Work Life Balance for Speech Pathologists: Mindful Time Management Tips for Therapists, Clinicians, & Private Practice Owners

Theresa Harp
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast about coaching strategies and time management tips for busy SLPs, PTs, OTs, therapists, and private practice owners who want to feel successful in their personal and professional life at the same time. Let's take back control of your time! 

  1. 6d ago

    160. Stuck Rewriting the Same Email? Here's Why - And What To Do

    Have you ever burned 25 minutes rewriting a “simple” email (rescheduling a session, for example) because you couldn’t get the tone right? If you’ve been stuck in the loop of typing, deleting, retyping, and overanalyzing every word, this episode will help you understand why it happens (and why it’s not a character flaw). In this episode, I’m sharing the hidden cognitive load behind “sounding right” and the two biggest barriers that are keeping you stuck in analysis-paralysis. You’ll walk away with a simple structure you can default to, plus a few rules that make it easier to write clearly, kindly, and hit send. What You’ll Learn Why email/text “tone” can feel like a million invisible decisions happening at onceHow executive function load makes writing harder—especially when you’re already overwhelmedThe mindset traps that fuel the spiral (people-pleasing, over-apologizing, trying to manage someone else’s reaction)A simple 3-line structure to use when you’re stuck: what’s happening, what’s changing, what happens nextHow to set a “clear + kind” goal (instead of chasing perfect) and stop rereading endlessly To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  2. Jul 14

    159. AI for a Hijacked Day: 5 Ways I Use It (Without Spiraling)

    When my day gets hijacked (sick kid, surprise meeting, total schedule chaos), the hardest part isn’t “fixing the calendar.” It’s the executive-function load of holding everything in my head while I try to make decisions, communicate clearly, and not melt down.  In this episode, I walk you through the 5 concrete ways I use AI as executive-function scaffolding on a hijacked day so I can externalize the chaos, clarify what actually matters, and sequence my next steps without getting stuck in analysis paralysis.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn:  The 3 roles AI plays for me on chaotic days: externalize, clarify, sequenceHow I use a voice-memo brain dump + AI summary to get the mess out of my head fastHow I ask for a “minimum viable” definition of done when I’m operating at 20% capacity How I use AI to generate 2–3 decision options How I use AI to draft clear reschedule messages (and avoid over-explaining) Resources Mentioned: Ep. 157. Scheduling Curveballs (Without the Mom Guilt) Ep. 158. Rescheduling Isn’t “Just Moving Things”: It’s an Executive Function Nightmare To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  3. Jul 7

    158. Rescheduling Isn’t “Just Moving Things”: It’s an Executive Function Nightmare

    Okay, okay...maybe that title is a bit dramatic. But seriously: rescheduling your day sounds simple enough until you’re actually in it. In this episode, I'm breaking down why a “hijacked day” (sick kid, unexpected meetings, constant interruptions) doesn’t just create a scheduling problem -- it can send our executive functioning skills into overload.  Using Dawson & Guare’s Executive Functioning Skills framework, you’ll learn what’s actually happening in your brain when plans change and why it can feel so hard, especially if you have ADHD. This isn’t about excuses. It’s about understanding the real problem so that you can get to real solutions.  In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why rescheduling is more than “moving things around”The executive functioning skills being used all at once (and where the breakdowns tend to happen)The power of the pause: creating space between trigger and reactionWhy emotional regulation is the gateway to better decision-makingHow working memory + time constraints + interruptions create the perfect stormCognitive flexibility: getting out of all-or-nothing thinking when the plan changes Mentioned In This Episode: Dawson, P., Guare, R., & Guare, C. (2024). Smart but scattered: The revolutionary “executive skills” approach to helping kids reach their potential (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press. Ep. 157: Scheduling Curveballs (Without the Mom Guilt)Episodes Coming Soon: AI tools I'm using to reduce the mental loadWhy email wording/tone becomes its own executive function rabbit hole To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  4. Jun 30

    157. Scheduling Curveballs (Without the Mom Guilt)

    Full disclosure: I recorded this episode the night before it goes live because, well, life happened. One of my kids came home sick, my focus was fried, and I had to make real-time decisions about rescheduling and protecting my boundaries. Then I found a second curveball: someone booked on a day I’m off (because I hadn’t updated my calendar). In this episode, I walk you through how I coached myself through it so you can borrow the mindset shifts and the practical strategies the next time your schedule blows up.  What You’ll Learn: How I stay considerate and professional without apologizing for being a parent and business ownerA simple reframe I use (The circumstance is neutral, the meaning I attach is optional.)Why rescheduling takes serious executive function (decision-making, working memory, planning, prioritizing)How I reduce the cognitive load when I have to reschedule (especially on low-focus days)What I do when systems and scheduling tools fail—and how I use that failure as useful data Why systems can support boundaries, but can’t replace your responsibility to set/hold/communicate them Key Takeaways: You can apologize for short notice or inconvenience without apologizing for your boundariesA scheduling mishap isn’t proof you’re scattered, it’s information you can use to adjust your systemIf rescheduling feels hard, maybe that’s because it is hard. But it can get easier.  To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  5. Jun 23

    156. When “Work Less” Makes You Miserable

    I used to think the answer to work-life balance was always “less work” — fewer hours, tighter boundaries, more space. But I recently noticed something uncomfortable: even with a schedule that looked balanced on paper, I was showing up at home more snippy and resentful than calm and present.  In this episode, I’m talking about the version of imbalance nobody warns you about: when you’ve dialed work down so hard (usually out of burnout fear) that you start playing small, and it quietly leaks into your mood, your energy, and your relationships. If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I still feel off when I’ve done all the ‘right’ things?” this one will land. Why “balance” can’t be solved by a perfect schedule (even when the schedule looks ideal)How overcorrecting after burnout can lead to playing small — and feeling resentful anywayWhat to look for when you feel cranky/off at home (that actually starts in your work life)How to redefine balance as alignment with your values (not just fewer hours)A simple question to help you recalibrate without adding more time to your day To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  6. Jun 16

    155. What Part of You Doesn’t Want This to Be Easy? (Let’s Talk About It.)

    Ever notice how you can see an easier way, yet still choose the hard way?  In this episode, I’m digging into the uncomfortable question: what part of you doesn’t want things to be easy? When it comes to work, motherhood, and productivity, why are subconsciously making it harder than it needs to be?  I'm sharing five hidden patterns that keep high-achieving women (especially SLPs and private practice owners) stuck in hard mode.  If you’ve been trying to solve a mindset problem with a new planner, a tighter system, or a 5 am wake-up call, this one is for you.  You’ll Learn:  Why “hard” can feel like proof you’re doing it right (and why that’s a trap) The identity patterns that make "easy" feel unsafe or unfamiliarHow complexity can masquerade as control (and quietly drain your energy)The difference between sustainable success vs. survival modeA simple question to ask yourself when you’re overcomplicating somethingRelated Episodes: Episode 73: Why You Don’t Want Work-Life BalanceEpisode 97: This Is What They Didn’t Teach Us About Being an SLP Episode 102: Your Job Is Not Your Identity (Even If You're Damn Good At It) Want Support? If this hit a little too close to home, book a free consult so we can uncover what’s driving your hard mode and what it would look like to create sustainable success you actually enjoy. To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  7. Jun 9

    154. Stop Making Everything Harder Than It Needs To Be

    If you’ve ever taken a basic task and somehow turned it into a life-or-death project, this episode is for you. That “why is everything so intense?” feeling isn’t proof you’re responsible — it’s usually a sign your default mode is hard.  In today's episode, I’m naming what’s actually driving that pattern and why it shows up so much for high-achieving SLPs, especially when you add ADHD to the mix. And I’m giving you one simple question to start loosening your grip today.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn:  Why “hard” often feels like “better” (even when it’s just burning you out) How over-preparing can be a sneaky attempt to avoid judgment or criticism How ADHD/EF challenges (novelty, complexity, rabbit holes, time blindness) fuel hard modeA grounding question to interrupt the spiral: “How would I do this if it had to be easy?” How this pattern impacts energy, relationships, and decision fatigue — and why it mattersWant support untangling this in real life? I can help. Book a free consult today. To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

  8. Jun 2

    153. The Thought Loop That’s Running Your Life (And You Don’t Even Notice It)

    Stop believing everything you think -- it may be the single most useful skill you can learn. You have a voice in your head running commentary all day long, and it’s shaping your experience of work-life balance more than you realize. If that inner monologue leans harsh, it’s not just annoying…it’s quietly directing how you feel, what you do, and who you are. In this episode, I’m talking about why your life doesn’t change just because your situation does, and how to start changing it from the inside out. If you’ve ever hit a goal and still felt like a fraud (or you’re exhausted from trying to push yourself just a little bit harder), this is for you. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why thoughts aren’t facts (even when they feel very convincing) How your beliefs filter what you notice and “prove” to you all day long Why goals don’t automatically create confidence, ease, or self-trust A simple set of questions to challenge unhelpful thought loops How to build more believable thoughts using “ladder” steps and micro-evidence  To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks! Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

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5
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16 Ratings

About

A podcast about coaching strategies and time management tips for busy SLPs, PTs, OTs, therapists, and private practice owners who want to feel successful in their personal and professional life at the same time. Let's take back control of your time! 

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