Hallie chats with Paige O'Dwyer from Talk First Words about parent coaching for early intervention.
In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Canadian SLP Paige from Talk First Words about why parent coaching is the missing link in early intervention. From the challenges of long waitlists and small-town access, to showing parents how everyday routines like mealtime, bath time, and car rides can become language-rich opportunities, Paige shares practical strategies that make a big impact without overhauling the day. Whether you’re a brand-new grad learning how to involve parents or a seasoned SLP looking for fresh ideas, this conversation is packed with encouragement, real talk, and strategies you can bring to your next session. Grab your coffee and let’s dive in!
Bullet Points to Discuss:
- Parent coaching as the missing link in early intervention—and why weekly therapy isn’t enough.
- Turning everyday routines into language-rich moments without adding stress.
- Ditching the “say it” approach and using “model, pause, wait” instead.
- Building parent confidence by celebrating small wins and non-verbal milestones.
- How SLP referrals fuel Paige’s TALK program and where to direct families for support.
Here’s what we learned:
- Coaching parents empowers them to turn everyday life into therapy.
- Small tweaks often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
- Removing pressure creates more natural opportunities for speech.
- Confidence grows when parents see progress in tiny steps.
- Collaboration among SLPs ensures families get the right support.
Learn more about Paige O’Dwyer:
Website: http://www.talkfirstwords.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkfirstwords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkfirstwords/
Freebies/Offers: https://www.talkfirstwords.com/home#freebies
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
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
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com