SLP Coffee Talk

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Karin Hartunian Koukeyan—a speech-language pathologist with 28 years of experience and founder of SpeechFit—about a topic that might surprise you: public speaking. Karin shares her winding SLP journey from bilingual child interpreter to telepractice pioneer to private practice owner, and dives into why SLPs are uniquely equipped to help clients (and colleagues!) overcome public speaking anxiety. From IEP meetings to parent nights to real estate presentations, this conversation is packed with practical strategies, an eye-opening look at communication coaching as a service offering, and a reminder that it's never too late to color outside the lines in your career.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
How Karin's multilingual upbringing led her to SLP and eventually public speaking coaching 
Why SLPs are uniquely qualified to address public speaking anxiety 
Practical strategies for managing nerves and communicating more effectively 
How public speaking coaching translates to working with middle and high schoolers 
Building a communication coaching side hustle or private practice offering

Here’s what we learned: 
Public speaking anxiety affects up to 90% of people—and SLPs are uniquely equipped to help. 
The pause is your most powerful tool. Say something, let it land, and resist the urge to fill the silence. 
Frameworks and scripting train the brain to communicate more confidently—whether it's an IEP meeting or a big presentation. 
Breath work, visualization, and role-playing are go-to strategies for taming nerves before and during a talk. 
Adding dialogue to a story instantly makes it more engaging—try it with your middle and high schoolers too. 
Communication coaching is a real and viable private practice offering for clients who need support but don't qualify for traditional services.

Learn more about Karin Hartunian Koukeyan: 
Website: https://www.speechfitslp.com/ 
Website: https://karin-hartunian-koukeyan.mykajabi.com/sign-up-for-speechfit-slp-courses-8884c4d7-381e-49b9-8f2c-0d41b49592dc 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechfitslp/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/speechfit-slp 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  
📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/
🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup
📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is serving up some real talk about data collection—and it might just change the way you run your sessions. If you've ever felt more like a clipboard than a clinician, or wondered why your students seem disengaged halfway through therapy, this one's your permission slip to breathe. Hallie breaks down why constant data collection can actually block progress, how to collect better data (not just more of it), and why teaching always needs to come before testing. She's sharing practical strategies for mixed groups, explaining why one quality data point is enough, and reminding us all that connection matters more than tally marks.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why constant data collection turns therapy into testing instead of teaching. 
The power of anecdotal data over endless tally marks and percentages. 
How to break down annual goals into smaller, achievable milestones. 
Teaching first, data second: a framework for more effective sessions. 
Managing data collection in mixed groups with limited time.

Here’s what we learned: 

Students don't grow from being measured—they grow from being supported. 
One quality data point per session is still meaningful data. 
Anecdotal notes tell the story that numbers alone can't capture. 
You don't need to target the annual goal every single session—pit stops and detours are part of the journey. 
Connection over data collection leads to real, meaningful progress and student engagement.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  
📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/
🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup
📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets

Hallie chats with Maddie Burrington about having fun in your work and remembering your “why”!
In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Maddie Burrington—an elementary school SLP in Dallas and social media creator—about making speech the coolest club in school, setting boundaries to avoid burnout, and remembering your why. Maddie shares her journey from private practice burnout to falling in love with elementary schools, how she creates themed sessions that have kids begging for their turn, and why leaving work at work changed everything. You'll also hear about gratitude journaling, hobbies outside of speech, and building community through relatable content. Whether you're a new CF or a veteran SLP, this conversation is packed with practical tips, real talk, and reminders that you can't pour from an empty cup.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Maddie's SLP journey—from grad school through her CF year 
Making the leap from private practice to elementary schools 
Jumping into SLP social media and building community 
Setting boundaries, work-life balance, and hobbies that keep you sane 
Remembering your why and using gratitude journaling to avoid burnout

Here’s what we learned: 
Themed sessions keep kids engaged—they're working on goals without even realizing it. 
Setting boundaries early prevents burnout—leave your laptop at work, there are no speech emergencies. 
Making speech fun creates buy-in—kids should feel like they're in an exclusive cool club. 
Gratitude journaling helps you reflect and grow—both personally and professionally. 
Finding community matters—sharing relatable content connects SLPs who understand what you're going through.

Learn more about Maddie Burrington: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmaddieslp/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missmaddieslp
Hoo.be: https://hoo.be/missmaddie 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  
📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/
🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup
📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets

Hallie chats with Tamara Anderson about language and literacy connection and more!
In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Tamara Anderson—a speech-language pathologist, education specialist, and passionate literacy advocate—about the powerful connection between language and literacy in our therapy rooms. Tamara shares her journey into literacy specialization, breaks down the difference between what we do as SLPs versus what teachers do, and offers practical tips for assessments, engaging reluctant readers, and supporting multilingual learners. You'll also learn how to make literacy therapy fun with books, games, and culturally responsive practices that honor the whole child. Whether you're wondering if you're "doing it right" with literacy or looking for fresh ideas to bring into your sessions, this conversation is full of insight, real talk, and reminders that connection always comes before data collection.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
The SLP's unique role in literacy
Assessment tools and DIY informal probes you can create today 
Making literacy fun for students who hate books 
Multicultural considerations and ethical assessment practices 
Building holistic services that see the whole child

Here’s what we learned: 
SLPs use a therapeutic language lens—targeting morphology, semantics, and syntax, not curriculum standards. 
Create your own informal probes for vocabulary, directions, inferences, and verbal reasoning. 
Engagement is everything—use themed books, games, and enthusiasm to hook reluctant readers. 
Ethical assessment requires case histories and bilingual resources for multilingual learners. 
Connection over data collection—know your students as whole people, not just IEP goals.

Learn more about Tamara Anderson: 
Website: http://buildingsuccessfullives.com 
Website: http://andersonmulticulturalbooks.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingsuccessfullives/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSLSpeechLanguage 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKUwYkbSnH987kX5qxmBkrQ 
Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/presenters/tamara-anderson
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/tamara-anderson
Freebie: WH Questions: The Three Snow Bears

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  
📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/
🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup
📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is tackling something we’ve ALL felt—the Sunday Scaries. You know that pit in your stomach when the weekend winds down and suddenly you’re spiraling about therapy plans, data collection, that one impossible group, and your inbox? Hallie shares the story of Jay, an SLP Elevate member who has every material she could ever need at her fingertips but still messaged saying, “I have everything, why do I still get the Sunday scaries?” If you’ve ever felt this way (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), this episode is your reminder that feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you care. Hallie’s breaking down why the scaries show up, how to give yourself permission to keep it simple, and why your students don’t need you to be perfect on Monday morning—they just need you to show up with a smile and be present.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why the Sunday scaries mean you give a damn (and maybe had too much cold brew).
The magic formula: log in, pick ONE thing, print it, and close the laptop.
The key ingredients to successful sessions: compassion, understanding, creativity, and adaptability.
Why using one resource across your whole caseload isn’t lazy—it’s smart and saves your sanity.

Here’s what we learned: 
The Sunday Scaries are normal—even with all the best resources.
Just pick something and let that be enough—because it IS enough.
Your students feel it too, so use that shared Monday struggle to build connection.
You don’t have to be 100% to do a good job—presence beats perfection every time.
Leave Sundays for YOU and protect your weekends like your sanity depends on it.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  
📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/
🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup
📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book
Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets