Category Archives: Speech-language Pathology

My little client

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I’ve been consulting with a friend of mine about speech therapy for her child and told her I’d make a video of the treatment approach (called Barbara Hodson’s Cycles Approach for Phonological Processes) that I would recommend for her child’s specific needs.

So, one day during the Scooter-tot’s morning nap, I sat down with the Bubbers King and pretended he was my client. The results were so darn adorable, I just had to share…

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My favorite parts:

  • How he memorized the treatment words after hearing them just one time!
  • His super sweet intonation and polite manners that just MELT my heart!
  • “How can the camera see me-ee?”
  • “My eyes CAN move…”
  • “Did you know that?!”
  • “Thank you for giving me pieces; I’ll connect ’em.”
  • His amazing attention and awesome enthusiasm

Revisiting the Blob Tree

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(Note: All names are changed whenever I talk about clients).

“So, Michael, how are you doing today?” I asked my client our usual question at the beginning of our treatment session and placed a copy of the “Blob Tree” in front of him.

blob tree black white

Two seconds earlier, Michael had been pouring out his excitement over the approach of Christmas and eagerly reporting the exact number of days remaining until that anticipated day.  But the second he looked at the “Blob Tree” his face fell.

After a few quiet moments, he finally said…

blob tree Michael sad

“This one is me.”

The sadness in his voice sobered me.

Suspecting I already knew the answer, I still asked, “Why is that one you?”

Briefly meeting my eyes, he said, “Because this is my last night with you.  And I really like you, but I won’t get to see you anymore.”

I couldn’t help but think of how happy he had been to see me after my maternity leave and now here we were having to say goodbye again.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

Tears slowly started to fill his eyes.

“Oh, Michael, I’m sorry,” I said again, “I want you to know that if I could, I would keep seeing you.”

How could I explain to him the state of the economy and the need for my boss and I to renegotiate our contract?  And that my refusal to work earlier hours led to a compromise of me cutting down to only one night a week?  And that my clientele needed to be adjusted to accommodate the new agreement and he was no longer on my caseload?

I couldn’t.

So instead, I reached over to the “Blob Tree” and said, “You know what?”

I waited for him to look at me.

blob tree Heidi

“This one is me,” I told him quietly, “Because I am so glad that I got to meet you and work with you.  You are a great young man.  And even though we won’t be able to see each other anymore, I’m so lucky that I got to spend this time with you.  You are my friend.  And I will miss you.”

His tears spilled over and he wiped at his cheeks as his lips trembled.

I gently reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Michael,” I said again, then quietly said, “If you’d like, you can pick whatever game you want to play while we work.  And afterward, you get to pick something out of the treasure chest.”

The tears immediately stopped and his wonderfully bright smile returned.

“Really?!?” he exclaimed.

“Really,” I nodded with a warm smile.

He bounded out of his chair and into the hallway.  I shook my head as I followed him into the fine motor room where all the games were stored.

Oh, how I will miss this boy, I thought.

The Blob Tree (and a few questions)

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(Note: All names are changed whenever I talk about clients).

“So, Michael, how are you today?” I asked my client at the beginning of our treatment session this week as I placed a copy of the “Blob Tree” in front of him.

blob tree black white

I learned about the “Blob Tree” (created by Pip Wilson and Ian Long) in graduate school where one of my clinical supervisors used it with a group of clients who had aphasia (an acquired language disorder as the result of a stroke).

The beautiful thing about the “Blob Tree” is that people can use it to communicate how they are feeling, even if they cannot articulate it verbally.  I loved the “Blob Tree” from the first moment I saw it and immediately added it to my arsenal of treatment materials.  After I graduated, I took it with me out into the workforce, even though I wasn’t going to work with adults who’ve had strokes.  Instead, I use it with children who have Autism.

And little Michael is a young boy with Autism.

“Hmm,” he said as he studied the tree I had placed in front of him.

blob tree Michael

“This one is me,” he declared as he circled one of the Blobs, then he smiled and genuine joy sounded in his voice, “This one is me because I’m so glad you’re back!”

The Blob he circled was smiling and had its arm around the Blob next to it.

My heart melted at Michael’s unexpected response and sincere happiness.  Michael was the only client I had served before Snuggles’ birth who was able to remain on my caseload when I returned from maternity leave.

“Oh, Michael,” I replied, “Thank you!”

blob tree Heidi

Then I circled the Blob next to his and responded, “This one is me, because I’m so glad I’m back, too!”

Michael suddenly looked in my eyes and we shared a moment of shining smiles and mutual joy.

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So how is it going??

I’ve completed my second week back at work and it couldn’t be going better.  I was anxious at first, wondering if it would be too much for me to be a mom to two kids full-time during the day and then try to work at night.  But so far, it’s been great.  The first night I went back, I walked in the back door, looked around and just smiled.

The receptionist welcomed me with a smile, “It’s good to have you back, Heidi!”

I smiled back, assessed the warm glow inside of me and said with honest contentment, “It’s good to be back!”

I don’t know how I ever got so lucky as to stumble onto the field of speech-language pathology as my career choice, but I couldn’t have picked a job that suited me better.  I live and breathe speech-language pathology like it’s been part of me my whole life.  And it’s wonderful to love what someone will pay for me to do. :)

How often are you working?

I work two nights a week and I adjusted my hours to be later so that I can be home for family dinner and getting Snuggles ready for bed before I leave.

When I told my boss the hours I was willing to work when I came off maternity leave, I honestly didn’t think they’d find clients willing to come in that late.  But it wasn’t worth it to me to miss dinner or work on Saturdays again, so I figured I probably wouldn’t get as much work and it would just take us a bit longer to pay off our debt.

So I was incredibly surprised and grateful when they were able to completely fill the times I offered with clients I absolutely love–what a blessing!

Unexpected blessings

While it’s definitely busier when I’m a mother and working, I’ve been surprised at the unexpected blessings that have come when I work.

I manage my time better.

I’m more disciplined and motivated to complete tasks at home.

I’m willing to cut out nonessential tasks.

I enjoy and appreciate my down time more.

For the first time in Heidi Email History, there are no emails in my inbox.

On the nights I work, I’m able to (seemingly miraculously) maintain my energy level through the night.

I’m not sure why this is, but I’m very grateful for these “side effects” of working.  (And I wish I could have them even when I’m not working!) :)

How long are you going to work?

We don’t know. :)

If things remain as they are, it will take some years to pay off the losses from selling our house, so I’m preparing myself for the long haul (hence the adjusted work schedule–so it’s something I could live with for a long period of time).

But, if the Lord sees fit to change our circumstances, then it may be shorter than we think.

Either way, we’re very, very grateful that I can do this.  While I never thought I’d have to work outside the home once I became a mother, I’m so glad that I can since we need it.  And I’m so grateful that I can still be with my children full-time and I only miss out on “Heidi time” at night (since Charming is always studying). :)

We feel very blessed.

Now Taking Reservations for Therapy

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Picture1 no date

(Photo by Mary Levin)

To help alleviate the financial effects of having a second house on the market for six+ months (which means double mortgage payments–ouch!) and lowering the sale price of said house approximately 42 times (ouch, ouch!), I am going to start working again.

Fortunately, I am rather obsessive about planning and preparing for things that could someday possibly happen.

So, when I was in school, I chose a career that is incredibly flexible and can be done in my own home after my children go to bed.

But did I think I would ever really have to do it?

No.

Am I really grateful I can, since we need it now?

Yes!

So, without further ado…..

I am now taking reservations for my new Speech-Language Pathology private practice!

And I would greatly appreciate your support in referring to me the parents of children ages 2 to 14 years old who exhibit any of the following:

  • Articulation disorder (e.g., preschool age children who are extremely difficult to understand)
  • Receptive language disorder (e.g., children who have difficulty understanding language)
  • Expressive language disorder (e.g., children who have difficulty expressing their ideas)
  • Fluency disorder (e.g., children who stutter)
  • Voice disorder (e.g., children with hoarse vocal quality due to chronic abuse or misuse of the voice)
  • Social language disorder (e.g., children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger’s Syndrome)

Please contact me at:

slp@biglaughs.org

Thank you so much for your help and please wish me luck!

Love,

Heidi, MS, CCC-SLP