, we ask you for a 3 month commitment - because we want you to get results! Experience tells us that people can make big, bold changes in one session, but if you want those changes to stick, and if you want to fulfill your goals, it takes time and commitment to the process. Regardless of your therapy plan, you'll have identified big 3 month overarching goals we'll work towards together, as well as monthly and weekly mini goals to help you succeed. We realize that feels like a real commitment for some. Please don't worry or let it overwhelm you. It's just a commitment to you and the process. You'll never be locked in to anything you don't need or can't use. Even though we ask you to make a 3 month commitment to yourself and your goals, if you reach your goals early, congratulations! You're done! And you can always cancel any booked session at any time if you need to, so long as you follow the current cancellation policy. We also love to re-evaluate as often as necessary to make sure you're still getting everything you need to stay on track, so we promise that if you make a commitment to yourself, it'll only be surpassed by our commitment to you!

The initial assessment is 60 minutes long, and includes a full and very thorough case history where we explore what is contributing to your voice complaint, a perceptual voice assessment, an objective voice assessment by way of a voice recording and both computer and clinician analysis (typically also on recordings you send in prior to the appointment where possible), a manual assessment of your larynx and the muscles surrounding it (if in person), an evaluation of your posture and breathing, as well as anything else that you want to ensure is addressed. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and set goals together with your therapist. At the end of the assessment, you'll review the results of the assessment and recommendations to arrive at a plan together with your therapist for meeting your goals. You'll be given therapeutic exercises and strategies to address environmental contributors to begin with wherever possible, and you'll have a clear set of next steps to help you achieve your best voice.

Rates are set based on guidelines published by SAC-OSLA (the Ontario Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists' arm of Speech Language and Audiology Canada), and vary depending on length of session, location, and/or requested/necessary documentation. They also take into account a clinician's training and experience. Here at MTVC, the general overarching rates are $225 for a one-hour assessment, and for a full clinical session, Melanie is $190 @ 45mins and Emma is $165 @ 50 mins.

Here's why it's so much more flexible than that: The first step to working with us is typically a comprehensive one-hour assessment at $225. You'll work together with your therapist to make a plan to get you to your voice goals, and you'll leave the assessment with things to do - the first steps on your pathway so you can get started right away. We take a team approach and decide together with you what the best therapeutic schedule is to address your specific needs. But no matter how you choose to work with us, if you do direct voice therapy, the fee is pretty straightforward: for Melanie, it's $190/week and for Emma, it's $165/week. Why "per week" you ask? Well, we like to make it easy for you (and your insurance company to reimburse you!), so whether you commit to a single weekly 45-minute session, 3 15-minute sessions across the week for greater accountability, or a customized combination of face-to-face and asynchronous home programming, the weekly cost (and time commitment) is the same. You get to choose the path towards your goals that works best for your learning style and the fee is the same because the transformation is always the same - you just choose the path you take to love your voice!

Now, not everything fits neatly into a package, does it?!

Sometimes, a completely bespoke program needs to be created to address your individual voice concerns. If so, we will discuss the plan and cost together in consideration of your goals and any other factors, including financial, that you bring to the discussion. It may not look like a weekly fee - but it's good to think about a regular investment in your voice if you want to reach your goals, so whatever we do, we want to do it with regularity!

A la carte "add ons": You can also always choose to add on additional laser-focused one-to-one sessions or more focused support in short blocks (in 15 min increments at $60 each) if you need clarity, if you want help to get back on track, or you'd like to accelerate your progress.

If you are a singer or are seeking gender affirming voice care and have financial constraints or any concerns that voice therapy may not be accessible to you, please do not hesitate to reach out. I can help point you to resources or options that may work better for you. Just fill out the contact form here. I will do everything I can to help you find a solution that fits within your means.

Don't see something that works for you? Contact us and let us know! You can't know if you don't ask, right?!

Payment is required directly following the completion of each service. You can pay for  sessions via e-transfer to [email protected], or you can choose to pay  securely online with Visa,  MasterCard, or American Express.

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR ALL APPOINTMENT TYPES:

NO CHARGE: 24 hours' notice is required to cancel appointments (whether virtual or in-person) from January through November.

50% OF SESSION FEE CHARGE: Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged 50% of the full rate for that session.

100% OF SESSION FEE CHARGE: Missed appointments ("no shows" without notice within 15 minutes prior to or after the appointment start time) are billed at 100%, or the full session rate.

DECEMBER CANCELLATION POLICY: In December only, the cancellation policy changes to 48 hours' notice required to cancel without charge because everyone wants a spot before their insurance turns over - so appointments are highly coveted! Let's do what we can to get everyone seen and all appointments used!

As always, see the Health Policy in Policies and Procedures at melanietapson.com/policies for important information on deciding when you're too sick to attend your session. Often times, and depending on the nature of the illness, it's actually best to see your therapist virtually so we can help you navigate your voice through illness carefully! And never hesitate to reach out if you need help.

If you cannot attend your virtual session due to an emergency and find yourself unexpectedly within the 24 hours' cancellation policy, contact us at [email protected]. We'll do whatever we can to pivot with you.

Thank you!

Voice therapy is not covered by OHIP, but most supplemental insurance programs offer coverage for speech therapy/speech pathology, which means you can submit your receipts for appointments with us to your insurance for reimbursement. You may also want to check to see whether your supplemental insurance company requires a doctors referral before you can submit your receipts for reimbursement.

If you are an ACTRA or Equity performer, we can help you navigate your insurance plan and offer options that fit within your coverage.

Ideally, yes. But not just any ENT; you should be seen by laryngologist, an ENT whose specialty is voice and who can perform stroboscopy. Stroboscopy is a specialty kind of exam that offers the laryngologist the opportunity to magnify and slow down the movements of your tiny vocal folds. This allows them to investigate in detail what's really going on, and to review again as often as needed. It also offers the opportunity for you to take away a recording of your voice exam (don't forget to ask before you leave!). This means you have a record of your vocal folds as they are on that day, and we get to see the video of your vocal folds as well! It's important to have a laryngologist visualize your vocal folds to rule up anything structural or medical, and both the video of your vocal folds and a correct diagnosis help us create the most effective and efficient therapy plan. If you need help finding a laryngologist, don't hesitate to contact us and we will help you through the process. Even if you haven't seen laryngologist yet, or if you can't get to one, no worries! It won't hold us up from starting our work together right away. We can still get the ball rolling on therapy, so feel free to book an appointment with us and we can discuss the details in your assessment. 

Written reports will gladly be made available for hang up upon request and subject to additional fees. They are not automatically included in the assessment, because many people don't require them; this way he only pay for what you need. We would rather you spend your money on doing voice work rather than paying for reports without a clear idea of who's going to be reading them and for what purpose!

Your assessment does include a goal summary and next steps (which we're happy to jot down for you to take away from the session), and that's included because it's just part of how we provide the best care in every session.

Yes - and more!

Licensure: Like other health care professionals, speech-language pathologists must be licensed by their regulatory body in order to practice; in Ontario, that's the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (www.caslpo.com). Melanie has an MSc in speech language pathology (with a minor in audiology), and holds CASLPO licensure allowing her to work as an SLP in Ontario, SAC (Speech Language and Audiology Canada) Certification, and ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association) Certificate of Clinical Competence.

Education: Melanie earned her MSc in speech pathology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and before that, she earned a BFA in Jazz Studies in voice and drums (with distinction) at Concordia University in Montreal. She also completed my BEd in intermediate vocal music and drama at OISE/UT and held an Ontario College of Teachers certificate until she wasn't teaching in the public school system any longer. She has a love of curriculum design, adult learning and development, and driving behavioural change, all of which she honed in my education program.

Melanie has also taught voice and voice disorders to the SLP graduate students at the University of Toronto (singing voice rehabilitation), McMaster University (gender affirming voice), and Western University (the entire voice and voice disorders course and companion lab), if you're wondering whether she keeps up any academic affiliations. :)

Other Certification: Melanie also hold a Certificate in Performing Arts Health from the Performing Arts Medicine Association in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine (she actually co-authored the voice track for this certification program!), and was one of the very first 14 voice professionals to receive the PAVA Recognized Vocologist or PAVA-RV designation in 2022.

You can self-refer to a speech pathologist, which means you don't need a doctor's referral to book an appointment. However, check to see whether your supplemental insurance company requires a doctor's referral before you can submit your receipts for reimbursement.

Currently, almost all sessions are still virtual, so they're as accessible as they can be!

We do sometimes visit clients on site in the theatre or classroom, for example, so in-person sessions can happen. We just love virtual voice work - Melanie has been working with her own voice teacher in NYC since 2012 via Zoom, so we have absolute confidence that it works! We are also here to help guide you through the entire process; even those who fear technology have found this to be a really enjoyable way to work.

When in-person appointments are appropriate (considering any major illness breakouts), we do conduct on-site appointments for specific needs.

On those occasions, based on a plan we create together, we may choose to do a home visit, or we might visit you on site, on location, at the theatre, on set, in your classroom, in your boardroom - wherever you use your voice. This can be an excellent way to work on your voice in the context you're using it day to day. (Schedule and location permitting. A travel fee applies to on-site appointments; both schedule and cost will always be discussed prior to booking an on-site appointment and I'm always willing to get creative when budget is a factor!)

As well, when in-person sessions are an option but coming to the studio location is prohibitive, virtual therapy will always be made available as an option for you.

The short answer is yes! In particular, Melanie prioritizes appointments for performers of any age (including pre-professional, semi-professional, or intensive). Emma is a brilliant voice clinician AND loves working with all kinds of children with voice needs! She is always happy to work with kids and their families and is our champion of pediatric voice and voice disorders around these parts.  

The longer answer is still yes! If your child has a voice concern, no matter what the nature, we are happy to discuss whether voice therapy is the right fit. We can help facilitate an appropriate pediatric laryngology evaluation if necessary, and can direct you to the best resources for your child's individual needs. Specifically, if your child is interested in pursuing semi- or professional singing and acting, or if your child is seeking a more congruent voice as part of their gender transition, because there are so few services available in Toronto in these areas, Melanie does everything she can to make sure you can get an appointment as soon as possible. Whenever we are working with a child, our expectation is that parents attend and participate in activities with the clinician and child to maximize the impact of therapy, and home programming is an integral part of therapy for both the child and others where they live. In fact, depending on the child's age and the nature of their concern, sometimes most of the work is done with the adults who support the child - we love working with you, too!

We am also happy to join your child's existing voice care team as a specialized consultant to work with any professional (including their regular speech pathologist) to help ensure they are getting the voice services they need.

We appreciate that you are likely very eager to get working on your voice! 

Know what you need? Click here to book an appointment.

Need some direct guidance? Click here to contact us.

Listen. We also know it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out what to do first. We've been to the laryngologist ourselves, and we've white-knuckled it through an exam, sweating through our clothes worrying there was going to be career-ending news coming down the pipeline. We've also found ourselves experiencing voice issues and struggling to figure out what to do first - and we counsel people on this every day!

Let us help! Here's how you get on the recovery train:

• All individual voice therapy starts with an assessment (unless you want to go straight DIY or you're looking for coaching that you can't get reimbursed by insurance). If you book an appointment, this will be our first one. If you're ready, you can go right ahead and book your assessment here.
• The assessment will help us confirm together what's best way to get you to your goals, so don't worry if you're feeling stuck or don't know what option to choose - I'm here to help!

Go ahead; just click the "book an assessment" button below to get started!

Oh, and if you don't find a spot that works for you, please feel free to add yourself to the waitlist for whatever appointment time you like. We try to fit people in to cancellation spots as quickly as we can, and you never have any obligation to take a cancellation spot if one comes available.

And if you'd ever just prefer to speak to a human being, or have someone else help you book an appointment personally, we're always happy to help. Just let us know what time you'd prefer and we'll be happy to take care of booking your appointment personally.