SLP Coffee Talk

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie gets honest with new grads and CFs who are quietly wondering if they’re already behind. She talks through what imposter syndrome actually looks and feels like in those early weeks — the brain-blank first session, the late-night Google spiral — and why all of it is completely normal. If you’re a new SLP asking “what if I can’t do this?”, this one was made for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

Why imposter syndrome hits hardest when no one’s watching
Four things that will actually get you through those early sessionsShrink the moment — just pick one thing to target
One activity, stretched across every group and goal you’ve got
Narrate your thinking out loud — that’s the therapy
Expect the clunky sessions — even the veterans have them

Hallie’s recipe for a speech lesson that works no matter what

Here’s what we learned: 

Feeling clueless doesn’t mean you’re underprepared. It means you’re new.
Language is hard because it overlaps with everything — slow progress is still progress.
Adaptability is the skill that will carry you further than any material or lesson plan ever will.
The confident SLP you’re trying to be right now is built through exactly these messy, uncertain moments.
You don’t have to do this alone — and there’s no rule that says you have to.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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

🎓✨ Grab your free spot at CF Bootcamp 2026 here! https://www.speechtimefun.com/cfbootcamp2026​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 
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 breaks down the realistic SLP toolkit that no grad program actually prepares you for. She walks through what new grads really need before stepping into their CF year — from skipping the summer shopping spree to treating week one like a recon mission. If you’re a brand new SLP wondering where to even begin, this one’s for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Don’t buy everything this summer — wait until you know your caseload
Treat your first week like a detective mission, not a performance
Ask your colleagues everything — they are your lifeline
Keep therapy simple — one activity can serve multiple groups and goals
Build systems over perfection — predictable routines beat elaborate lesson plans
Give yourself permission to be new

Here’s what we learned: 
Done is better than perfect — especially when you don’t even know what perfect looks like yet.
Your colleagues have been where you are and most of them are happy to help.
Adaptability is the one skill that will save your sanity more than any material ever will.
Simple routines protect your students just as much as they protect you.
Being new doesn’t make you an imposter. It makes you human.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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

🎓✨ Grab your free spot at CF Bootcamp 2026 here! https://www.speechtimefun.com/cfbootcamp2026

🎤✨ The Speech Retreat is Back! Learn more and register here!
https://www.speechretreat.com ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

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 chats with Daj Mitchell—school-based SLP, online educator, and Illinois State University graduate—about getting everyone on board with AAC. With over six years of experience serving pediatric and adult clients across settings, Daj breaks down her buy-in stair step framework and explains why many SLPs accidentally skip to the last step. She shares practical strategies for coaching parents and staff, building real collaboration, and improving carryover beyond the therapy room. They also explore Daj’s work in AI, AAC, and neurodiversity-affirming care, along with how she supports fellow clinicians through education and social media. This one’s for any SLP who’s ever handed a family a home program and never heard about it again.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

What the AAC buy-in stair step framework actually looks like
How adult learning theory applies to parent and stakeholder coaching
Why video modeling works better than handouts for skeptical caregivers
How to use Google Forms, scheduled emails, and templates to manage AAC collaboration without eating your lunch
What an AAC profile spreadsheet is and why Daj swears by it
How to extend the same coaching framework to teachers, paras, and admin

Here’s what we learned: 

Buy-in has three parts. Acceptance, willingness to support, and active participation are not the same thing—and most caregivers are only at step one.
Don’t skip ahead. Handing over a home program before a caregiver is ready guarantees the device stays on the refrigerator.
Adults need a reason. Connect AAC to something that already matters in their life and they’ll move faster.
Start with one win. Find the routine they actually care about and build from there.
Set it and forget it. Once your emails and forms are built, your collaboration system basically runs itself.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more about Daj Mitchell: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourslpdaj/ 

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 tackles the real reason your middle and high school students check out the moment you explain the session goal — and it’s not the goal itself. She walks through five signs your explanation isn’t clicking and how to flip each one so students actually get it. If your students would rather do anything but be in your session, this one’s for you.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Sign #1: Your goal explanation is landing like broccoli — relevant to school, irrelevant to them
Sign #2: Your worksheets disappear after session and connect to nothing real
Sign #3: You’re drilling a skill your student thinks they already have
Sign #4: Your reading passages feel like homework 2.0 with zero payoff
Sign #5: You’re collecting data the whole session instead of actually teaching​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Here’s what we learned: 
Don’t lead with school. Lead with what they already care about — gaming, streaming, social media.
Relevance doesn’t require new materials. A 30-second framing conversation changes everything.
Students aren’t resistant to learning. They’re resistant to pointless practice.
Data without teaching is just numbers. Slow down, teach first, collect at the end.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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 Sherman chats with Bradi O’Rourke, owner of Braxy Speech Therapy, all about the magic of play-based, child-led therapy.
Bradi breaks down how ditching rigid, drill-heavy sessions and leaning into connection, creativity, and a little bit of mess can lead to more meaningful communication. She shares how meeting kids where they are, following their lead, and making therapy feel natural (and actually fun!) can create real progress that carries over beyond the session.
If you’re ready to loosen up your sessions and make therapy feel more engaging for both you and your students, this episode is for you.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
-What play-based, child-led therapy actually looks like beyond just “playing games”
-Why connection over compliance leads to more meaningful communication
-How to naturally target speech and language goals within play
-The mindset shift from therapist-led sessions to following the child’s lead
-How to handle parents who expect more structured, drill-based therapy
-Why functional goals matter—and how to rethink them in real-life contexts
-How involving parents during sessions can boost carryover at home

Here’s what we learned:
If it’s not functional in play, it’s probably not a functional goal.
Kids learn best when they feel safe, engaged, and in control of their environment.
You don’t need a perfect plan—your skills as an SLP will show up naturally in play.
Connection and engagement will always beat rigid structure and drills.
Educating parents is key—once they understand the “why,” they’re more likely to trust the process.
Progress doesn’t always look structured—but it is happening.
Learn more about Bradi O’Rourke:
Instagram: @braxy_speech_therapy

Website: www.braxyspeechtherapy.com
Product downloads on my website: www.braxyspeechtherapy.com/category/all-products
Email Address
[email protected]

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