EP 141 - Essential Counseling Skills for SLPs

This episode is about essential counseling skills for SLPs. It begins by acknowledging that even though counseling is a daily component of our work as SLPs, it’s not necessarily something that we focus on. Research also indicates that counseling is an area where many SLPs lack confidence. The episode goes on to assert that counseling is simultaneously a bigger and a smaller part of speech-language pathology than we might think. It’s bigger because it’s part of everything we do, and it’s smaller because it’s not an additional task—it’s embedded in our interactions. The episode then cautions that not every type of counseling is within the SLP scope of practice, and sometimes referrals to mental health professionals are necessary. According to ASHA, the two types of counseling within the SLP scope of practice are informational counseling and personal adjustment counseling. Research done by Dr. David Luterman indicates that most SLPs are less confident with personal adjustment counseling. The remainder of the episode focuses on personal adjustment counseling tips from Dr. Luterman’s work. They include recognizing the role of grief, listening actively, and tending to our own personal growth.