SLP Full Disclosure

What happens when a dream career collides with a life-altering diagnosis? In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle welcomes Carly Dorfman, a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist and the founder of KIDnection, to share how she turned a single client meeting at a park into a thriving pediatric speech therapy and early language development company, all while navigating a breast cancer diagnosis at age thirty-eight.Carly opens up about her path from school and skilled nursing settings into private practice, the courage it took to leave a stable job during the pandemic, and how trusting her instincts helped her build a business rooted in parent education and community. This conversation offers encouragement for any clinician dreaming of entrepreneurship, and a candid look at balancing business ownership, motherhood, and unexpected health challenges.Key Topics CoveredCarly's winding path into speech-language pathology, and how it shaped her clinical philosophyThe realities of working across schools, skilled nursing facilities, and private clinicsWhy pandemic-era flexibility sparked the idea for KIDnectionGrowing from one client in a park to a team-based, brick-and-mortar practiceThe evolution from in-home therapy to caregiver-and-me classesThe importance of parent coaching in early language developmentOvercoming burnout and redefining work-life balance as a business ownerFacing a breast cancer diagnosis at thirty-eight while running a companyChapters00:00—Introduction and meeting Carly00:44—Carly's background and credentials02:53—Her winding path into speech-language pathology08:58—How the pandemic sparked the idea for KIDnection11:07—Building a caseload, one client at a time13:11—From home visits to caregiver-and-me classes18:07—Opening a brick-and-mortar space20:08—Facing a breast cancer diagnosis at thirty-eightResources MentionedKIDnection—Carly's pediatric speech therapy and early language development company, based in Parkland, FloridaAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and AudiologyGuest SpotlightCarly Dorfman is a licensed, certified, and credentialed pediatric speech-language pathologist with over ten years of experience treating children across all developmental levels. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Miami and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Since 2014, she has held certification from both ASHA and the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Carly has treated pediatric and adult clients in schools, skilled nursing facilities, and private clinics, and now leads KIDnection, the company she founded in 2021 to support early language development through parent coaching and community-based classes. She lives in Parkland, Florida, with her husband and two young children. WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Did you know you can travel during your Clinical Fellowship Year? So many speech-language pathologists still believe this is off-limits, and it is simply not true. In this episode, host Michelle welcomes Breana, Associate Brand Manager on the Allied Brand team at AMN Healthcare, for an insider preview of the 2026 ASHA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, running November 19-21. Together, they unpack what to expect at the AMN Healthcare booth, how to make the most of your convention schedule, and why this year's theme, "Momentum: Where Vision Meets Action," matters for every SLP, from graduate student to seasoned clinician.Key Topics CoveredDebunking the myth that SLPs cannot travel during their Clinical Fellowship YearA look inside “The Diner” Booth 1638: free snacks and on-site recruitersThe ASHA 2026 theme, "Momentum: Where Vision Meets Action"Keynote speaker Brian CC, a Canadian filmmaker who is hard of hearingAMN Healthcare's clinical mentorship programs and support structureThe $5,000 Care Champion Scholarship for studentsActionable, practical advice for first-time ASHA attendeesChapters00:00—Welcome and guest introduction00:54—Previewing ASHA 2026 in Indianapolis01:48—Looking back: favorite moments from ASHA 2025 in DC09:40—This year's theme: "Momentum: Where Vision Meets Action"10:03—Meet keynote speaker Brian CC11:09—A look at this year's sessions and symposiums14:09—Advice for planning your ASHA schedule15:40—Debunking the CFY travel myth19:08—What to expect at Booth 163824:32—How to talk with a recruiter about your goals29:04—The Care Champion Scholarship32:33—Michelle's top advice for first-time attendees35:16—Where to find a sneak peek before you arriveResources Mentioned ASHA 2026 Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana! November 19-21, 2026 ASHA mobile app for building your session schedule Care Champion Scholarship ($5,000, open to speech-language pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and school psychology students) SLP Full Disclosure Podcast TikTok account for convention sneak peeks: Guest SpotlightMeet our guest, Breana, Associate Brand Manager on the Allied Brand team at AMN Healthcare. Breana builds thoughtful, engaging marketing strategies that support allied healthcare professionals across their career journeys, and she works closely on the SLP Full Disclosure Podcast to bring clinician stories, recruiter perspectives, and helpful resources to life. WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you an SLP who feels intimidated by artificial intelligence? Wondering whether tools like ChatGPT and Claude have any place in your practice? This week, host Michelle sits down with Jennie Belen, founder of The Latina SLP, to talk candidly about why she stopped fighting AI and started using it to reclaim her time.Jennie shares her journey from writing IEPs by hand to confidently using AI tools for report writing and therapy planning. Together, Michelle and Jennie tackle the ethical questions every clinician should ask before adopting new technology, and they offer a clear starting point for anyone who feels overwhelmed by all the options out there. If you have ever wondered how to bring AI into your practice without compromising your standards or your patients' trust, this conversation will give you the confidence to take that first step.Key Topics CoveredWhy so many SLPs feel hesitant or fearful about using AIHow Jennie uses ChatGPT to refine report language and therapy planningThe importance of using AI ethically, especially around protected health information (PHI)Why starting small with one task is the best way to build confidenceAddressing concerns that AI could replace speech-language pathologistsPractical advice for seasoned clinicians who feel behind on technologyChapters00:00 – Introduction and welcoming Jennie Belen02:25 – Jennie's 29-year journey as a speech-language pathologist05:39 – Why many SLPs are hesitant to embrace AI14:39 – How Jennie started using AI in report writing and therapy planning17:58 – Favorite AI tools and how she applies them daily26:09 – Using AI ethically while protecting patient privacy31:06 – Addressing fears that AI will replace speech-language pathologists36:47 – Advice for SLPs who feel behind on AI adoption40:34 – Closing thoughts and where to find Jennie onlineResources MentionedChatGPTClaudeThe Latina SLP (Jennie's platform for AI tools and time-saving resources)Guest SpotlightJennie Belen is a speech-language pathologist with 29 years of experience supporting diverse pediatric populations in school-based settings. A bilingual Spanish SLP and former clinical fellowship supervisor in New Jersey, Jennie founded The Latina SLP to empower fellow speech-language professionals with AI tools and time-saving resources. Her practical, ethics-first approach has helped clinicians across the country find the confidence to bring new technology into their daily work. Connect with Jennie on Instagram and TikTok as The Latina SLP.Ready to bring more ease into your daily practice? Subscribe to SLP Full Disclosure and share this episode with a colleague who could use a little AI confidence! WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever wondered why age norms alone cannot tell you if a child needs speech therapy? Are you ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about treatment sequencing?In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with her friend and school-based SLP Catherine Grizzard to explore the world of articulation and speech sound disorders. With almost 20 years of school-based experience, Catherine brings clarity and confidence to a topic that trips up even seasoned clinicians. Together, they navigate the gray areas of speech sound norms, challenge outdated therapy sequencing, and equip you with the tools to make eligibility and dismissal decisions with conviction.Key Topics DiscussedSpeech Sound Norms: Comparing Sanders (1972) and McLeod and Crowe (2020), and why no single chart should drive your eligibility decisions.The Complexity Approach: Understanding the "waterfall" method of targeting later-developing sounds to unlock earlier sounds for free.Auditory Discrimination: Using minimal pairs to build a child's awareness of their own sound errors.Tongue Tie Controversies: What the latest research says about the connection (or lack thereof) between tongue ties and speech sound production.The Post-Pandemic Rise in Severe Speech Sound Disorders: Exploring how reduced access to visible mouth movement may be shaping outcomes for our youngest learners.Structural vs. Treatable Disorders: Recognizing when a physical difference, not a disorder, is driving a child's speech pattern.Eligibility and Dismissal: Building the confidence to make evidence-based decisions, even when it means saying "we've done all we can."Chapters00:00 – Introduction and catching up with Catherine04:11 – Catherine's journey into school-based speech pathology06:20 – Why articulation feels like solving a mystery08:03 – Comparing speech sound norm charts11:23 – The complexity approach and the "waterfall" analogy16:19 – Building awareness through minimal pairs18:27 – The truth about tongue ties20:17 – The rise of severe speech sound disorders post-pandemic24:26 – Structural limitations versus treatable disorders27:23 – Differences versus disorders in eligibility decisions30:27 – Managing plateaued progress and knowing when to dismiss35:55 – Advice for new SLPs facing complex casesResources MentionedSanders (1972), "When Are Speech Sounds Learned?"McLeod and Crowe (2020), speech sound acquisition normsHolly Storkel (2019), "Using Developmental Norms for Speech Sounds as a Means of Determining Treatment Eligibility in Schools"Kelly Farquharson, complexity approach resourcesTheresa Farnham, complexity approach professional developmentDeborah Beckman's Oral Motor TherapyGuest SpotlightMeet Catherine Grizzard, M.S., CCC-SLP, NBCT, a school-based speech-language pathologist entering her 20th year in the field and owner of Bright Birmingham Speech Therapy. Catherine holds a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a master's degree from the University of Montevallo, and she earned her National Board Certification in exceptional needs in 2017. Her passion for solving the "mystery" of severe speech sound disorders, paired with her dedication to mentoring the next generation of SLPs, makes her insight a true gift for anyone in the field.Connect with Catherine at brightbirminghamspeechtherapy.com or by email at [email protected] to sharpen your approach to articulation therapy? Subscribe to SLP Full Disclosure and share this episode with a fellow clinician navigating their own speech sound mysteries! WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the career path you were told to avoid turned out to be the best decision you ever made?In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with Claudia Jones, a travel occupational therapist with AMN Healthcare and 11 contracts under her belt. Claudia shares how she went from a new grad who was warned away from travel therapy to a passionate advocate helping the next generation of clinicians take that first leap. From building unexpected friendships to growing as a clinician in a small Oregon hospital—the only OT on staff across three settings—her story is equal parts inspiring and practical.Key Topics Discussed:Overcoming the stigma around new grad travel contracts and what has changedAMN's new grad mentorship program and clinical support teamThe recruiter relationship and why it can make or break your experienceClaudia's Oregon contract: handling three settings solo and thrivingStrategies for staying connected with family and friends while on assignmentMeeting lifelong friends on the road, including one via InstagramWorking with Jill Pantle on AMN's University and Alumni Outreach ProgramWhy travel therapy is a low-risk way to explore settings, locations, and your own strengthsChapters:00:00—Introduction and meet Claudia Jones01:30—Why new grads hesitate and how mentorship has changed the conversation03:40—The recruiter relationship: finding your person at AMN06:00—Claudia's journey: from Pennsylvania to 11 contracts nationwide10:45—The Oregon contract: three settings, one OT, one unforgettable experience13:20—Staying connected: family visits, trips home, and a best friend from Instagram20:20—Working with Jill Panto and the AMN University and Alumni Program25:35—Dispelling the myths around travel therapy for new grads31:30—Final advice: "What's the worst that can happen? Anybody can do anything for three months."Meet Claudia JonesMeet Claudia Jones, a travel occupational therapist, who has completed 11 contracts across South Carolina, Oregon, Indiana, and Florida. Claudia started her travel career straight out of school—despite being told not to—and has since become a mentor and advocate for new grads considering the same path. Passionate about building connection, embracing flexibility, and growing clinically through every assignment, Claudia works with AMN's University and Alumni Program to bring honest, firsthand guidance to students before they ever sign their first contract.Ready to take that first step toward your travel therapy career? Subscribe to SLP Full Disclosure and share this episode with a new grad who needs to hear it.Follow Claudia on TikTok WIN A TRIP TO ASHA 2026 ON US! Enter to win!The Top-5 Highest Paying States for School & Travel SLPs! Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.