Melissa James, B.A., M.H.Sc., J.D.

Trained as both a speech-language pathologist and a lawyer, Melissa developed the WELL SAID clinic into a well-established speech therapy clinic in Toronto.

Since 2012, Melissa has provided clinical service to adult clients seeking support with their communication (especially accent, ADHD, and ASD).  She has also worked as a consultant for CAASPR (Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators), a adjunct lecturer at University of Toronto, and served on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA). 

Academically, Melissa trained at the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Most recently, Melissa completed her Juris Doctorate in Toronto. 

Melissa is proud of WELL SAID, its team and its clients. The clinic started in 2012, where there wasn’t another clinic like it, where adult communication needs were at the forefront with a non-pathologizing lens. Simultaneously, Melissa has led, mentored, and supervised many other Toronto-based speech-language pathologists, some of whom have gone on to open off-shoot practices of their own. Since then, the landscape has considerably changed for the better. Adults have access to services typically ignored in the medical model of Canadian healthcare.  

Over the past 15 years, WELL SAID has maintained its commitment to both clinical innovation and evidence-based practice. While Melissa is gradually easing out of clinical work at WELL SAID (to focus on her legal work), WELL SAID continues to provide knowledgeable, focused, and approachable services to adults.

Melissa is not generally accepting new clients. However, she will consider accepting select clients on a case-by-case basis. 

Melissa wrote the articles listed below.

• Ten Challenges Facing People who lisp
• Lisp: Social Indexing and Identity
• Adult vs. Child Lisp
• Life with a Lisp From the perspective of a client
• 5 Small Talk Tips for Dating
• Accent Differences: Canadian and Metropolitan (European) French
• The Importance of Social Skills at Work
• The Social Networker: Tips for Managing Friendships
• 5 Tips for More Effective Workplace Communication
• The Truth About Accent Modification
• Transgender Voice Therapy
• Can You Change Your Accent?
• What is Voice Therapy?
• Understanding Stuttering and the Humans Living With It
• Personal vs. Professional Voice: 5 Tips for Finding Balance between “the codes”
• Lisps: Speech Therapy For Adults
• Top 3 French Accent Tips for Bilingual Speakers
• Communicating your Canadian Citizenship
• Using Emojis: A Modern Social Communication Skill
• Research Round-Up: Accent Modification FAQ
• 4 Things People Call Speech-Language Pathologists & the one thing you must not call us
• 15 of the Most Difficult Words to Pronounce in Toronto – Update 2021
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adults Who Stutter
• Accent Modification and Accent Reduction
• Workplace Consulting
• How to Find The Right Speech-Language Pathologist
• Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Communication
• Engineer With A Stammer
• Architect With Russian Accent
• Stuttering in Teenagers
• Account Director With A Spanish Accent
• Professional Communication For A Young Adult
• An Educator With A Frontal Lisp
• Pronouncing English: Accent Modification
• Acting with an Accent