Language Therapy for Children in Westlake Village
Help for late talkers and for children who struggle to understand or use words, from a licensed speech-language pathologist. For children from birth to 18.
During business hours, we return calls within an hour.
- Free 15-minute call
- No referral needed
- No waiting list
- Ages
- Birth to 18
- Where
- Your home, school, a private clinic on request, or telehealth anywhere in California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
- How soon
- No waiting list as of October 2026. Evaluations are scheduled within 3 business days of your free consultation.
Your four-year-old follows the family routine perfectly but answers almost every question with one word. Or your toddler isn't talking much yet, and you are not sure whether to wait. Language therapy for children helps a child understand what is said to them and put their own thoughts into words. Understanding is called receptive language. Using words is called expressive language. We provide language therapy in Westlake Village and nearby towns. No diagnosis or referral is needed.
What is the difference between receptive and expressive language?
Receptive language is what a child understands. Expressive language is what a child can say. A child can struggle with one, the other, or both, and the two look very different from the outside.
- Doesn't follow a two-step direction
- Answers a different question than the one asked
- Seems to ignore you, especially when tired
- Gets lost when instructions get longer
- Knows what you mean but can't say it
- Short, simple sentences for their age
- Points or describes instead of naming
- Starts a sentence, then gives up
Language is different from speech sounds. A child can have clear sounds and a language delay, or clear language that is hard to understand. If people can't understand your child's sounds, articulation therapy is the closer match.
What language milestones should my child reach?
The CDC defines a milestone as something most children, 75% or more, can do by a certain age. Missing one is a reason to ask, not a diagnosis.
- By 18 monthsTries to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada."
- By 2 yearsSays at least two words together, like "More milk."
- By 30 monthsSays about 50 words.
- By 3 yearsTalks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges.
- By 4 yearsSays sentences with four or more words.
These come from the CDC's milestone checklists. You may read that a two-year-old should say 50 words. ASHA lists at least 50 words between 19 and 24 months. The CDC checklist, which lists what at least 75% of children do, puts about 50 words at 30 months. Both are guides, not deadlines.
Is my child a late talker, or is it a language delay?
At first, no one can reliably tell the difference. ASHA notes that late bloomers and children with lasting language problems are hard to tell apart early on, because the difference can only be seen later.
Two things worth watching are how well your child understands, and how many gestures they use, like pointing, waving, or raising their arms to be picked up. ASHA notes that a child may not learn language as well if they do not use many gestures, and that not hearing new words often can point to a language problem.
Because no one can predict it, you don't have to wait and see if you think there might be a problem, according to ASHA. A look now either reassures you or gets help started.
What are signs a child may need language therapy?
What matters most is a gap that is not closing, or is getting wider, as the months pass. Use these as prompts for a conversation, not a scoring system.
- Toddlers: few wordsFar fewer words than other children the same age.
- Toddlers: no word pairsNo clear attempt to put two words together.
- Preschool: short sentencesSentences stay much shorter and simpler than playmates'.
- Preschool: questionsTrouble answering who, what, and where questions.
- School age: directionsMulti-step directions fall apart in class.
- School age: explainingHard to explain an answer or retell what happened.
Any concern about hearing belongs with your pediatrician or an audiologist first, because hearing changes from ear infections can look like a language delay. The same goes for a child who stops using words they used to say.
How does language therapy for children work?
Language therapy is not drilling flashcards. It builds skills inside the moments a child needs them, mostly through play.
If a child needs to put two words together, the speech-language pathologist sets up a game where two words make the game work. If a child needs to follow longer directions, the game builds them in, one step at a time. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service.
When attention, regulation, or hand skills are also part of the picture, our occupational therapist can work alongside, in the same practice.
Occupational therapy for handwriting, sensory needs, feeding, and everyday skills.
What can I do at home this week?
None of this replaces therapy, but it gives your child more chances to hear and use words, and you can start today.
- Shorten instructionsGive one step, wait, then give the next. Pause longer than feels natural.
- Offer two choicesHold up both and say the words: "Milk or water?"
- Add one wordWhen your child says "cup," say "big cup" back.
- Name what they point toA point is a good sign. Name the thing and hand it over.
- Reread favorite booksTalk about the pictures, and ask what happens next.
Your plan includes parent coaching, so you learn which of these fit your child and how to build them into your day.
What happens when you start language therapy?
Language therapy for children starts with a free 15-minute consultation. If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days. The written report follows within 14 business days, with a treatment plan if therapy is recommended.
Free 15-minute consultation
You talk with a licensed speech-language pathologist about what you are noticing at home and at school. If we don't think an evaluation is needed yet, we will say so.
Evaluation within 3 business days
If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days of your consultation. It is a play-based look at what your child understands, how they use words and sentences, and how they communicate with gestures, plus a long talk with you. It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Written report and recommendation
Within 14 business days, you get the written evaluation, and a clear treatment plan if therapy is recommended. The plan sets graduation goals: the skills that show a child is ready to finish therapy.
Parent coaching
Your plan includes parent coaching. You learn simple ways to practice language goals during meals, play, and bedtime.
Sessions
Sessions look like play with a purpose and run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service.
Who would my child work with?
At Therapy Clubhouse, language therapy for children is led by Nita Anavim, M.S., CCC-SLP. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist and co-founder.
- Degrees
- M.S. and B.S., Communicative Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge
- Certification
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- California license
- No. 38532Verify on the state license search (opens in a new tab)
“I want them to leave feeling like they came to play with someone new.”Meet Nita →
How much does language therapy cost, and can I use insurance?
Coverage depends on your plan. You can use your insurance through our partner, Village, which handles the billing. Village accepts PPO plans from several major insurers, and TRICARE.
Village also charges its own fee for each visit, in addition to your copay or deductible. Before therapy starts, Village goes over the expected cost with you.
We are waiting to become in network with major insurance companies. Until then, Village is how insurance works with us.
You can also pay privately, and we give you a superbill to send to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. On the free 15-minute call, we check your coverage before you commit to anything.
Can children under 3 get language therapy through Early Start?
Children under 3 may qualify for Early Start services through Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC). Therapy Clubhouse is a TCRC provider.
There is no charge for the evaluation or for service coordination. You may need to use your insurance for ongoing therapy, according to California's Early Start FAQ.
If you live on the Los Angeles County side of Westlake Village, tell us your address. We will help you find which regional center covers you.
What else do parents ask about language therapy?
What is the difference between a speech delay and a language delay?
A speech delay is about saying sounds, so a child is hard to understand. A language delay is about understanding and using words and sentences, so a child may be clear but say very little, or talk a lot but miss what was asked. Many children have some of both.
My child understands everything but doesn't talk much. Should I wait?
Strong understanding is a good sign, but a gap between understanding and talking that is not closing is worth a look. You don't have to wait and see if you think there might be a problem. Read about toddlers who understand but don't talk.
Does being bilingual cause a language delay?
No. Growing up with more than one language does not cause a language delay, and dropping a home language does not fix one. A child with a real language difficulty shows it in both languages, which is part of what an evaluation looks at. Read more about bilingual children.
Does a language delay mean my child is less smart?
No. Language and intelligence are not the same thing. Many bright, curious children have trouble getting language in or out, and it is often mistaken for not paying attention.
Can language therapy for children happen by telehealth?
Yes. We offer language therapy for children in your home and by telehealth anywhere in California.
Do you offer in-person language therapy in Westlake Village?
Yes. We see children at home, at school, in a private clinic on request, and by telehealth anywhere in California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026, at 2535 Townsgate Road, Suite 110.
Is the free call the same as an evaluation?
No. The free 15-minute call answers your questions and points you to the right next step. It is not an evaluation. If therapy looks like a fit, the evaluation comes next.
Which school district and regional center serve Westlake Village?
Westlake Village sits on a county line. The Los Angeles County side is served by Las Virgenes Unified School District, and the Ventura County side by Conejo Valley Unified School District. For children under 3, the regional center depends on the county. Families on the Ventura County side fall under Tri-Counties Regional Center, where we are a provider. On the Los Angeles County side, tell us your address and we'll help you confirm which regional center covers you.
What areas do you serve?
We provide language therapy for families in Westlake Village and nearby towns. These include Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.Thousand OaksAgoura HillsOak ParkNewbury ParkCalabasasMoorparkSimi ValleyAll locations
“If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. You know your child best.”
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities. (CDC)
We build every child's plan and goals around one aim: graduating from speech or occupational therapy. That is our goal with every child.
You know your child. If something about how they understand or use words has been on your mind for a few weeks, tell us a little more about what you're worried about. Let's talk about it.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist reads every message, not an assistant, and replies within one business day. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
