SLP Coffee Talk

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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Cary—school SLP, private practice clinician, and creator of the SLP Grad Student Instagram page—about finding your why and holding onto it when things get hard. Cary gets honest about the rejection letters, Praxis failures, and imposter syndrome she pushed through on her way to the field, and shares what the CF year really feels like when you're suddenly on your own. This one's for any SLP questioning whether they belong here.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
How a career aptitude test and a sister's nudge pointed Cary toward speech pathology 
What the transition from grad student to CF actually feels like 
Why failure in the Praxis isn't talked about—and why it should be 
How Cary survived grad school time management
What imposter syndrome looks like five years in—and how she pushes through it 
Why she chose her specific field and what community means to her

Here’s what we learned: 
Rejection is redirection. Failing the Praxis shows you exactly where your gaps are—use it. 
Overstudying isn't productive. Nine to three, then put it down.
If you don't know something, say so. People appreciate honesty over an answer that doesn't make sense. 
Imposter syndrome doesn't expire after your CF. Five years in, it still shows up. Push through anyway. 
Give yourself grace. A kid walking into your session and smiling counts as a win.

Learn more about Cary Mercado: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slpgradstudent/ 
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 gets real about one of the biggest challenges with older students—resistance. From crossed arms to "I'm only here because my mom made me," she breaks down why grades 4–12 students push back in the first place—it's not laziness—and walks through five practical steps for building genuine buy-in. This episode is full of compassion-first strategies, reframable language, and low-prep activity ideas that actually meet students where they are.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why resistance in older students is self-protection, not defiance 
The three things a resistant student is almost always trying to communicate 
How to start a buy-in conversation—even when you only have 25 minutes 
Why "world" beats "school" when making goals feel relevant
 The shift from fixing to coaching, and why it changes everything

Here’s what we learned: 
Resistance is information. Before you plan the activity, ask what they think they're there for. 
Students who've been in speech since early intervention are hyperaware of their difficulties—lead with compassion first. 
Tie your goals to their world: dating, jobs, group chats, driver's ed. Skip the school pitch. 
Let students have a say in how you work on a goal, even if they can't choose the goal itself. 
One activity can cover a million goals. Done and engaged beats perfect and checked out. 
Call yourself a language coach, not a speech teacher. The reframe matters more than you think. 
Buy-in is like charging a phone—you plug in consistently and watch the battery move.

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 chats with Allison Carpenter—elementary school SLP by day and telehealth provider by night—about what it actually looks like to work two jobs without running yourself into the ground. Allison traces her path from a private practice CF in small-town Texas to a school SLP in Dallas, and gets real about why burnout pushed her to make the switch. She breaks down exactly how she landed a part-time telehealth gig, how she structured her schedule to protect her energy, and why she keeps her private caseload at three kids and has zero interest in adding more. This episode is full of practical, permission-giving insight for any SLP curious about picking up extra income—on their own terms.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
Why Allison chose private practice for her CF—and why she doesn't regret it 
What burnout in private practice actually looked like for her
How a Facebook post led to a telehealth job she didn't even know she wanted 
How she structured her schedule across two jobs without burning out again

Here’s what we learned: 
Starting your CF in private practice puts you right next to experienced SLPs when you need them most. 
You control your private schedule. Decide your availability first and protect it like a meeting. 
A work from home day changes everything—and it's worth asking your district about. 
Teletherapy offers something in-person private practice can't always guarantee: consistency. 
Three kids, two days, done by 6:30. Know your number before your boss picks it for you.
Shutting your brain off on weekends isn't a luxury—it's what makes the whole thing sustainable.

Learn more about Allison Carpenter: 
TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/miss-speech-alli 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alli.misspeech/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alli.misspeech 

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 chats with Ebony Green—speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and founder of a thriving multidisciplinary clinic, The SPEAK Center for Language and Learning—about what it really takes to bet on yourself and build a business from scratch. Ebony shares her winding path from Teach for America teacher to SLP to CEO, gets real about the fears that almost kept her playing small, and breaks down how she diversified her income, built her team, and eventually stepped out of the day-to-day to pursue her passion for coaching and courses. This episode is full of practical strategy, hard-won honesty, and a much-needed reminder that you don't have to feel ready to start.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 
What pushed Ebony out of the schools and into private practice 
How she built multiple income streams from day one 
When she knew it was time to stop doing everything herself 
What seven years of monthly hiring taught her about people and culture 
How COVID became the catalyst for her courses and coaching community 

Here’s what we learned: 
Private practice doesn't require a perfect plan — it requires a first step. 
Diversify your income early so no single stream can sink the whole business. 
Build your brand online before you ever post a job listing — candidates are watching. 
Every failed hire teaches you what alignment actually looks like for your team. 
You don't have to start big — Ebony started solo with a trunk full of therapy materials. 
Delegation is what makes growth sustainable, not just possible. 
Working on your business instead of in it is the shift that separates operators from CEOs.

Learn more about Ebony Green: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-green-slp/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slpbizqueen/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespeakcenter/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-SPEAK-Center-for-Language-and-Learning-100063620978634/ 
Podcast: https://theslpbusinesspodcast.com/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theslpbusinesspodcast 

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