This episode focuses on building belonging in speech therapy sessions. I share three different definitions of belonging, and then focus on simple principles and strategies to help our students and clients experience a sense of belonging in the speech room and beyond. These include fostering a sense of ownership and agency, establishing routines that encourage belonging, honoring student identities, having high expectations for students and helping them meet these expectations, addressing the challenges of transitions, and helping students connect to their core values. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:___

In this episode, I discuss mental health basics for SLPs and their students and clients. I share why I'm passionate about this topic, and why I decided to focus on it in this episode. I talk about the variety of mental health crisis lines that are available, and encourage listeners to use them if needed. I also share basic information about common mental health warning signs, and highlight some of the communities that are at increased risk for mental health concerns. Throughout the episode, I emphasize the importance of reaching out for support from a mental health expert if you are concerned about yourself or others. The show notes for the episode include links to multiple resources and can be accessed here:___

This episode discusses the importance of hearing care and protection. I review the concept of decibels and the difference between sound intensity and sound loudness, and talk about how excessive noise exposure damages our hearing. I focus on how to educate students and clients about hearing protection, and share some hearing protection tips for a variety of age groups. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:

This episode is about neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy. I review the basic terminology of the neurodiversity paradigm, and explain what inspired the creation of this episode. I acknowledge the concerns that some SLPs have about the neurodiversity movement, and share why I'm excited to be a neurodiversity-affirming SLP. I also offer my favorite idea for getting started with neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy.

This episode is about using music to support speech and language skills in our speech therapy sessions. I introduce some of the research that supports connections between music and learning, and then provide a variety of practical ideas for how to use music in speech therapy with both older and younger students. The episode concludes with a brief exploration of how music is experienced in the Deaf community. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:

This episode is about ideas for spring-themed speech therapy sessions. I discuss how to use nature in spring-themed speech therapy sessions, including observing the weather, going on nature walks, and planting seeds. I include options for adapting these ideas for different contexts, including teletherapy. I also share spring-themed picture book recommendations, and ideas for spring-themed speech therapy sessions with middle school and high school students. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:

This episode focuses on the important role that SLPs can play in helping their students and clients feel safe and ready to learn. I review basic information about trauma, and then cover topics related to trauma-informed speech therapy. The episode includes an explanation of the principles of trauma-informed care, and practical suggestions for how to put them into practice during your speech therapy sessions. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:

This episode discusses how to be an anti-ableist SLP. In the episode, I talk about the importance of recognizing ableism's influence, and then actively pushing back against it by using inclusive language, being thoughtful about our goal choices, supporting accessibility for disabled SLPs, and addressing ableist microaggressions. Go here to access the show notes ==> https://www.thedigitalslp.com/podcast/how-to-be-an-anti-ableist-slp/

This episode is all about new perspectives on stuttering and it's the second half of a 2-part series. Make sure to listen to part one first so it all comes together. In this episode, I address topics like stuttering gain, concepts of stutter-affirming therapy, key elements of effective self-disclosure, and intersectionality. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/TSSEP126