Part of a school therapist’s job is getting buy-in from the entire IEP team, but that can be difficult to do when team members don’t agree on what’s best for a student. That’s why in episode 86 of the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast, I walk through several case studies from my mentoring group to…
Category: Speech Pathology
EP 86: Navigating workplace conflict and getting team buy-in
One of the most powerful ways to provide comprehensive services for K-12 kids is by collaborating with other therapists and teachers… Which is why it’s frustrating when team members can’t come to a consensus about what’s best for kids. When you’re working together as a team, at least some conflict is inevitable. That’s why I…
EP 85: Effective clinical supervision and creating leadership opportunities
If you’re a pediatric therapist or service provider, chances are you do some form of “supervising”, whether it’s in your job title or not. Part of being an effective clinical leader comes from working as a team and training others to do what we do, so kids can get support across settings. That’s why it’s…
EP 84: Why you should plan for service delivery instead of planning for therapy
One of the biggest challenges for pediatric therapists is making sure their caseload has support across the day and across settings. This becomes incredibly difficult to do with limited direct therapy time and when service providers are working in silos. That’s why one of the most important things you can do to serve your caseload…
EP 83: How to provide high-quality support for your caseload with the “asset stack” method
A lot of your clinical training taught you how to be a good clinician. But often it doesn’t teach you how to “work the system” and get your kids what they need. The truth is, you can’t make an impact without autonomy over your time, without adequate tools, without the right people, support, and financial…
EP 82: The Danger of the Comfort Zone
In episode 82 of the “Are they 18 yet?®” Podcast, I sit down with my friend and mentor Stephanie Hayes and talk about comfort zones. I share my experiences within the context of my personal business, but this applies to therapists as well. Specifically, I share how the pandemic impacted the way I provide services…
EP 81: Whose job is it to work on executive functioning?
In the School of Clinical Leadership, I’ve devoted an entire suite of programs to educating professionals on executive functioning. Even though the focus of the program is about career development and leadership, I believe that any professional working with K-12 kids needs extensive knowledge of executive functioning in order to lead effectively. I’ve likely given…
EP 65: Rerelease: Burnout, boundaries, and systems
In episode 65 of the Are They 18 Yet?® Podcast, I take a break from the regular content to talk about burnout and boundaries; and specifically how I use systems to help me set healthy boundaries and reduce burnout. Back when I started working as an SLP in 2004, I found there was one area…
EP 60: Traveling with autistic kids (with Dawn Barclay)
When it comes to supporting autistic kids, I’ve come across a lot of resources that help with the home and school environments. But many families aren’t sure how to navigate unexpected and novel situations with their kids; which means travel is often out of the question. That’s why I wanted to interview special needs travel…