The Speech Space Podcast

Jessica Cassity, M.S., CCC-SLP
  • 4.8 (112)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
The Speech Space Podcast

Looking for some fresh ideas for your speech therapy sessions? The Speech Space podcast is a podcast full of tips and resources for speech-language pathologists working in the schools or private practice.

  1. SLPs and Conflict Management

    DEC 3

    SLPs and Conflict Management

    This episode is about SLPs and conflict management. It opens with a discussion of Nonviolent Communication, an approach that focuses on using empathy during challenging interactions. There are four main components in Nonviolent Communication: observation, feelings, needs and requests. A core understanding within Nonviolent Communication is that everything we do is in service of our needs. This idea can help us understand why others do what they do—and why we do what we do! Nonviolent Communication also uses animal metaphors to describe different communication styles. Jackal communication is aggressive and judgmental, and operates with a limited perspective. Giraffe communication comes from the heart, and it uses a more expansive perspective. After exploring Nonviolent Communication, I talk about strategies from Harvard’s Program on Negotiation. These strategies focus on finding common ground during a conflict. I close the episode with a reminder that listening can be one of our most powerful actions in a conflict. In his book Never Split the Difference, well-known hostage negotiator Chris Voss emphasizes that the listener is the participant who controls a conversation.

    15 min
  2. Powerful Communication Tips for SLPs

    NOV 5

    Powerful Communication Tips for SLPs

    This episode shares communication tips to use during situations that tend to involve complex and nuanced conversations; e.g., at family gatherings over the holidays, and during meetings with parents or caregivers. The strategies that are included in the episode come from three recently released books about communication. The first book I discuss is Permission to Speak, by Samara Bay. The tips from this book include deep belly breathing and an intentional approach to glottal fry and upspeak. The second book I discuss is Supercommunicators, by Charles Duhigg. The tips from this book include knowing what type of conversation you are having, looping for understanding, and preparing for conversations ahead of time. The third book I discuss is How to Know a Person, by David Brooks. The tip from this book is all about working towards using communication to see the best in others.

    14 min
  3. Supporting Increased Diversity in the SLP Profession

    OCT 1

    Supporting Increased Diversity in the SLP Profession

    This episode discusses the reasons why it’s important to support increased diversity in the SLP profession. I provide demographic information related to the SLP field, and then share results from two studies that indicate improved outcomes for patients and students when they have a shared racial or ethnic identity with their medical providers and/or teachers. I explain that in school settings, approximately 80% of students who receive SLP services are not white, and because 90% of SLPs are white, this mismatch could negatively impact student outcomes. Throughout the episode, I propose simple actions that SLPs can take to help make increased diversity a reality in our profession.

    15 min
  4. Top Five Evaluation Tips for SLPs

    SEP 17

    Top Five Evaluation Tips for SLPs

    This episode covers the top five evaluation tips for SLPs. I discuss the difference between the terms “evaluation” and “assessment,” and offer five practical tips to help make the evaluation process easier for SLPs. These tips include learning about the student’s strengths, making the language sample analysis process more efficient, using templates for reports, collaborating with families and teachers, and gathering baseline data during the evaluation process. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:___

    16 min
  5. Building Belonging in Speech Therapy

    SEP 3

    Building Belonging in Speech Therapy

    This episode focuses on building belonging in speech therapy sessions. I share three different definitions of belonging, and then focus on simple principles and strategies to help our students and clients experience a sense of belonging in the speech room and beyond. These include fostering a sense of ownership and agency, establishing routines that encourage belonging, honoring student identities, having high expectations for students and helping them meet these expectations, addressing the challenges of transitions, and helping students connect to their core values. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:___

    15 min
  6. Bringing Nature into Speech Therapy

    JUN 4

    Bringing Nature into Speech Therapy

    This episode is about finding simple ways to incorporate nature into speech therapy sessions. I share highlights from the research about how nature supports learning, and then explore a variety of strategies for helping students connect with nature as they work on speech and language skills. I focus on activities that don’t require access to green spaces, including several variations of forest bathing, working with nature photography, using nature-focused books, and creating nature poems and art projects.  The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:___

    15 min
  7. Mental Health Basics for SLPs and Students

    MAY 21

    Mental Health Basics for SLPs and Students

    In this episode, I discuss mental health basics for SLPs and their students and clients. I share why I’m passionate about this topic, and why I decided to focus on it in this episode. I talk about the variety of mental health crisis lines that are available, and encourage listeners to use them if needed. I also share basic information about common mental health warning signs, and highlight some of the communities that are at increased risk for mental health concerns. Throughout the episode, I emphasize the importance of reaching out for support from a mental health expert if you are concerned about yourself or others. The show notes for the episode include links to multiple resources and can be accessed here:___

    13 min
  8. Hearing Care Ideas to Share

    MAY 7

    Hearing Care Ideas to Share

    This episode discusses the importance of hearing care and protection. I review the concept of decibels and the difference between sound intensity and sound loudness, and talk about how excessive noise exposure damages our hearing. I focus on how to educate students and clients about hearing protection, and share some hearing protection tips for a variety of age groups. The show notes from this episode can be accessed here:

    17 min
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About

Looking for some fresh ideas for your speech therapy sessions? The Speech Space podcast is a podcast full of tips and resources for speech-language pathologists working in the schools or private practice.

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