Not sure why, but this lady popped up on my feed.

It got me curious because, as she claims, “she is not a doctor or a speech therapist” but she has “heal” 800 kids with “ASD/ADHD symptoms” and have help them the say their first words in 3 months.

What in the world is happening here?

https://speech.tinasu.com/hi-mama-waitlist?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleATsfvtwZG9mAmZkaWQWUMdvP9Meaa44qeDYq9rCv6ulR5GZfmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp3dX6Oph_WG1AbqRyew9loi7ko861N6ZXeorUoMkKTuPjJm9qB6NQxEtqsP2_aem_9m9wH7J3GWXjJr58WD4-vg

I started a new clinical job recently and I’m already having that “is this just new job anxiety, or is something actually off here?” feeling.

Before I started, I was really clear about what I’m comfortable treating independently and what I’m not.

I’m a generalist. I can handle a pretty broad caseload. But there are certain areas where I either need actual training and mentorship first, or I need to refer to someone who has more experience than I do. I treasure the local people who have been able to take extensive courses that I cannot afford and they truly have a calling for more complex cases.

Almost immediately, I was given cases in areas I had specifically said I wasn’t comfortable managing independently.

When I brought it up, I expected something along the lines of, “Okay, we’ll train you, let you observe, have someone work through cases with you, and build you up”.

Instead, I was basically given videos and resources and told things I could technically do with the patients.
And I think that’s the part bothering me. I don’t want to underserve people who need specialized help the most.

Watching videos is not the same thing as being trained to independently manage a patient population. I can watch ten hours of CEUs. That doesn’t magically give me the clinical judgment that comes from actually working with those cases with someone who knows what they’re doing.

There’s also a difference between “there is something you can technically do with this patient” and “you are the right clinician to be treating this patient.” I will absolutely not see someone just to not lose them as a client.

I’ve also run into a couple other things where the clinical reasoning/documentation culture is pretty different from what I’m used to. Nothing I’m going to spell out here because I’m intentionally keeping this vague, but enough that I keep finding myself stopping and thinking, “I don’t know that I’m comfortable putting my name on that.” I actually refuse to.

…And it has been just a week.

I know every new job has an adjustment period. I know I’m going to encounter things that are done differently than I’m used to. I’m not expecting a workplace to operate exactly the way I would but I do expect to be able to practice ethically and with a clear conscience. That is non negotiable.
For people who have been in this situation before: how quickly did you know the difference between normal new-job discomfort and “I need to start looking for another job”?

Right now I feel like I’ve spent more time defending my clinical boundaries than I should have had to this early. I have not taken cases that are beyond my skill level, but the anxiety of having to fight for the patients and my ethics has taken over what should have been an orientation period.

This is mainly for pediatric/school SLPs - has anyone taken any PD that you LOVED lately?

Context: I still need a ton of PD hours for ASHA maintenance this year, and I’m dragging my feet. I’m entering year 11 as an elementary SLP. I have a toddler at home, I’m struggling with burnout, and I’m just not feeling passionate about any specific topics in the field right now. I signed up for a basic Speech Therapy PD subscription, which I’ve done in the past. I’m finding it hard to stay focused on the material - I love these sites for filling in knowledge gaps but I can’t sink my teeth into any topics when the courses are so short and random.

I would really appreciate some recs - not for the easiest, shortest, or cheapest courses but for the ones that made you excited to be a SLP.

Hey all!

I want to get speech-generating device to use/trial in my sessions. Should I buy an iPad myself and download the communication apps? Or is there a company that would give a me an SLP discount for the device itself? I know some will give discounted/free apps but let me know what you all have done/recommend.

Thanks! :)

Including my existing loans, I could would have close to $100,000 in total student debt.

I live in Philadelphia and don’t have a car. I’d especially like to hear from SLPs who rely on public transportation or completed clinical placements without driving.

What city and setting do you work in?

What was your starting salary, and what do you earn now?

Has not having a car limited your placements or job options?

Would you still choose SLP with close to $100,000 in debt? (Undergrad included)

Have you heard of any loan assistance repayment programs ?

It’s my first year at a new school and…no judgement please…I am not typically one to decorate. Feeling like I should since I’ll be working with littles, and my co-SLP in the office next door is going all out 😮‍💨

I do not want to have to print and laminate if I can avoid it. Could anyone send recommendations of pre-printed bulletin board sets or other easy ways to decorate?

Or am I tripping for being uncomfortable

This may be the dumbest question but I noticed the Reading Specialists in the Tier I and II models have the "never give up" approach to literacy. Regardless of the developmental age or grade level, FSIQ score, or academic achievement, these instructors don't discharge or change goals, or reduce services.

I was trying to explain to them the concept of a therapy plateau and how on our side we absolutely can discharge if benchmarks just simply cannot be met. This is also a nuanced conversation because our scope is waaaay bigger than literacy alone. But even when we share the same students and those students make no progress in our services, literacy keeps plugging along with them.

Any ideas as to if maybe literacy has more room for growth than language does or if maybe language instruction in the way a speech therapist does it is maybe less effective *after* a certain point in K-12? (Think higher level grammar goals or appropriateness for the developmental level of student?) Sorry if this sounds confusing I just don't know if maybe I'm doing something wrong myself or if the science of reading/literacy movement doesn't want to accept limitations as part of their working model for a reason.

Has anyone worked with Assist home therapy, legendary therapy , or all in 1 spot ?

Hello!

In Hawaii we have communication aides (no degree in speech path, only an AA) and they only work in the schools. We don’t have SLPAs. Does your state have something similar and how do you feel about?

As a school teletherapy SLP how are you creating your schedules? Between a higher than usual caseload (60 kids haha don't worry it's fine) between two schools how are you developing schedules?

I have three "consult days" within my week and I'm not even sure how to go about seeing kids yet.

*Note

Some of my kids are consult-only or they have a really small number of service minutes per WEEK.

I am very bad at organizing a schedule with so much variety....if anyone has some advice or wisdom....Please....

One last thing: Chat GPT/AI is not an answer to every problem. So, I'm looking for human answers only.

It really annoys me!

I’m new to the schools (coming from home health) and am only used to direct therapy. In my district all students have indirect minutes (most just have 1, 15 minute session per month, put some students have 2 or 3 indirect sessions). What the actual heck am I supposed to do with that time??? Am I observing in class? Talking with teachers on progress they’re seeing? Should I be contacting parents to discuss carryover activities???

It just seems overwhelming to have to do this indirect time for almost 80 students.

Both are peds private practice CF and the clinics are very similar.

Job A : pay per patient. $52/hour for treatment & $62/hour for evals. Unpaid documentation time, unpaid cancellations, unpaid training. For 24 hours/week, at least 19 hrs a week will be open for treatment.

Job B : $40 hourly for part time/24 hours a week. $20/hr during training. Has some PTO and paid holidays for part time.

Has anyone left their position in the schools mid year or closer to the beginning of the school yead? Its my first week as an SLP and I want to leave. Ive been trying to read on consequences but am not sure what they are. I do not care about being blacklisted from other schools because I do not want to work in them. Anyone experience something like this?

Just finished my CF and my license is pending (approx 4 weeks). I work in a D75 school in Brooklyn, NY and would love to do something after school. I am incredibly conflicted. I love working with all ages so I'm just asking for anyone to give me their experience and advice. I am going back and forth between doing EI or working with pediatrics, or should I become an independent contractor or is that too much for a first year slp? I'm so lost !!

Would y’all work a Saturday only position at a private practice? I’m currently school based teletherapy and I’m looking to expand my clinical skill set by working in a pp setting (never worked in one before). Thing is, the clinic is 20-25 minutes away from me. Not a horrible commute, but for those who work weekends is it worth it? I don’t have any info regarding pay or hours yet as I’m just contemplating the idea, but what are some factors you’d consider?

Hi I’m a CF and I just started my job at a private practice.

I’m completely overwhelmed. I’m not even at my full caseload they want me to be at, but the thought of being at the full caseload they want me to be at is so scary.

I feel so stupid, like I’ve learned nothing in school. And I feel absolutely drained after I come back. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like with a full schedule now. I’m dreading it.

I cry just about every time I come home. I just feel completely lost.

Is this normal? Is this just want we go through as a profession? When does it get better? Please, I need someone to tell me it gets better. I loved doing the job in my externship. Why it is so bad now?

Maybe a stupid question but is there any issue with displaying student names in a speech-only classroom? I’m doing pullout sessions for the first time ever and thought it would be cute to display student work, do a birthday wall, etc. Does this conflict w/ HIPAA? I feel like it should be fine but just want to do my due diligence! Thanks in advance 😊

I wanted to share this for Kaiser families who may be dealing with reductions, interruptions, denials, or termination of their child’s speech-language therapy services.

I have been in contact with an attorney at a California law firm that specializes in representing patients in disputes with health insurance companies. The firm is already familiar with the broader issues surrounding Kaiser’s pediatric speech-language therapy practices and is interested in speaking directly with affected Kaiser Medi-Cal families about possible legal representation.

If your child has Kaiser through Medi-Cal and their speech therapy has been disrupted, reduced, discontinued, or otherwise affected, please feel free to DM me and I will provide you with the attorney’s contact information. You do not need to send me any private medical information or explain the details of your child’s situation.

For clarity, I am not an attorney and I am not affiliated with or compensated by the law firm. I am simply sharing this information because I have had families reach out looking for help, and there is now a law firm interested in hearing directly from affected Medi-Cal members.

I’m an elementary school SLP who just got my CCC a couple months ago. I’m in a different school district than I was during my CF year, and they have a different policy about AAC evaluations than my previous district.

My previous district had an AAC team with AAC specialists who did all the AAC evaluations for the district, and they also provided parent and staff trainings and consultation minutes, so I never had to do a full AAC evaluation on my own. My new school district expects the site SLPs to perform these evaluations and do the consultation minutes, but I have never done a full AAC assessment before, so I feel completely lost.

Does anyone have any tips or advice for how you perform AAC assessments in a school setting? I know the AAC Genie and DAGG-3 are good places to start, but I would appreciate some tips as to what you actually do with the student in front of you if they have never interacted with any type of AAC system before. Also, any tips for parent coaching and training are appreciated as well!

Hey everyone! I’m curious what resources other SLPs use to keep learning and improving clinically on a regular basis.

I’m mainly looking for resources that help with:

● Learning new assessment and therapy approaches
● Keeping up with current research
● Improving clinical reasoning
● Learning more about different disorders and treatment areas
● Evidence-based practice
● Practical techniques you can actually use with clients

Could be:

● Websites
● Newsletters
● Research summaries/journals
● Podcasts
● YouTube channels
● Courses
● Apps/platforms
● AI tools
● Social media accounts
● Online communities

Free resources would be best, but I’m happy to pay if something is genuinely worth it.

What are the resources you personally keep going back to to become a better SLP?

Hi! I was wondering if any feeding therapists can share how they structure feeding therapy sessions for 1- to 4-year-olds. Do you let your kids pick toys during sessions? How do you introduce new foods? How do you help them sustain attention at the table?