Experiencing a worldwide pandemic - and huge changes in how we do our jobs during the last year and a half has been a collective traumatic experience. Although each person is experiencing these changes differently, many of us have experienced traumas both related to the pandemic and unrelated to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In this episode, we discuss posttraumatic growth after traumatic events, define it, and cover the four areas in which people tend to grow during periods of learning after trauma.
Read moreEpisode 93: Burnout During Coronavirus Times & 6 Workplace Factors that Lead To Burnout
Are you an SLP who wants to know more about Burnout? In many cases SLPs in burnout aren’t aware they are in burnout while they are in it - until they’ve recovered and can look back. In this episode, you’ll learn Sarah’s personal story of getting burnout (again!) this year, plus six workplace factors that lead to burnout, which will help you if you are considering a job switch or trying to figure out if you might be in burnout this year.
Read moreEpisode 92: 10 Things I Learned From Other SLPs (and Experience!) That Have Made Sessions More Efficient, More Effective & More Fun
In a time where being an SLP can feel heavy, here’s a lighter and practical episode to help you move forward with a bit more ease in your sessions. These are therapy ideas and strategies for working with families that we’ve learned from other SLPs and our own experience that have helped us in our SLP lives.
Read moreEpisode 91: Six Helpful Questions You Can Use in Your Parent Coaching Sessions with Bryony from Salt by the Sea
Are you an SLP working to build your skills in parent coaching?
In this episode, Bryony from www.saltbythesea.com come onto the podcast to share six helpful questions you can use in your parent coaching sessions. As we are still firmly rooted in Pandemic Times, many SLPs who may have been able to get on the floor and play with learners are now switching to a parent coaching model. This episode shares tips for transitioning to this more smoothly, plus why many SLPs (including us!) feel intimidated by parent coaching and what to do about it.
Episode 90: The 4 Biggest Mistakes Students Make When Trying to Make the /R/ Sound & How to Prompt Them For a Correct Production
In this solo episode, Sarah shares the 4 biggest mistakes students make when trying to produce the /r/ sound, and how to cue those misarticulations into “strong r” productions.
Discussed in this episode:
What to do when students:
Clenching their jaw
Rounding their lips
Distorted “throat sound” that sounds like gargling
Hybrid of any of the above or doing the “same sound”
Remember - it can take a long time to establish the /r/ sound and that doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong as an SLP.
If you are ready for sentences and readings, check out this Bloodsuckers Unit which is full of sentences and nonfiction readings on some “icky and fun” (so say my students) animals and insects. This packet includes vocabulary and comprehension questions so it’s ideal for groups. You can find it at: https://bit.ly/2OObzgL
Sign up for updates & easy lessons: www.slphappyhour.com
Review the podcast: http://bit.ly/2kM2JPQ
Episode 89: How Identifying 3 Default Feelings Has Changed Our Perspectives & How You Can Do it Too
In this episode you’ll hear about an easy snowball related lesson, a few book recommendations, and how labeling your 3 default feelings can help you recognize your most common emotions and what to do about it.
Read moreEpisode 88: Ambiguous Loss & 5 Tips to Be a Better Listener
Families Learning about an Autism School Eligibility or Medical Diagnosis during Coronavirus
Sarie describes how explaining the difference between a medical diagnosis of Autism and an educational eligibility under the category of Autism. Two scenarios where this has been important:
1) When a student has a medical diagnosis of ASD but doesn’t meet criteria in the schools for eligibility
2) When an Autistic student is exited from services because there is no longer an educational impact
Sarah shares a bit on Ambiguous Loss and recommends the interview with Pauline Boss on the On Being podcast.
Read moreEpisode 87: Do This Before You Work on the /R/ Sound
This episode was brought to you by:
Here are a few units I recommend for students who are already at the sentence level or above (these include vocabulary and comprehension questions and are perfect for groups):
/r/ readings with a landforms theme targeting science standards
r readings bloodsuckers bundle
Tips discussed in this episode:
by completing a thorough speech sample, we learn more about how and when (and if!) a student is using the /r/ sound
completing a /r/ probe before we work on production will also make /r/ articulation speech therapy sessions be a lot less frustrating and more productive
use consistent terms with your students when describing the /r/ sound (“lip sound” “tongue sound” and a “strong /r/” are some of my favorites)
get your students lips out of the way by asking them to smile or by using some of the tips above
practice discrimination and see if your student can discriminate your productions as well as their own productions, either as old way /r/ sounds or strong /r/ sounds
Working on the /r/ sound is one of the trickiest sounds to work on in speech therapy. Remember to give it time. If it’s taking time, chances are - you are doing it right, it’s just going to take longer than you think it will.
Episode 86: Your Private Practice Questions Answered w/ Guest Host Martha Speech
Are you considering opening a private practice? Is opening your own clinic something you’ve thought about - or are you more serious about starting a practice this year?
In this episode, guest host Martha Speech interviews Sarah, and the following questions (and more!) are answered?
How do you get started with marketing?
How did you get your first clients?
Should I start with accepting insurance or private pay only?
Should you buy assessments right away?
How do I deal with no shows or canceled appointments? Should I charge for them?
What should I do while I’m still in my “day job” to prepare to open my clinic?
….and more
Connect with Martha Speech: Clinic Website, Instagram, Teachers Pay Teachers
Want occasional updates from us and the freebies that go with selected episodes? www.slphappyhour.com/newsletter
Would you consider reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts? https://apple.co/2PuZc8c
This episode was sponsored by SLP Happy Hour’s landforms /R/ reading unit, which you can find at: https://www.slphappyhour.com/shop/landforms
Time Stamps
2:40 Martha describes her private practice
4:00 Lightning Round
8:20 Martha asks - Why did you start a private practice?
8:48 What challenges did you face in your private practice that you didn’t see coming?
11:38 What do you recommend for marketing and what do you not recommend doing?
17:46 How did you get your first client?
24:30 I’ve heard horror stories about billing insurance - what was your experience?
(FYI I talked about filling out the application and being in network, I failed to mention it usually takes 3-4 months for insurance to process that paperwork packet to become in network.)
27:00 What is a prior authorization and how do you go through that process with clients?
30:10 How do you handle no shows and cancellations?
36:10 Do you do evaluations? And when did you purchase assessment materials?
41:26 How do you know when you need to hire administrative help?
43:50 How to find Martha Speech Online marthaspeech.com or Martha Speech on IG or TPT
44:57 Martha shares a self care challenge - use no shows and cancels to your advantage
“The regrets I do have about communication is not being direct...be direct and be compassionate.”
Sarah
“You do have to take a certain amount of calculated financial risk to start a clinic...that’s why not everyone does it.”
Sarah
Episode 85: A Framework for Making Small Changes that Lead to Big Results w/Robyn Downs
In this episode, Robyn Conley Downs shares her framework for making small changes add up to big results.
In this interview with Sarah, Robyn shares:
Her work history (including working with plenty of SLPs and children with Autism as a Behavioral Specialist) and why she decided to make some career changes
How self compassion for the days we don’t achieve our goals can help us keep going
A framework for making small changes the lead to big results
….and more