Exploring New Horizons: Alternative Careers for SLPs
Are you feeling like your career as an SLP is no longer for you? Does what once ignited you full of passion now seem like a dull flame or just embers? You’re not alone in these thoughts, and you aren’t out of options! Your skills, education, and experience set you up for success in other ways. It’s time to explore new horizons and consider viable alternative careers for SLPs! Reimagine Your Role Within Speech-Language Pathology Before diving head first into the many alternative careers for SLPs, stop to consider if a possible shift within the profession might rekindle your excitement.
A Helpful Guide for Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy
The holiday season is upon us! With it comes a variety of opportunities and challenges in the world of speech-language therapy. The holidays are usually filled with excitement, changes in routines, and many new sensory experiences that can both motivate and overwhelm the children you work with. As an SLP, it’s important to navigate this time of year thoughtfully in order to best support your clients and their families. Consider these helpful tips for preparing for the holidays in speech therapy! Special Considerations While Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy Before jumping straight into lesson planning for holiday speech
3 Powerful (& Simple!) Ways to Embrace Diversity in the Speech Room
For SLPs, being intentional to create an inclusive environment isn’t just about best practices— it’s vital! One of the most important things you can do for your students is to provide resources that reflect their own families and communities. This approach to therapy encourages greater self-esteem and stronger connections with caregivers. Check out these 3 easy ways to embrace diversity in your speech room this year! Why You Should Embrace Diversity Diversity includes race, religion, age, disabilities, and other important pieces of a person’s identity. Research consistently shows that representation matters and that’s no different when providing speech and language
5 Practical Tips for Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Confidence & Success
In the world of school-based speech therapy, managing speech therapy groups is often an area SLPs don’t feel prepared for. Handling multiple students at once can be challenging, but with the right strategies and mindset, it can also be highly effective and rewarding for everyone. Rest assured— managing speech therapy groups can be done with confidence and success! Common Challenges with Speech Therapy Groups Managing speech therapy groups comes with its unique set of challenges: To address these challenges, you will need well-thought-out strategies, patience, and a positive mindset. Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Success It’s important to choose strategies
4 Tips for School-Based SLPs: How to Have Tough Conversations with New Teachers
The beginning of the school year can be challenging for school-based SLPs— especially when working with teachers who are either new to your school or new to the field. Effective communication and collaboration with teachers are vital to providing the best care for students. Understanding common problem points in advance will help you be better prepared for your interactions with new teachers. Use these 4 tips to have tough conversations with new teachers and make this school year easier for everyone! Common Problem Points Expect to encounter at least one of these common challenges with new teachers. As you consider
3 Considerations to Increase Caregiver Involvement in Speech Therapy
As a pediatric SLP, you understand the importance of caregiver and parent involvement in speech therapy— but caregivers often do not! Building effective partnerships with caregivers is crucial for the success of your therapy sessions and the overall progress of your clients. Caregivers don’t usually anticipate this expectation for collaboration so it’s up to you to be clear from the start. Increase caregiver involvement in your speech therapy sessions in 3 easy steps! Importance of Caregiver & Parent Involvement in Speech Therapy Caregivers need to know from the start that speech therapy is a collaboration. Many caregivers are often misinformed
Everything You Need to Know to Begin Treating Phonological Processing Disorders
Treating phonological processing disorders is a key piece of what you do as a pediatric SLP. It’s important to understand how phonological processing disorders differ from other speech sound disorders, how to get caregivers on board, and how to choose the best treatment approaches to help your clients. You CAN help children develop more intelligible speech and set them up on a path for successful communication all of their lives! Understanding Phonological Processing Disorders Before you begin to educate caregivers about phonological processing disorders (PPDs), it’s important to ensure you have a solid understanding of this type of speech sound
3 Ways to Handle Caregivers Who Don’t Follow Through with Speech Therapy Suggestions
As an SLP, you understand the frustration with caregivers who don’t follow through with speech therapy suggestions after they’ve asked. You KNOW progress would be so much faster if carryover was happening at home! This can be especially challenging, but it’s important to consider why this breakdown is happening and consider what you can do to help. Why Aren’t Home Activities Happening? There are a few different reasons why caregivers may not be following through with the home activities you suggest after therapy sessions: Because each of these reasons is different, your approach to helping families work through them will
Creating Systems: 3 Ways to Make Life Easier as an SLP
As a pediatric SLP, your days are filled with countless responsibilities from providing therapy to completing paperwork to educating caregivers. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed, but take heart! There is a way to make your life easier as you start the upcoming school year– creating systems. By focusing on your biggest challenges, you can create systems and routines that save time during busy days, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. You’re worth this investment! Identify Your Biggest Struggles Before Creating Systems According to James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, success is not achieved by relying on willpower or pure discipline. Success
Encouragement for SLPs: Changing the World Through Caregiver Education
In the hustle and bustle of your daily life as a pediatric SLP, it’s easy to lose sight of the incredible impact you are making in the world. The stresses and challenges of being an SLP can sometimes cloud your vision, but it’s important to take time to remind yourself that you ARE changing the world! At the pediatric level, much of this change comes from the work you do with your clients’ caregivers. Caregiver education has transformative power! Don’t Lose Hope The demands of being an SLP can feel overwhelming at times. It feels like the documentation is endless,
Exploring New Horizons: Alternative Careers for SLPs
Are you feeling like your career as an SLP is no longer for you? Does what once ignited you full of passion now seem like a dull flame or just embers? You’re not alone in these thoughts, and you aren’t out of options! Your skills, education, and experience set you up for success in other ways. It’s time to explore new horizons and consider viable alternative careers for SLPs! Reimagine Your Role Within Speech-Language Pathology Before diving head first into the many alternative careers for SLPs, stop to consider if a possible shift within the profession might rekindle your excitement.
A Helpful Guide for Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy
The holiday season is upon us! With it comes a variety of opportunities and challenges in the world of speech-language therapy. The holidays are usually filled with excitement, changes in routines, and many new sensory experiences that can both motivate and overwhelm the children you work with. As an SLP, it’s important to navigate this time of year thoughtfully in order to best support your clients and their families. Consider these helpful tips for preparing for the holidays in speech therapy! Special Considerations While Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy Before jumping straight into lesson planning for holiday speech
3 Powerful (& Simple!) Ways to Embrace Diversity in the Speech Room
For SLPs, being intentional to create an inclusive environment isn’t just about best practices— it’s vital! One of the most important things you can do for your students is to provide resources that reflect their own families and communities. This approach to therapy encourages greater self-esteem and stronger connections with caregivers. Check out these 3 easy ways to embrace diversity in your speech room this year! Why You Should Embrace Diversity Diversity includes race, religion, age, disabilities, and other important pieces of a person’s identity. Research consistently shows that representation matters and that’s no different when providing speech and language
5 Practical Tips for Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Confidence & Success
In the world of school-based speech therapy, managing speech therapy groups is often an area SLPs don’t feel prepared for. Handling multiple students at once can be challenging, but with the right strategies and mindset, it can also be highly effective and rewarding for everyone. Rest assured— managing speech therapy groups can be done with confidence and success! Common Challenges with Speech Therapy Groups Managing speech therapy groups comes with its unique set of challenges: To address these challenges, you will need well-thought-out strategies, patience, and a positive mindset. Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Success It’s important to choose strategies
4 Tips for School-Based SLPs: How to Have Tough Conversations with New Teachers
The beginning of the school year can be challenging for school-based SLPs— especially when working with teachers who are either new to your school or new to the field. Effective communication and collaboration with teachers are vital to providing the best care for students. Understanding common problem points in advance will help you be better prepared for your interactions with new teachers. Use these 4 tips to have tough conversations with new teachers and make this school year easier for everyone! Common Problem Points Expect to encounter at least one of these common challenges with new teachers. As you consider
3 Considerations to Increase Caregiver Involvement in Speech Therapy
As a pediatric SLP, you understand the importance of caregiver and parent involvement in speech therapy— but caregivers often do not! Building effective partnerships with caregivers is crucial for the success of your therapy sessions and the overall progress of your clients. Caregivers don’t usually anticipate this expectation for collaboration so it’s up to you to be clear from the start. Increase caregiver involvement in your speech therapy sessions in 3 easy steps! Importance of Caregiver & Parent Involvement in Speech Therapy Caregivers need to know from the start that speech therapy is a collaboration. Many caregivers are often misinformed
Everything You Need to Know to Begin Treating Phonological Processing Disorders
Treating phonological processing disorders is a key piece of what you do as a pediatric SLP. It’s important to understand how phonological processing disorders differ from other speech sound disorders, how to get caregivers on board, and how to choose the best treatment approaches to help your clients. You CAN help children develop more intelligible speech and set them up on a path for successful communication all of their lives! Understanding Phonological Processing Disorders Before you begin to educate caregivers about phonological processing disorders (PPDs), it’s important to ensure you have a solid understanding of this type of speech sound
3 Ways to Handle Caregivers Who Don’t Follow Through with Speech Therapy Suggestions
As an SLP, you understand the frustration with caregivers who don’t follow through with speech therapy suggestions after they’ve asked. You KNOW progress would be so much faster if carryover was happening at home! This can be especially challenging, but it’s important to consider why this breakdown is happening and consider what you can do to help. Why Aren’t Home Activities Happening? There are a few different reasons why caregivers may not be following through with the home activities you suggest after therapy sessions: Because each of these reasons is different, your approach to helping families work through them will
Creating Systems: 3 Ways to Make Life Easier as an SLP
As a pediatric SLP, your days are filled with countless responsibilities from providing therapy to completing paperwork to educating caregivers. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed, but take heart! There is a way to make your life easier as you start the upcoming school year– creating systems. By focusing on your biggest challenges, you can create systems and routines that save time during busy days, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. You’re worth this investment! Identify Your Biggest Struggles Before Creating Systems According to James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, success is not achieved by relying on willpower or pure discipline. Success
Encouragement for SLPs: Changing the World Through Caregiver Education
In the hustle and bustle of your daily life as a pediatric SLP, it’s easy to lose sight of the incredible impact you are making in the world. The stresses and challenges of being an SLP can sometimes cloud your vision, but it’s important to take time to remind yourself that you ARE changing the world! At the pediatric level, much of this change comes from the work you do with your clients’ caregivers. Caregiver education has transformative power! Don’t Lose Hope The demands of being an SLP can feel overwhelming at times. It feels like the documentation is endless,