SLP Coffee Talk

Struggling with how to support a student who stutters without falling into the “fix it” trap? In this episode, Hallie sits down with Wendy Dietz, an SLP and clinic owner in Colorado who specializes in stuttering therapy, to chat all about what an acceptance-based approach really looks like. Wendy shares how a moving college essay first sparked her interest in stuttering, how the CARE model she learned at UT Austin completely shifted her perspective, and how she helps parents let go of all-or-nothing thinking about their child’s speech.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why fluency-focused early intervention isn’t backed by research and can cause harm
Helping parents move past “fixed” vs. “held back” thinking about their child’s stuttering
A student’s journey from a fluency-focused approach to self-advocacy and confidence
Why observable severity often doesn’t match a student’s internal experience of stuttering
What stuttering assessment looks like beyond disfluency counts
Resources for SLPs building skills and confidence in this niche 

Here’s what we learned: 
The goal is confident communication, not reducing or curing stuttering
A third path exists for parents beyond “fixed” or “struggling forever”
A student’s own attitude toward stuttering matters as much as how it sounds
Early education protects students from internalizing negative experiences later
Confidence in this niche comes from community involvement, not just coursework

Resources Mentioned:
Stop Guessing with Stuttering Therapy – Victoria Dertouzoc: https://speechtimefun.com/334-stop-guessing-with-stuttering-therapy/ 
A Human Approach to Stuttering and Neurodiversity – Ana Hernandez Episode: https://speechtimefun.com/336-a-human-approach-to-stuttering-and-neurodiversity/ 

Learn more about Wendy Dietz: 
Website: https://www.lifetimespeech.com/about 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifetimestuttering/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-dietz-m-s-ccc-slp-5236561a9 
Email: info@lifetimespeech.com 

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
🎤✨ 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 solo episode, Hallie unpacks one of her go-to therapy strategies for grades 4-12: word webs. She covers why this simple visual tool does so much heavy lifting in mixed therapy groups, how it hits multiple goals at once, and why it beats another boring vocabulary worksheet every time. If you've been looking for a way to teach vocabulary that actually sticks (and doesn't require a Pinterest-worthy setup), this episode is for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
What word webs are and how they help students connect meaning to a word instead of just memorizing a definition 
Why word webs support deeper processing and long-term carryover for vocabulary retention 
Which students benefit most from this visual, low-prep approach 
Ways to adapt word webs to feel age-appropriate for older, "too cool for therapy" students 
Using word webs to build emotional vocabulary beyond happy, sad, and mad 
How to introduce and scaffold the skill so it doesn't overwhelm students early on

Here’s what we learned: 
Word webs give repeated, meaningful exposure to a word, which is what makes vocabulary stick. 
No fancy prep needed. A whiteboard or sticky notes will do. 
One word web can hit different goals for different students in the same group. 
Start small and build complexity gradually to avoid overwhelming students. 
Making it relevant to their world (sports, social media, career goals) is what keeps older students engaged.

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

Feeling unsure about AAC? You're not alone. In this episode, Hallie sits down with Cassidy, a speech therapist and owner of Around the Spectrum Therapy in Pennsylvania, to talk through what makes AAC feel so overwhelming and how to move past the "getting it right" mentality. Cassidy shares her journey from knowing next to nothing about AAC to building a robust vocabulary approach with clients from as young as 17 months, plus practical ways to coach parents and teachers who feel stuck.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

Why AAC feels overwhelming for so many SLPs, from tech overload to inconsistent caseload exposure 
The mindset shift from "perfect system" to just diving in and learning alongside the child 
Robust vocabulary vs. simple grids, and reframing AAC as language input, not just output 
How to structure sessions around a child's actual interests, including working with action words and motor-driven kids 
Coaching parents and professionals to focus on small, sustainable wins instead of all-or-nothing use 

Here’s what we learned: 

AAC should be treated as another tool in the therapy toolbox, not a separate, high-pressure system 
Starting with robust vocabulary access early, even with very young or emerging communicators, can pay off long-term 
Small, specific wins (one word, one moment) build more momentum than pushing for constant device use 
Finding genuine joy and connection with the child matters more than following a rigid AAC plan 
Meeting parents and teachers where they are is just as important as meeting the student where they are

Learn more about Cassidy Kutchma: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechwithcassidy/ 
Website: https://www.speechwithcassidy.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthespectrumtherapy 
Website: https://www.aroundthespectrumtherapy.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aroundthespectrumtherapy 

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's back with returning guest Shelby Davis, a school-based SLP at Community High School in Teaneck, NJ, and a doctoral candidate at Monmouth University. Shelby's diving into the 5th-year transition program she's helping build for students on the spectrum and others with complex learning needs — designed to bridge the gap between high school and real independence. From vocational skill-building to community partnerships, Shelby walks through how the program came together, what SLPs can offer beyond the classroom, and how any SLP can bring these strategies into their own practice, transition program or not.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why four years isn't always enough — and what a 5th-year transition program looks like in practice 
Moving beyond classroom goals to communication students actually need at work, in the community, and at home 
The skill areas worth targeting: self-advocacy, executive functioning, vocational communication, problem-solving 
Real-world practice — job shadowing, budgeting trips, even a visit to the post office 
Why repetition and hands-on practice outside the classroom matters most for autistic and other diverse learners 
Getting SLPs, OTs, teachers, counselors, and families all working from the same playbook 
The resources behind the program — Speech Time Fun, a monthly themed curriculum, and the NYT Learning Network

Here’s what we learned: 

There's almost no existing research on 5th-year transition programs — which is part of why Shelby's building her doctoral work around it 
Real-world self-advocacy starts small: affirmation flashcards students can lean on when asking for help at a register or counter 
Admin buy-in came down to a clear proposal — mock curriculum, funding, staff certifications, not just an idea 
Parents said yes faster than expected — once they saw the goal was independence, not delay 
Bottom line for older students: treat them like people, not projects — connect to their interests first

Learn more about Shelby Davis: 

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

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 sits down with researchers Klaire Brumbaugh and Katy Cabbage, who are part of a team building a nationwide study around something secondary SLPs know all too well: the older student still working on that R who has zero interest in being in the speech room. They're developing tools to actually measure student motivation—so SLPs have real data behind decisions like when to keep kids on, when to discharge, and how to catch that window when a student is finally ready to do the work.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
What one SLP noticed in her high school speech room that kicked off this whole research project 
Why motivation is already being used as a dismissal criteria—but no one's actually measuring it 
What the research is finding so far—and where the big gaps still are 
What a nationwide study looks like and how SLPs can get involved

Here’s what we learned: 
When a student is intrinsically motivated, progress can happen in weeks—not years. 
Low motivation is already being used to dismiss kids from therapy, but there's no real way to measure or track it. 
Parents, teachers, and students often see the same speech sound disorder in completely different ways—and that gap can affect every decision you make. 
The best research ideas are already happening in school speech rooms. This whole study started because one SLP spoke up at a conference.

Learn more about Klaire Brumbaugh & Katy Cabbage: 

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

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